Teaching The Rugby Way
At Rugby School, we have developed a distinctive approach to teaching – The Rugby Way. It is informed by our ethos, reinforced by what we know about how human beings learn, and prepares our students for the social and economic context they will encounter when they leave school. It has three clear principles.
1. Preparation for learning
Prep (homework) sessions are used by students to prepare for lessons so that they arrive with a foundation of knowledge and understanding undertaken independently. This allows for the maximum progress in lessons. Priority is given to reading high-quality texts; these are supplied by teachers along with other relevant resources.
2. Learning through collaboration
Human interaction improves learning so lessons maximise the benefits of collaboration between students and teachers.
3. Challenging thinking
Lessons focus on considering questions or problems that encourage students to think at the edge of their prior knowledge and understanding.
Preparing students for a changing world
The Rugby Way supports outstanding academic achievement while developing the skills, habits and character needed for success in life. Grounded in research on how people learn, it prioritises active thinking, curiosity, questioning, collaboration, reflection and resilience over rote memorisation.
Students engage with new material independently during prep, deepen their understanding through discussion and feedback in lessons, and strengthen learning through reading, practice and repeated exposure over time. This approach develops the dispositions of the Rugby Learner Profile, including communication, collaboration, adaptability and global-mindedness, while fostering concentration, independence and a love of discovery.
In an age of artificial intelligence, The Rugby Way also helps students build uniquely human capabilities - critical thinking, creativity and interpersonal understanding - ensuring they can use technology effectively without becoming dependent on it. Supported by expert teachers who understand how children learn and create engaging, challenging and supportive classrooms, The Rugby Way equips students with both the academic outcomes and life skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.