Our Head Master
To hear a short description of Rugby School, but just as importantly, to get an idea of its personality and character, listen to what our Head Master, Gareth Parker-Jones, has to say.
The whole person is the whole point.
This is our mantra. Our students all know it, our staff all know it, and our parents know it. We live it. It is without doubt demanding to do all the things that make us good in many areas, interested broadly, able to turn our hand, to contribute, to make a difference.
We cannot develop talents we do not know we have until we are put into situations we do not expect. If you think you can or if you think you can’t, you are probably right. Whole people think they can. It is not magic, but the result is something close to it.
Rugby’s House system sets us apart.
Whether you are a boarder or a day student your experience is rooted in your House. You’ll learn to live happily, with people of different ages and backgrounds. When you leave you will have friendships that last a lifetime.
For those who choose to board, Rugby is a ‘full’ boarding school – seven days a week, no flexi or weekly. Each boarding house is home to around 50 students, about 10 from each year group. You will eat all your meals there. You will do your prep there and meet your tutor for weekly chats about every aspect of School life. There will be weekend activities, on-campus and off, socials with other Houses – and important down time.
The House is where small moments matter, and these often leave the biggest mark.
Academic life
Our approach to learning encourages a blend of collaborative and personal. To prepare for lessons (prep) you will study on your own, directed by your teachers, so that you arrive in the classroom well informed and ready to join in discussions with your fellow students, led by your teachers. This encourages curiosity and will help you to marshal and express your thoughts, deal with challenges and test your memory. We want you to think creatively as well as remember facts.
We offer a choice between A levels and the IB in the Sixth Form, both rigorous and respected routes to higher education. In 2025, 76% of our GCSE grades were 9-7 (A* - A) and 60% of A-level and IB students were awarded A*-A or 7-6.
Every student has their own tutor whom they meet, weekly and privately, for discussion and support across all aspects of School life.
"With its glorious heritage, Rugby strikes the right balance between traditional and forward-thinking, serious and playful, world-class and down-to-earth."
Co-curricular
You'll be busy at Rugby School. Music, sport, and the performing arts are within the curriculum rather than paid extras. We also have a large number of societies and clubs, many of them student-led, where you can explore new interests or develop your passions.
Music
Music is an integral part of life at Rugby School. For those who choose it as a subject, it is taught as a bespoke programme. More than a third of our students have music lessons, and there are more than 200 musical events every year.
Performing Arts
All our students have the chance to take part in musical theatre productions, study drama and learn dance. We put on eight fully staged productions every year in our 230-seat theatre. We regularly send productions to the Edinburgh Fringe and Bloomsbury Festival.
Sport
Sport is for everyone at Rugby School and every student has access to physical exercise every day. We have teams in all our sports, and we pride ourselves on the quality of our professional coaching and impressive facilities and equipment.
Service Education
Sixth-Formers volunteer in care homes, hospitals, schools, and charities. Through Rugby 360, students also lead sessions in maths, languages, science, and sport for local primary children. We also host the annual Festival on the Close, with hundreds of creative workshops and performances, drawing thousands from the local community.
“It's hard to pick one best thing about Rugby School.”
"The best thing about being a boarder at Rugby School is developing friendships."
"The most surprising thing about Rugby was the amount of things I could do."