Applicants from Year 6

Registered candidates in Year 6 interested in a Day place (for September 2028) will be invited to Rugby School on Tuesday 25 November 2025 from approximately 09.00-12:30 (timings subject to change).

If you are hoping to receive financial support through a means-tested bursary, applications for the Foundation Award are welcome in Year 8.  

The Assessment Day is intended to be relaxed and enjoyable. We will be making offers based on judgements on the day, but also taking into consideration the reference from the candidate’s current school and performance in the Quest (formally Atom) tests and interview. During the activities, we are looking for students to collaborate, show leadership qualities, use their initiative and demonstrate flexibility and their capacity to compromise.  

Two Quest tests in Verbal Reasoning (VR) and Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR) (totalling around 30 minutes) will be carried out on the day. There will be time for candidates to have some practice questions within this time, to familiarise themselves with Quest and feel confident. The data will provide consistency and parity for candidates who are applying to Rugby School, to give a fair, standardised judgement of the application. 

You can find out more about Quest assessments from this link.

Ahead of the Assessment Day, candidates are asked to provide a handwritten (by the candidate) questionnaire, detailing their interests, achievements, aspirations and experiences. These will provide the discussion points for the 10-15 minute interview they will have with a member of staff.

Ideally, nothing. We want children to be natural and authentic. We recommend that candidates spend time discussing their pursuits and passions with teachers and family members, ensuring that they are articulate and confident when speaking about their likes and dislikes.  

It is possible that an opportunity may become available in Year 8, in consultation with your child’s Head.