Rugby School
Rugby, Warwickshire · CV21 3AW
Rugby School is one of England's great historic public schools, founded in 1567 and immortalised by Thomas Hughes's 'Tom Brown's School Days' and the legendary headmastership of Thomas Arnold. Set on a substantial campus in the heart of Rugby town, the school blends its reforming, character-building heritage with a modern co-educational boarding and day community of around 865 pupils. Its ethos — encapsulated in 'The whole person is the whole point' — prioritises kindness, authenticity, courage and curiosity alongside strong academic outcomes. Rugby is also the birthplace of the sport that bears its name, giving the school a singular place in both educational and sporting history.
- →Historic prestige and genuine co-educational full boarding community with a distinct, values-led ethos rooted in Thomas Arnold's reforming tradition
- →Breadth of opportunity across academics, arts, sport and service within a large, well-resourced campus in a manageable market-town setting
- →Strong house system with a diverse mix of boarding and day pupils across boys', girls' and day houses fostering genuine community
- →The birthplace of rugby football, offering outstanding rugby and broader sport provision alongside serious music, drama and CCF programmes
Who thrives here
A confident, curious all-rounder who wants genuine breadth — academically solid but not single-mindedly academic — and who will thrive in a boarding community that values character, participation and leadership as much as exam results. Particularly well suited to pupils who benefit from the structure and social richness of full boarding.
Strengths at a glance
Percentiles within UK independent + grammar schools we track.
At a glance
Contact & visit
The Bursary, 10 Little Church Street
Rugby, Warwickshire
CV21 3AW
Nearest stations
Notable alumni
Rupert Brooke
First World War poet
Lewis Carroll
Author of Alice in Wonderland
Salman Khan
Founder of Khan Academy
Bill Beaumont
England rugby captain and World Rugby chairman
Neville Chamberlain
British Prime Minister
Tom King, Baron King of Bridgwater
UK Cabinet Minister and Defence Secretary
Patrick Mayhew, Baron Mayhew
UK Attorney General and Northern Ireland Secretary
Recent investment
Frequently asked questions
What are the fees at Rugby School?
Day fees at Rugby School are approximately £37,350 per year (2025/26). Boarding fees are higher.
How do you get into Rugby School?
Rugby School admits pupils at 13+, 16+. Entry is assessed by 11+ Selective Examination. See the Admissions section above for open days and key dates.
What are Rugby School's exam results?
At Rugby School, 36.7% of A-levels were graded A*–B and 74.3% of GCSEs were grade 7/A or above. Full results are in the Results section above.
Is Rugby School a boarding school?
Rugby School offers boarding as well as day places.
What is Rugby School's latest inspection rating?
ISI rated Rugby School “Excellent” (2022).
What parents say
Frequently praised
✓Genuine boarding community with strong house spirit and lasting friendships across year groups
✓Breadth of co-curricular opportunity — pupils rarely have idle time and find their niche whether in sport, music, drama or service
✓Warm, pastoral care with housemasters and housemistresses who know pupils individually
✓The school's values-led ethos produces confident, grounded and socially aware young people rather than purely exam-optimised results machines
Common concerns
!Academic results, while solid, do not consistently match the very top tier of selective boarding schools, which can concern highly academically ambitious families
!The town-centre location means campus is somewhat open and less self-contained than some rural boarding schools
!Fees are substantial and bursary provision, while available, is limited in volume