Head of Futures
Hannah Wallis, our Head of Futures, oversees a comprehensive programme of support and opportunities that equips students for life beyond Rugby School. This includes the development of employability skills and knowledge, the delivery of a wide-ranging careers programme and the organisation of key events, including the flagship Careers Convention held each March.
The Futures team provides guidance on the selection of GCSE, IB and A level options and supports students as they apply for university, degree apprenticeships and other post-school pathways. Dedicated advisors are linked to each boarding house, ensuring that every student has a regular and familiar point of contact throughout their time at Rugby. This continuity allows advisors to build a strong understanding of each individual and to offer informed, tailored guidance.
The aim of Futures is that students leave Rugby confident, well prepared and ready to succeed in the working world they will enter, whatever path they choose.
Careers advice
Each House has a designated advisor from our Futures Advisory Service who will be able to help you at every stage. Careers advice is given on a 1:1 basis starting in Year 9 with meetings with students to discuss their GCSE option choices, and continues for Post 16 options in Year 11, and regular meetings across the sixth form years.
These sessions are used to discuss the subjects you will need to study for particular university courses (and the School societies it may be a good idea to join); how to apply to UK universities as well as international universities; information about specialist courses in medicine, healthcare, dentistry and veterinary medicine; details about apprenticeships; how you might spend a GAP year; and opportunities in further study of music, the arts and elite sport.
Our careers convention
Every March we hold a careers convention for the whole school, attended by staff and all the students (and D Block and LXX parents). Panels are made up of speakers demonstrating pathways into a wide range of careers and sectors. Our speakers include Rugbeians and parents, some of whom have qualified through the apprenticeship pathway.
Areas include medicine and healthcare; engineering; entrepreneurship; finance; art, culture and fashion; animal and land management; law, philanthropy; journalism and media; marketing, branding and communications; film and music; architecture and the built environment; politics; hospitality; manufacturing; applied science; digital technology, AI and fintech; environment; military; sport; international study; business and consultancy.
Careers Accelerator Programme
The Careers Accelerator Programme introduces students to the skills that are required when applying for jobs, including how to present your CV and how to express yourself in interviews, both on video and in person, before completing assessment centres (when you may be in a problem-solving group).
The programme runs in Years 9, 11 and 12, and feedback is provided upon completion of the programme each time, allowing students to build on areas of improvement during their time at Rugby.
University preparation
At Rugby School, preparation for university is structured, academic and individual. It is built on strong subject teaching and independent thinking, ensuring students are well prepared for the demands of higher education.
Students in the Sixth Form choose either A levels or the International Baccalaureate Diploma. Both pathways are widely recognised by leading universities in the UK and internationally.
All students receive guidance on university and course selection, UCAS applications and personal statements, and academic development beyond the syllabus.
Students with the academic ability and motivation to apply to Oxford or Cambridge are supported through a dedicated programme. Preparation includes weekly academic mentoring in an Oxbridge tutorial style, subject‑specific extension and independent study, and mock entrance tests and interviews.
Oxbridge preparation is led by Dr Andy Davies and Dr Thomas Smith, Keepers of the Scholars and Heads of Oxbridge, working closely with Heads of Department and tutors.
Similar programmes of support are available for students with an interest in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine. There is also a substantial programme of support for students applying to universities outside the UK.
Our alumni
We are proud of our Rugbeian community, past and present. Many former students have gone on to build distinguished careers across a wide range of fields, and they remain closely connected to the School long after they leave. Rugbeians form a global network that students become part of for life, returning regularly to support the next generation through mentoring, careers talks, work experience and professional guidance.
Jacob Bethell (W 17-22)
Jacob Bethell is an emerging talent in English cricket, known for his dynamic batting style and sharp fielding skills. Born in 2003, he has quickly made a name for himself in the domestic circuit, showcasing his potential in various youth tournaments.
Dolly Alderton (G 04-06)
Dolly Alderton is a talented author and journalist known for her engaging storytelling and sharp wit. With a knack for capturing the complexities of modern relationships, she has gained a loyal following. Her work often reflects her own experiences, blending humor with heartfelt insights.
David Ejim-McCubbin (K 09-11)
David Ejim-McCubbin is Head of Stakeholder Engagement at the Social Mobility Commission, alongside being on the Chair of Trustees at EYLA.
David is a former Arnold Foundation student at Rugby School, and was appointed to The Arnold Foundation's Board of Trustees in recent years.
Hannah Foden (B 02-07)
Hannah Foden (née Ribbans) is an ST6 registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the Northwest Region. A former pupil of Rugby School, she has gone on to build a career in medicine specialising in obstetrics.
Rachel Chudley (D 99-04)
Rugbeian Rachel Chudley was named Interior Designer of the Year at House & Garden Top 100 Awards 2025, in partnership with Farrow & Ball.
Since founding her studio in 2015, Rachel has remained as hands-on as she is visionary - leading an internationally recognised business while balancing life as a devoted mother. She studied History of Art at The Courtauld and interior design in Los Angeles - experiences that have helped shape her distinctive aesthetic.