Our distinctive approach
We are an academically selective school which means we are looking for students of high ability, who are intellectually curious and ambitious.
Public exams – GCSEs and A levels – are a fact of education in the UK and you will be taking those exams in Years 11 and 12/13. We offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) as an alternative to A levels so you will have a choice as to which route to take when the time comes to decide. Not many schools offer this. You will receive support in how you choose which exams to take and how to study and prepare for them.
Both A levels and the IB allow access to the best universities, and the choice of curriculum is a powerful motivator for our students.
You will have a personal tutor who you will meet privately every week to discuss any aspect of School life you want to raise, including your academic work.
The Rugby Way
Passing exams is only one aspect of education.
At Rugby, we want you to absorb a deep knowledge of all the subjects that you will be studying and learn to think critically, to challenge what you have heard and read. To think for yourself (not outsource the task to a computer) and acquire the confidence to express your opinion and listen to feedback. These are lasting skills.
You will do your prep in the evenings, on your own and at your own pace, preparing for the next day’s lessons. You will concentrate on what you are reading, and reflect on the knowledge you have acquired.
The culture of our classrooms may be different from what you are used to.
You won’t be sitting alone at a desk, but at a table in a small group. You will not be waiting to shoot your hand up when a teacher asks for an answer. Nor will you be sitting passively listening to what a teacher is telling you. Our lessons are discussions with teachers and fellow students – collaborative learning.
Our teachers know how to motivate individual students, and how to pitch lessons at the right level. They will provoke questions and stimulate debate. In this way, you will learn to organise your thoughts (and maybe change your mind), test your memory, express your views with confidence and deal with challenges from the other students. We know that human interaction really does accelerate learning. Your knowledge and understanding will be stretched as the class focuses on resolving the questions or problems that arose from what you were studying the night before. Not only is this shared intellectual endeavour, it is preparation for the world of work - whatever you go on to do.
Cross-curricular teaching
While Rugby follows the national curriculum, we know that a more holistic education takes place when subject boundaries are relaxed. That way we can see how subjects are naturally connected.
For example, if you are studying Classics, it will soon be obvious that Greek and Latin form the basis of many contemporary languages, including English; that modern history often echoes episodes from the Greek and Roman civilisations; and that much of Greek and Roman culture is immortalised in the drama and epic poetry that we still enjoy today. So, some Classics lessons are joined by students from English, Drama and History, and vice versa.
Learning outside the classroom
We think that learning outside the classroom is just as important as inside it. As part of our enrichment programme, you may become one of the students working with a university on a joint scientific research project (for example, we are collaborating with Stanford University in California on Stan-X, a genetic and disease research project). You will join some of our trips in the UK and abroad; visit museums and galleries; listen to expert specialist speakers who we invite to the School; and take part in public speaking and debating challenges. If you are an English literature and language enthusiast, you might attend one of our residential creative writing courses. Older students are expected to join specialist academic clubs and societies to develop their interests or try new ones.
Artificial Intelligence
At Rugby School, our ambition in artificial intelligence goes beyond the use of existing tools. We are working towards building our own AI.
The Computer Science department is establishing an in-house AI Lab where students engage directly with artificial intelligence rather than studying it only in theory. By interacting with AI systems themselves, students develop a clear understanding of how these technologies work, as well as their strengths and limitations.
Students are involved at every stage, from setting up the technical infrastructure to shaping how the AI environment is used. As a first step, Computer Science students are configuring Ollama, an open-source platform that runs entirely on dedicated school infrastructure delivered by our Technical Services Team. This ensures a secure environment, with no data shared externally, and meets our data protection requirements.
Being involved in setting up the lab offers our students a unique opportunity to apply their technical skills in a real-world context.
Alongside this, we run a timetabled course in Artificial Intelligence which gives students practical experience with AI tools, builds technical understanding and provides clear guidance on the appropriate use of AI in exams and coursework, including referencing and plagiarism. Throughout, we emphasise that AI can never replace the power of human thinking, collaboration and understanding.
"In the face of AI, school is ‘making the most of the humans in the room,’ putting ‘hard thinking’, rigorous questioning and student-led discussion at the heart of every lesson."
Our results
Our students achieve strong examination results each year and their progress matters as much as their grades. They go on to a wide range of leading universities in the UK and around the world.
Academic scholarships
Academic Scholarships are awarded every year for 13+ and 16+ entry (for which we set our own exam papers). This year we have 112 Academic Scholars. Being awarded a scholarship to attend Rugby School is an honour in recognition of your prowess in a particular area.
If you are awarded a scholarship, your school fees (including the cost of boarding) may be covered by a means-tested bursary of up to 100%, for which your parents or guardians need to complete an application form.