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Secondary education

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Original poster

Rugby School houses for quiet DS?

16 replies

ditheringandallying · 24/10/2021 16:53

DS (Year 10) is looking at moving from his Grammar school for sixth form in 2 years' time. He likes rugby school (especially the IB offering as his current school and the locals only offer ALs or B Techs). Does anyone have any opinions on boarding houses? He can be quite sensitive/introverted and is very academic (predicted all 8s and 9s) but is allergic to sport would rather spend his time buried in a book so don't want to send him to a house that is very sports focused or boisterous, or where he could be made fun of for being academic. Is often friends with the girls rather than the boys so has had some issues with friendships in the past. Or is the school overwhelmingly sporty at sixth form and it would be a bad idea to send him there regardless.

As a family we'd just about be able to scrape together the fees but we aren't massively wealthy or anything of the sort so I wouldn't want him feeling worse than others around him if they were all super super rich!

Also when looking at other schools some of them ask you to list every school you apply to? Confused What's that about!

OP posts:
Zodlebud · 24/10/2021 18:28

Can’t help with the Rugby specific comments but private schools usually ask which other schools you have applied to.

They use it when trying to work out how many offers to send out and the likelihood of the offer being accepted as schools always over offer. So if you have Eton, Harrow, Winchester and Radley on your form it indicates you are probably after a “big name” school and unlikely to accept if you get an offer from one of the others. It wouldn’t stop them offering but they would feel comfortable in over offering IYSWIM.

Original poster
ditheringandallying · 25/10/2021 12:58

@zodlebud Thanks! That makes sense. Not sure why some state schools do it though...

OP posts:
leftandaright · 25/10/2021 16:03

Rugby is a great school but it’s an all round one. Not sure I’d send a child who hated sport there. There are probably more academic focussed schools out there. Tricky though. Boarding school USPs tend to be not just academic but the whole shebang. Part of the reason for many to choose a boarding school to produce a rounded child. Lots of children at boarding schools get all 8s and 9s - in this day and age this would not be considered super academic. What else does your child like apart from academics. Boarding school life might be tricky if they don’t also enjoy something else. Could be a lonely experience?

JumperandJacket · 25/10/2021 17:47

Have you considered Leighton Park? That offers IB and it's a great place for a sensitive boy, as well as getting very good results. Rugby is very much a standard issue public school- it's not as sporty as some but still takes sport seriously and might not be the easiest place to be a new boy in the sixth form if he is very introverted.

Winchester might be an option? Doesn't do IB but is a great place for an academic boy (although I agree with @leftandaright that all 8s and 9s at GCSE isn't unusual)- I think perhaps it's somewhere that is a bit more accepting of quirkiness than Rugby.

Abingdon also sprung to mind.

JumperandJacket · 25/10/2021 17:49

*sprang

BigPyjamas · 25/10/2021 17:57

I've asked my DB for you, he went to Rugby some years ago.

He says that's as an all round school, there were some highly academic not sporty types, as there were sporty non-academic (this is him)

He added that the school would look to stretch and broaden his horizons academically and also with hobbies. He said all good schools would do this.

Rugby won't hothouse, it won't be hugely pressured.

Re houses, it's very much Master dependant, and the mix of the intake at the time. So will change yearly.

Finally as asked, if your son is very introverted, are you confident that boarding school is the right environment, just to double check.

Nuala4 · 28/10/2021 22:37

Have DD at Rugby who is definitely not sporty and always has her head in a good book; she adores the teachers and teaching at Rugby and has found lots of great societies to get involved as there is an amazing selection to choose from. Kilbracken seems to be most popular for boys, Sheriff or Michell also though whichever you choose the pastoral care at the school is excellent so if there are any bumps adjusting to boarding (there will be) the school provide great support you and your child.

TizerorFizz · 29/10/2021 00:23

A very great feints had two DC at Rugby. Her DS wasn’t sporty. Thrived there. I cannot remember his house though! Her DD wasn’t academic but was still happy there. There’s so much going on, there’s room for all interests!

I think Rugby is a great choice. As a 6th former he might well mature and be less introverted. Make absolutely sure he wants to board because getting stuck into something is the best policy! But it doesn’t have to be sport.

By the way, DC with all grades 8/9 at GCSE ARE bright! Plenty at boarding schools don’t have this profile!

Original poster
ditheringandallying · 30/10/2021 17:33

Thanks everyone! I understand, @TizerorFizz, but he's the one who said he wanted to board (I'm already missing him - don't want him to go)! Just to clarify when I said 8s and 9s, DS is predicted 10 9s and 3 8s (which I think is very good even if there are people who get higher) and by academic I also just meant likes to spend time researching topics etc beyond the syllabus.

I know it would be best to visit but haven't had the time...

OP posts:
Original poster
ditheringandallying · 30/10/2021 18:08

@nuala4 are whitelaw/school house/school field less good? Thanks for your insight on the pastoral care though.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 30/10/2021 21:33

I’m not saying he shouldn’t board at all. My DDs boarded but I know it’s best to get into clubs and activities to make friends.

lookforthesun · 10/06/2022 21:08

Just a little bump wondering if anyone else had any opinion on the houses at rugby. For a non football playing boy who is otherwise an all rounder. Quiet, gentle and friendly.

lookforthesun · 12/06/2022 07:23

Hopeful bump

Mumsafan · 13/06/2022 15:39

We went this weekend for the 2023 Sixth Form intake Open Day. They really do provide even if your child isn't sporty. There are loads of societies and clubs, and the houses are a mixture really, but in Sixth Form there are designated Sixth Form (the XX) houses for girls, so I presume the same for boys. My DD will be a day pupil so we only get the one choice :-)

Cfs1668 · 20/07/2022 10:02

Mumsafan · 13/06/2022 15:39

We went this weekend for the 2023 Sixth Form intake Open Day. They really do provide even if your child isn't sporty. There are loads of societies and clubs, and the houses are a mixture really, but in Sixth Form there are designated Sixth Form (the XX) houses for girls, so I presume the same for boys. My DD will be a day pupil so we only get the one choice :-)

Hello, my son also looking for Sixth Form but boarding at Rugby, we didn't attend the open day. Have you visit the boy's boarding house? since I can't find any video online, thanks !

Mumsafan · 20/07/2022 11:56

No we didn't visit the boys houses. If you want to visit the houses you can email admissions and they can arrange it for you. I know the girls can stay in an all 6th form house but I think the boys are spread over all the houses so they will know which one your DS is most suited to. Peter Bell is the Assistant Head, Houses so it might be worth asking admissions to get his email address.
Also there are a lot of boy and girl friendship groups there so that shouldn't be an issue for him.

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