Rugby School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rugby School
Rugby School, seen from 'The Close' playing field.
Address
Lawrence Sheriff Street Rugby, Warwickshire , CV22 5EH England
Coordinates	52°22′03″N 1°15′40″W / 52.3675°N 1.2611°W / 52.3675; -1.2611
Information
Type	Public school Private boarding school
Motto	Latin: Orando Laborando (by praying, by working)
Religious affiliation(s)	Church of England
Established	1567; 458 years ago (1567)
Founder	Lawrence Sheriff
Department for Education URN	125777 Tables
Executive Head Master	Peter Green
Head	Gareth Parker-Jones
Gender	Co-educational
Age	13 to 18
Enrolment	810
Houses	16
Colour(s)	Duck Egg Blue
Former pupils	Old Rugbeians
School song	Floreat Rugbeia

Rugby School is a famous public school in Rugby, England. It's a private boarding school for students aged 13 to 18.

The school started in 1567 as a free grammar school for local boys. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain. It became much more well-known thanks to its Headmaster, Thomas Arnold, from 1828 to 1841. Rugby School was one of the first "public schools" in the Victorian era. It was originally only for boys, but it became a co-educational school for both boys and girls in 1992.

Many famous people have studied at Rugby School. These include a UK Prime Minister, poets, scientists, writers, and soldiers.

Rugby School is also famous as the place where rugby football was invented!

School History: From 1567 to Today

How Rugby School Began

Lawrence Sheriff, who founded Rugby School.

Rugby School was founded in 1567 by Lawrence Sheriff. He made his money by selling groceries to Queen Elizabeth I of England. In his will, Sheriff said his money should be used to create almshouses (homes for poor people) and a free grammar school. This school was mainly for children from Rugby and Brownsover, and then for children from nearby areas.

Sheriff also left the school an eight-acre piece of land in London. At first, this land was just undeveloped farmland. But over time, London grew, and the land became very valuable. This made Rugby School a very rich school! This land is now part of areas like Great Ormond Street and Lamb's Conduit Street in London.

For a long time, the school was not very well known. There were also some legal problems over Sheriff's will until 1667. After that, the school started to grow steadily. Under Headmaster Henry Holyoake (1688-1731), students from all over England began to attend.

The school was first in a wooden building on Church Street. By the 1740s, this building was old and falling apart. In 1750, the school moved to its current location. The buildings you see today were built in the 1800s and early 1900s.

The Great Rebellion of 1797

Thomas Arnold, a famous Headmaster (1828-1841).

Henry Ingles was Headmaster from 1794 to 1806. He was known for being very strict. His time as Headmaster is famous for the 'Great Rebellion' of 1797. It started when a boy shot a cork gun. The boy said a grocer named Mr. Rowell supplied the gunpowder. Mr. Rowell denied it, so the boy was punished.

In response, the boys broke Mr. Rowell's windows. Mr. Ingles made the boys pay for the damage. This led to a huge riot. The boys broke doors, smashed windows, and burned furniture. Mr. Ingles called for help from the town. Soldiers and townspeople came. The boys ran to a small island in the school grounds. The Riot Act was read, telling the boys to give up. While they were distracted, soldiers crossed the moat and captured them.

The Victorian Era and Thomas Arnold

Rugby School's most famous Headmaster was Thomas Arnold, from 1828 to 1841. He believed in teaching students good morals and religious principles. His ideas became a model for other Victorian public schools. Arnold's time at Rugby is famously described in Thomas Hughes' 1857 book, Tom Brown's School Days.

In 1845, some Rugby schoolboys wrote down the "Laws of Football as Played At Rugby School." This was the first time rules for any type of football were written down.

Over time, more and more fee-paying students from outside Rugby joined the school. This meant fewer local boys could attend for free, as Lawrence Sheriff had intended. So, in 1878, a new school called Lawrence Sheriff Grammar School was founded. This new school continued Sheriff's original idea of a free school for local boys.

In the late 1800s, a French educator named Pierre de Coubertin visited Rugby School several times. He later said the school was a main inspiration for him to start the modern Olympic Games in 1896.

Modern Rugby School: Becoming Co-educational

Game of Rugby being played on 'the Close' at Rugby School, where the sport was invented.

In 1975, two girls were allowed to join the sixth form (the last two years of school). The first house for girls opened three years later. By 1992, Rugby School became fully co-educational, meaning boys and girls could join at age 13. In 1995, Louise Woolcock became the school's first-ever Head Girl. Today, about 800 students attend Rugby School.

Sports at Rugby School

Rugby Football: The Game's Birthplace

William Webb Ellis plaque

Webb Ellis at Rugby, 1823

The game of Rugby football got its name from Rugby School!

There's a famous story about William Webb Ellis. A plaque at the school remembers him. The story says that in 1823, during a football game, Webb Ellis was the first to pick up the ball and run with it. This, they say, led to the invention of rugby. However, this story comes from a former student who wrote about it years later.

