About the House
Rupert Brooke was created as a boarding House from an original row of four town houses built in the 1860-70s. It opened as a girls’ Sixth Form House in 1988 under the leadership of Stephen Drew who had masterminded the Rupert Brooke Centenary celebrations the year before. The design of the House, with mixed years along the corridors, creates a friendly atmosphere, which has contributed to its reputation for warm hospitality. Girls share rooms for the first two years – with up to four sharing in the first year and just two in the second year. From Year 11, all girls have their own study bedrooms.
Girls in the House enjoy our communal spaces which includes two kitchenettes, three common rooms and a ‘chill-out zone’ with newly refurbished areas added in Summer 2016, along with other improvements to study bedrooms and re-decoration.
In 2016, a ‘House Family’ system was introduced at Rupert Brooke whereby each girl is organised into a ‘family’ of ten which contains two girls from each year. House family meetings take place each term and the ‘families’ also meet for more informal social occasions. The system encourages integration between years and, together with the adult team, ensure all our girls feel fully supported.
Centrally located on Horton Crescent, Rupert Brooke is opposite the new Modern Languages Department and close to both the Sports’ Centre and the Music Schools. This convenient location is great for our girls who are excellent at immersing themselves in School life. Regular House trips are popular, which in the past have included visits to the theatre, ice hockey and Laser Quest.
When at Cambridge, the House namesake, Rupert Brooke, wrote: ‘I had been happier at Rugby than I can find words to say. As I looked back at five years I seemed to see almost every hour golden and radiant, and always increasing in beauty…’ We are delighted to say our girls say the same.
Ben Adams, Housemaster
After studying Exercise and Sport Science at the University of Exeter and completing his PGCE at Warwick, Ben spent 17 years at Forest School in London, where he was Housemaster and Director of Sport.
He joined Rugby School in 2021 with his wife Katie, Head of Spanish, and their two children, Sophia and Harry, and became Housemaster of Rupert Brooke in 2024. Ben teaches Sport Science and has a strong interest in talent identification and development.
A keen sportsman, he coaches hockey and cricket and is involved in national programmes in both football and cricket. The family have thoroughly enjoyed settling into Rupert Brooke.