Rugby School
Rugby, Warwickshire
Rugby School
Rugby, Warwickshire
Overview
‘The whole person, the whole point’ is the defining ethos at Rugby, one of the most famous and storied of schools – a true 7 day-a-week school with 500 years of history. Located in the Midlands market town of Rugby, it is close to 2 regional airports, an hour from central London by train and only 90 mins from Heathrow. All parts of life – academic, artistic, spiritual, and sporting are regarded as part of an indivisible whole, key to well-being and happiness. Excellence is the target and wholehearted engagement the expectation, no matter the field, and students are encouraged to take advantage of the huge range of enrichment activities, including many societies, student-led publications, visiting speakers, trips and national competitions.
At a glance
Academic
The School offers both A Levels and the IB Diploma and is well aware of the importance of preparation for public exams – on average just under 60% of pupils achieve A*/A at A Level (or its IB equivalent). There’s also a recognition that in the modern networked world a one-size-fits-all education won’t be enough for those with ambition to be leaders. At the Collingwood Sixth Form Centre, which opened in 2013, the focus is on coaching over teaching, empowering students to shape their own decisions, overcome challenges, compete and collaborate. Teachers are true subject-matter specialists, all pupils are assigned a personal tutor – with regular one-to-ones – and weekly Sixth Form lessons prepare students for their next steps in life.
Boarding
The 15 houses each have their own distinct character and culture, which instils great loyalty amongst members, enhanced by dining together in-house 3 times a day. Each of the 13 boarding houses, 7 for boys and 6 for girls, has a residential houseparent, supported by resident deputies and matrons, and up to 7 house tutors. In the first year or so students share dormitories as they build friendships, before moving on to single study bedrooms in years 10 or 11. Timetabled enrichment focuses on furthering depth of understanding, experience and independent thought, and over 200+ co-curricular activities are available, with participation encouraged as pupils learn prioritisation and organisation under the guidance of personal tutors.
Sports
Timetabled PE and the 25 clubs offering physical activity every day ensure all pupils get exercise at least 3 times a week. Qualified professional coaches are available to all who want to compete, while the Sports Science Department has been rolled out across the school to offer ‘fundamental movement training’ to all; improving mobility, strength and conditioning. Around 75% of pupils take the opportunity to compete for the school at some level in one of the 20 sports on offer. Facilities include a 25m pool, 2 sports halls, 2 multi-sport floodlit Astros and 1 dedicated to Hockey, 3 floodlit competition clay tennis courts plus numerous other netball, tennis and squash courts. Close links are maintained to local elite and professional clubs.
Creative arts
The Modern Design Centre hosts Fine Art (drawing, painting, sculpture, digital, printmaking, photography and ceramics), 3D design, Graphic communication and Textile Design. Its studios and workshops are often open outside school hours, with staff in attendance. The School boasts the 250 seat Macready professional theatre, and even has a physical theatre company in residence – ‘Motion Home’ – that offers weekly workshops. The school takes productions to the Edinburgh Fringe and the RADA Bloomsbury Festival, and hosts the annual 5 day Festival In The Close. Music is the largest department in the school, with 40+ permanent and visiting staff members, and the most talented musicians enjoy opportunities to perform with professional orchestras.
Did you know?
- In 1832 pupil William Webb-Ellis picked up a football and ran with it, thereby breaking the rules. Today this act of creative destruction is lauded as ‘fine disregard’ and a cup bearing his name is handed to the winners of the Rugby Union World Cup.
- Alumni include Lewis Carroll, author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland; Anthony Horowitz, author of the Alex Rider series of novels; and Ella Mills, founder of Deliciously Ella which markets plant-based food across Europe.