In Webb Ellis's time (1816-1825), there were no official rules for football. The games were organized by the students, and the rules often changed.

Rugby Fives: A Unique Hand Game

Rugby fives

Rugby fives is a handball game, a bit like squash. It's played in an enclosed court. It's similar to other games called Winchester fives and Eton fives.

Many believe it came from a game called Wessex fives. Thomas Arnold, the famous Headmaster of Rugby, played Wessex fives when he was a boy.

In Rugby fives, two players (or two teams of two) hit a hard, leather-covered ball with their gloved hands. The goal is to hit the ball above a 'bar' on the front wall so the other player can't return it before it bounces twice. The game is still popular today, with tournaments held across the country.

Cricket: A Long Tradition

The cricket ground at Rugby School.

Rugby School has produced many talented cricketers who have gone on to play at high levels. The school's cricket ground has even hosted professional matches. For example, Warwickshire and Glamorgan played a Twenty20 match here in 2013. In 2015, Warwickshire and Sussex played a one-day match. Warwickshire plans to play more matches at Rugby School in 2024.

Life at Rugby School

Houses: Your School Family

Rugby School has both day students and boarding students, with most students living at the school. The school is divided into "houses." Each house is like a small community where students live, study, and relax.

Academics: What You'll Learn

When students start at Rugby School in their first year (F Block), they study many different subjects. In their second year (E Block) and third year (D Block), they focus on nine subjects for their GCSE exams.

For older students, the school offers A-levels in 29 subjects. Students can choose to study three or four subjects. They can also do an extended project. Rugby School also offers the IB Diploma Programme, which is an international qualification. In 2023, 68% of students achieved top grades (A*/A) in their A-levels, and 83% got high grades (9/7) in their GCSEs.

Scholarships and Fees

Rugby School offers financial help to families who might not be able to afford the full school fees. If a student receives a scholarship, they can get a 10% discount on fees. Sometimes, a student can even get more than one scholarship.

• Boarding fees per term: £13,970
• Day pupil fees per term: £8,770

Famous People Who Went to Rugby School

Rugby School from the side.

Many notable people, called "Old Rugbeians", have studied at Rugby School. These include:

• William Webb Ellis, who is said to have invented rugby.
• Tom Wills, who invented Australian rules football.
• War poets Rupert Brooke and John Gillespie Magee, Jr..
• Former Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain.
• Author and mathematician Lewis Carroll (who wrote Alice in Wonderland).
• Poet and critic Matthew Arnold.
• Author Salman Rushdie.
• The Indian musician Adnan Sami.

Matthew Arnold's father, Thomas Arnold, was also a Headmaster of the school.

The Rugbeian Society

The Rugbeian Society is a group for former students of Rugby School. They are often called "ORs" (Old Rugbeians). The society helps former students stay in touch with each other and with the school.

School Buildings and Architecture

The buildings at Rugby School are from the 1700s, 1800s, and early 1900s. The oldest parts are the Old Quad Buildings and the School House, which date back to 1748. Most of these were built between 1809 and 1813.

Many of the school's most famous buildings were designed by William Butterfield in the Victorian era. The chapel, built in 1872, is very noticeable with its tall, octagonal tower. The New Quad buildings were also designed by Butterfield. The War Memorial chapel, built in 1922, remembers those who served in wars.

The Temple Speech Room was opened in 1909 by King Edward VII. It's named after former Headmaster Frederick Temple. The Macready Theatre was once classrooms but was turned into a theatre in 1975. It is now open to the public.

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  The School House, built in 1813.

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  Old Quad Buildings, built from 1809-13.

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  From left to right: New Quad Buildings, Chapel, and War Memorial Chapel.

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  Temple Speech Room.

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  Macready Theatre.

Head Masters of Rugby School

Thomas Arnold: A Visionary Leader

An old bookplate from Rugby School.

Thomas Arnold was Rugby's most famous Headmaster, starting in 1828. He made many changes to the school's lessons and how it was run. His work and the school's reputation became well-known through Thomas Hughes' book Tom Brown's School Days.

Arnold had three main ideas for his students:

• Religious and moral principles: He wanted students to be good and honest.
• Gentlemanly conduct: He taught them to behave politely and respectfully.
• Academic performance: He encouraged them to study hard and do well.

He believed in something called "muscular Christianity." This meant being a good person, strong in character, and disciplined. The goal was to create a "Christian gentleman" – someone who looked good, was playful but serious, hardworking, manly, honest, and responsible.

John Percival: A Step Forward for Teachers

In 1888, Headmaster John Percival hired Marie Bethell Beauclerc. She was the first female teacher in an English boys' public school. She also taught shorthand (a fast way of writing) for the first time in such a school. Many boys joined her classes.

See also

In Spanish: Rugby School para niños

• List of schools in the West Midlands
• Four Rugby Boys