Rugby School

Rugby School is one of the UK’s oldest public schools, founded in 1567. Renowned for a tradition of academic rigour and innovation, the birthplace of the game of rugby, it is set on a 300-acre campus in the heart of the country just 45 minutes by train from London and 50 minutes to the nearest international airport.

This world-leading co-educational school, known for its outstanding pastoral care, academic excellence and extraordinary co-curricular programme, offers a true full boarding experience.

Rugby School is a diverse and inclusive community, committed to using collaboration, curiosity and expertise to uncover the best in every student.  Probably more than any other school in the land, the School focuses on supporting its students to become ‘whole’ people – people who are multi-faceted in their interests, talents and ambitions. Our Whole Person Whole point ethos is lived here, every hour of every day. 

With a high staff:student ratio, students benefit from an outstanding education in both breadth and depth, with the option of the IB Diploma. Academic standards which are high, with nearly 90% of all A Level at A*-B and over 60% of all IGCSEs and GCSEs entries receiving 9 or 8s in in the years preceding the disruption caused by COVID-19. Our academic results are indeed impressive but not at the expense of the enjoyment and success in so many different areas, from Sport to Drama, and from Music to more than 200 co-curricular clubs and activities.

Our ‘sport for all’ programme has three pathways that span every ability and interest, from those who simply wish to participate to an elite level for coaching our student athletes.

In Music, there are 120 performances every year from classical to rock and pop. Our choristers and musicians regularly achieve scholarships to prestigious music academies and colleges.

As you would expect from a world-class school, Rugby facilities are breath taking from its historic Butterfield Chapel to a contemporary dedicated Sixth Form Centre. Sports facilities extend across multiple playing fields and hard courts, state-of-the art astros and dedicated polo fields. Visitors from across the globe travel to Rugby to catch a glimpse of The Close, where the game of rugby began, while our teams have the privilege of playing there.

Each of Rugby’s 13 boarding Houses feature their own unique character, in different locations and of varying sizes, but all offering a true home away from home, a real family to which every student belongs and is rightly proud of. In-House dining brings the ‘families’ together three times a day, fostering community spirit and a strong loyalty to the House.

An ongoing, ambitious programme of development and refurbishment means our huge campus is constantly evolving and improving as we unveil new facilities and invest in the latest upgrades.

• TES Independent School Awards – Winner of Best use of Technology (2021); Boarding School of the Year finalist (2019 and 2020)
• Independent School of the Year Awards – Co-educational School of the Year (2018); Sporting Achievement finalist (2021)
• ‘A levels or IB complete, the resourceful and independent students stride off to top universities in the UK and beyond’ – Tatler Schools Guide, 2022