Whitelaw House, 4 Hillmorton Road, Rugby, CV22 5DE
Tel: +44 (0) 1788 556 230 | Email: whitelaw@rugbyschool.net
ABOUT THE HOUSE
Whitelaw House sits in impressive grounds at the heart of the School, and as one of the oldest and most distinguished boarding houses, it’s history is intertwined with the School. The recent 18-month refurbishment has sensitively preserved the charm and character of the House, whilst delivering sector-leading boarding facilities for the boys.
Beginning their Whitelaw journey in a spacious dormitory with an integrated common room, ten FB boys live together with an adjacent bathroom. As they advance from EB through to the XX, they move into study bedrooms, many of which feature en-suite bathrooms. The House features a large quad for sporting fun, a well-equipped gym, 2 communal study rooms, 5 common rooms, 3 kitchens, a music practice room, and a beautiful wooden panelled dining room, where we sit together 3 times a day to eat as a House.
Whitelaw is renowned for its welcoming and friendly atmosphere, embracing boys with diverse interests and talents, whether academic, sporting, musical, or artistic. Our ethos invites boys to make a commitment to themselves, their peers, their House, and their school, encouraging them to challenge themselves, explore opportunities, and give their all.
To see more of what the Whitelaw boys get up to, have a look at our House Instagram page, @Whitelaw_RugbySchool.
The Housemaster
Ashley Ellis joined Whitelaw in September 2023 following three years as Deputy Housemaster in School House and a year as Resident Tutor in Michell. Ashley read Physics at the University of Nottingham and then completed a PGCE and Masters in Education at the University of Cambridge. His teaching career began with the founding of a private tuition company, a role which he continued until the end of his degree.
Ashley is heavily involved in the co-curricular arm of the School; taking the U16A team for soccer, the U16B team for rugby football, and the senior squad for summer squash. Alongside sport, Ashley helps lead the Army Section of the CCF, supports the Duke of Edinburgh’s expedition programme, and for those students interested in studying for a GCSE in Astronomy, Ashley facilitates this off timetable. When term ends, Ashley enjoys an adventure, with recent enjoyable trips including swimming in Lake Bled, Kayaking around remote Swedish islands, and trekking around the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal.
Above all, Ashley enjoys being around the House, and making sure the boys in Whitelaw make their most of their time at Rugby School.
The Deputy Housemaster
Sam Robinson joined Rugby School in January 2016 as a Teacher of Biology and tutor in Michell House. Sam read Pharmacology at Newcastle University and completed a Masters in Neuroscience. He started his teaching career at a boys day school in Nottingham and was Assistant Head of Years 10/11 for five years whilst living in Stanley House with his wife, Liz Robinson, who was DHm. Sam then moved into Griffin House for six years whilst Liz was Hm. He was appointed as Head of Science in September 2018.
Throughout Sam’s time at Rugby, he has been fully involved in the major sports programme; coaching the 1st XI for Cricket and co-leading cricket tours to Dubai and Barbados, as well coaching Rugby (Bigside) and Hockey, and he enjoyed accompanying the EB boys and girls A teams on a Hockey tour to Barcelona. Sam is also a key member of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award staff, as a trained assessor, he is able to support Bronze, Silver and Gold Award expeditions. He is experienced at leading trips, having organised and led a biology trip to Madagascar at his previous School, and he enjoys helping to organise the annual Biology trip to Pembrokeshire.
Having spent the past 11 years living in girls’ Houses due to his wife’s pastoral roles, Sam relishes the opportunity to live in Whitelaw and get stuck into boarding life with 50+ boys! Sam will be joined in House by wife Liz, baby Isla (born April 2023) and black Labrador Raphie.
Matrons
We are exceptionally fortunate to have a dedicated matron team in Whitelaw, with Sara residing in the House as our resident matron, and Kerri serving as our non-resident matron. Both Sara and Kerri work tirelessly to ensure the well-being of the boys, particularly taking the lead on medical matters. Having both raised boys of their own, they bring invaluable experience and understanding to their roles, creating a warm and loving environment that truly makes the House feel like a home. Known for their exceptional event planning skills, they consistently go above and beyond to ensure that House events are memorable and enjoyable. When not in the office, they can be found planning their latest festive decoration—Christmas is a real winner in Whitelaw!