Year 6 Assessments
Children in Year 6 can apply for a 13+ Boarding or a Day place to Rugby School. We ask that parents who are hoping to apply for bursary support in the form of a Foundation Award or the Arnold Foundation, delay their application until the Year 8 assessments.
The Year 6 Assessment Day will be on Thursday 26 November 2026 for both day and boarding applicants - successful candidates with boarding offers will be invited back during the Advent Term of Year 7 for House interviews.
Additional information
Registered candidates in Year 6 interested in a day or boarding place will be invited to Rugby School on Thursday 26 November 2026 from approximately 09.00-12:30 for day and 13.30-16.30 for boarding (timings subject to change).
If you are hoping to receive financial support through a means-tested bursary, applications for the Foundation Award (day) or the Arnold Foundation (boarding) are welcome in Year 8. Also, all our Scholarships allow access to means-tested bursary support. These assessments are also in Year 8.
The Year 6 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.
Quest tests in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning (VR) and Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR) (totalling around 70 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 here.
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 7 or Year 8, in consultation with your child’s Head. Scholarship applications are also welcome in Year 8.