Ruthin School Overview
Ruthin School is a co-educational independent boarding and day school in North Wales, founded in 1284. It is one of the oldest schools in the UK, with a long history of academic excellence. The school is situated in the historic market town of Ruthin, surrounded by the scenic Clwydian Range. Despite its rural location, Ruthin is well connected, with Manchester and Liverpool airports both within a 90-minute drive.
Ruthin School is best known for its strong academic results, especially in maths and sciences. The school has a selective admissions policy and is particularly popular among international students who aim to enter top universities in the UK, including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and LSE. The majority of students go on to study competitive courses such as medicine, law, engineering and economics.
The school offers GCSEs and A Levels and places a strong focus on preparing students for university entrance through small class sizes, personalised support and a rigorous academic programme.
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Ruthin School Courses And Programmes
Ruthin School is committed to providing a first class education for all its pupils.
Pupils are closely monitored with weekly assessment of Merits/Demerits, weekly tutorial meetings, fortnightly formal testing, termly Parents meetings, termly reports, supervised prep/study, as well as daily report cards where applicable.
Key Stage 3
In Forms 1 to 3, students follow a broad curriculum covering a wide range of subjects. All students take part in Personal, Social Education (PSE), Physical Education (PE), and the Electives programme. The core subjects include:
- Art
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Drama
- English (including English as an Additional Language, if required)
- Geography
- History
- Languages (French, Latin, Welsh, Spanish)
- Mathematics
- Music
- Physics
- Physical Education
Key Stage 4 (GCSE)
Students prepare for their GCSEs, choosing from a varied selection of subjects. Personal, Social Education, Physical Education, and the Electives programme remain compulsory.
Compulsory subjects at KS4 include:
- Maths (and Further Maths)
- English Language and English Literature (or English as an Additional Language for international boarders)
Additional GCSE options include:
- Astronomy
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Economics
- Geography
- History
- French
- Spanish
- Latin
- Computer Science
- Fine Art
- Music
- Statistics
- Business Studies
- Psychology
Key Stage 5 (Sixth Form)
Sixth form students select from a broad range of A Level subjects. They continue with Personal, Social Education, Physical Education, and the Electives programme to support their wider development.
Available A Levels include:
- Biology
- Business Studies
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Economics
- English Literature
- Fine Art
- French
- Geography
- Graphic Communication
- History
- Mathematics
- Further Mathematics
- Music
- Photography
- Physics
- Politics
- Psychology
- Spanish
- Textiles
Ruthin School Fees
For the 2025/2026 academic year, full boarding fees are £45,690 plus 20% VAT, totalling £54,828 including VAT.
Ruthin School Boarding And Pastoral Care
Ruthin School provides separate boarding houses for boys and girls. Boys stay in Gladstone House or Ellis House, while girls are accommodated in Wynne House. Each house is managed by dedicated Houseparents, supported by Assistant Houseparents, who live on site and are available to students at all times.
Boarders can choose between single or twin rooms. When placed in shared rooms, students are usually paired with someone from a different country to encourage cultural exchange and help develop fluency in English. The school promotes a supportive, structured environment where students feel safe, respected and part of a close-knit community.
Ruthin School Extracurricular Activities
At Key Stage 3, electives include Drama, Cookery, Robotics, and Woodland Skills. Students can also explore Local Culture Studies, Eco School projects, and Historical Project Skills. Sports options such as Archery, Tennis, and participation in the Rock Band are popular. Creative pursuits include Chess and LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) lessons.
Key Stage 4 electives broaden practical and academic skills with options like Debating, Photoshop basics, CV writing, and Health and Lifestyle. Students can learn Excel, DIY skills, Electronics, and engage in Model United Nations. Archery, Tennis, Chess, and Creative Media remain available, alongside fun activities like Dungeons and Dragons and contributing to The Ruthinian magazine.
In the Sixth Form, students can pursue advanced electives such as the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), Gresham Essay Prize, Maths Modelling, and Introduction to University Mathematics. Robotics, Creative Media, Model United Nations, Chess, Archery, Tennis, and LAMDA remain on offer. The school also supports Super Curriculum Development and Personal Development to prepare students for university and beyond.
Ruthin’s extensive club programme covers a variety of interests. Sports clubs include Badminton, Basketball, Football, Netball, Table Tennis, and Touch Rugby. Creative and academic clubs range from Books in Translation, Creative Writing, and Film Club to Cyber Security, Humanities Trivia, and Mindfulness. Language learners benefit from Chinese for Non-Native Speakers and Welsh Conversation Club. Music lovers can join Choir and Orchestra, while students interested in strategic games have Chess, Tabletop Gaming, and UK Maths Challenge clubs. The school also supports the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, encouraging leadership and community engagement.
