By all accounts, Thomas Arnold was a remarkable man. He was born on the Isle of Wight and educated in some of England's finest schools. Rather than follow in his father's footsteps - as was common at the time, he eschewed official work to specialise in education. He first held a post at a school in Laleham before taking over the position at the Rugby School.

During his tenure there, from 1828 to 1841, the world was in the throes of an education revolution. Many countries were drafting compulsory education laws. Headmaster Arnold believed English schools should, at the very least, adopt some of those principles. He introduced reforms that other public schools rushed to copy.

Remarkably, Thomas Arnold embraced neither science teaching nor sports. He believed that science must either be central to the school's curriculum or not taught at all. As his bent was classical languages, science lost out. As for sport, he had no appetite for it. Indeed, the school did not offer sports as a part of its curriculum until nearly a decade after his tenure. What does the school have to offer today?

  • Rugby, the game that gets its name from this school
  • Rugby Fives: similar to squash, it is a handball game
  • cricket: the school has hosted two major matches and produced several renowned cricketers
  • a strong academic track record, including a host of GCSE and A-Level offerings
  • a host of illustrious alumni, including Lewis Carroll and Salman Rushdie

The Rugby School is, of course, a leading member of the Rugby Group. This group comprises 18 English public schools, Clifton College among them. Make your dream of getting into Rugby School a reality with this handy guide.

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About Rugby School

Rugby School was founded in 1567 by Lawrence Sheriff as a Grammar School for boys residing in Rugby and Brownsover. It wouldn’t be until 1823, after much strife and the school's near collapse, that the school would witness the first game of Rugby. That game is, of course, the main reason it is famous today. In 1975, two girls joined the school for Sixth Form education. Thus began the school's tradition of coeducation that culminated in the opening of its fourth girls’ house in 2003.

An L-shaped grey stone building with a crenellated tower at its juncture and a silver car parked in front of it.
The Rugby School House is one of the oldest houses on the Rugby campus. Source: Wikipedia Credit: G-13114

In the words of its “greatest Headmaster” Dr Thomas Arnold, Rugby School holds three values close to its heart: “First religious and moral principle, second gentlemanly conduct, [and] third academic ability.” Offhand, that sounds a lot like the values Westminster School embraces. But that school is nowhere near as stringent in its religious requirements. They prefer an academic emphasis.

Rugby School has embraced progressive educational standards. The campus is practically paperless; students have no books or binders. Their source materials are electronic; whiteboards in the classrooms and laptops in the dorms. Rugby School pioneered the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ); an optional qualification for English and Welsh students. It is worth 50% of an A-Level and 28 UCAS points.

Rugby's music education is, for some, a strong selling point. For others, the wide variety of extracurricular activities is the main draw. The best way to know if Rugby School is right for you and your child is to experience the school for yourself. Rugby hosts several Open Events throughout the autumn term that will allow you to do just that.

The first event is for 13+ Boarders, which takes place in September. The next event is for all 16+ candidates, which takes place later that month. Lastly, 13+ day students are welcome to attend the open event on the morning of 1st October. For more information or to book your visit, please see Rugby School’s Open Days.

A woman in a white top and jeans sits on the red carpet, leaning on a white sofa, with a laptop computer open on her lap.
Year 12 students should register with Rugby School by November of their Year 11. Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

Rugby School Admissions Policy

Each year, Rugby School accepts 160 13+ students. Like Charterhouse School, Rugby recommends you visit the campus and signal your interest at least two years ahead of enrolment. If Rugby is on your or your student's radar, be sure to plan your visit during Year 5 or Year 6. Rugby will start its first wave of considerations in Year 7.

Should your student fall under their consideration, you must supply their most recent verbal reasoning test as well as a comprehensive report from your child's current school. Should you or the school not have a verbal reasoning test result to provide, Rugby will test your child. Other criteria for consideration include a sample of Year 7 work and English or Maths workbooks.

You should also download and prepare the school's pre-interview questionnaire. These responses will form the basis of the actual interview. Once conditionally accepted, your child will sit the Common Entrance exam.

Year 12 Entry

Rugby School takes in 40 Year 12 students, mostly girls. This group too must submit applications before September of the year before entry. Prospective students will then be invited to interview in November of their Year 11. Be sure to notify your child's current school that you've registered with Rugby so they can be prepared to forward the necessary documents.

Prospective students must have attained satisfactory GCSE marks. Alternatively, Rugby will accept International Baccalaureate (Middle Years Programme - MYP) scores. Rugby School considers academic merit when deciding placements. Note that prospective students will then write their Sixth Form Entrance Examinations and interview the following November. Consequent offers are conditional on GCSE results.

If you miss any of the above deadlines, Rugby School offers waiting list positions for all students. To apply to the waiting list, please complete and submit the waiting list registration form as soon as possible (you'll not be required to pay a registration fee).

An excited student sits before her computer with her parents on either side of her.
You can help your 13+ student navigate Rugby School's registration requirements and interview. Photo by sofatutor on Unsplash

Rugby School Interviews and Examinations

Students applying at 13+ will be assessed by interview, exam, and school report. Students’ current schools will also be asked to provide their most recent Verbal Reasoning Test (VRT) score. If they do not, your child will take a new VRT the same day as their interviews with their Housemistress or Housemaster.

The interview should take 20 - 30 minutes, and students are asked to bring their most recent Maths and English workbooks. They must also bring the piece of Year 7 work of which they are most proud. Lastly, students will also sit school exams in English and Mathematics in addition to the standardized Common Entrance Examination.

To get a better understanding of what types of questions interviewers might ask, consider aspects of a student's typical life. Interviewers might ask about family and school, but also about hobbies and extracurricular activities. "Why are you interested in Rugby School?" is a crucial question. "What do you know about Rugby School?" is another. Thus, it would be a good idea for your child to read up on the school's history and think about why it's such an attractive option for them.

Like those applying to Marlborough College, students applying to 16+ will sit Sixth Form Entrance Exams and interview with their Housemistress or Housemaster. A full list of exam notes and specimen papers can be found on the Rugby School website for more information. Students must also receive at least three A grades and three B grades at GCSE to qualify for entry to the school.

To prepare, consider revising with the abundance of materials available online, like the Superprof Resource Centre or GCSE.com. This will strengthen your exam writing skills. It will also provide a fresh perspective on subjects that may have grown stale at school. For an extra boost, book a tutor to glean expert advice on any and every stage of the process, from application to examination. Good luck!

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Jon

As an Englishman in Paris, I enjoy growing my knowledge of other languages and cultures. I'm interested in History, Economics, and Sociology and believe in the importance of continuous learning.