Curriculum and Departments

The pursuit of creativity and the ways in which we express ourselves are how we leave our mark on our world.  The entire history of mankind is understood through its decorations, architecture, painting and sculpture, jewelry, and clothing.  Art students not only come to understand the silent languages that we use when we create Art, but are also continuously problem solving, thinking laterally and ultimately finding their own voice. 

Students might find themselves developing technical skills in drawing and painting, others might come to appreciate theoretical or conceptual Art. Graphic designers put psychology to use working in media and understanding subtexts.  Textile designers might make garments for the catwalk or build installations for a gallery.  The photographers are rarely limited to darkroom work, but build on their knowledge with photoshop, animation, film making or drone photography. 

The studios are open, and all resources are available to all students.  We have a wide range of co-curricular activities including the Art Society, Film Club, Architecture Society and Textiles club. 

Almost everyone ends up working for some type of Business, or at least an organisation, or they may end up owning one themselves. 

Studying Business helps you to appreciate and understand the myriad of decisions that firms make: how they grow, to how they manage their finances, produce their products and motivate their people. Business students will learn detailed financial analysis and be able to discuss the strategic direction of firms in a local, national, and global context. Students learn how businesses act and react in the face of changing competition, economic, legal and social change. Students will study one industry in more depth as they draw together the threads of all they have previously learned in order to make recommendations to specific businesses.  

The department runs the Ostrom Society, which gives Economics and Business students an opportunity to delve deeper than the examined curriculum. A number of visiting speakers is planned every year. There are weekly booster sessions for students who need extra consolidation and where they can bring specific difficulties within their studies.  

Classics, with its associated subjects Latin, Greek and Classical Civilisation, is perhaps the most interdisciplinary of all departments. It encapsulates not just the study of ancient languages, but also of history, politics, philosophy, law, art, architecture and anthropology. It offers students the change to engage with seminal works of literature, explore two foundational ancient civilisations and consider their enduring impact. It ‘helps create curious, intellectually rigorous students with a rich interior world, people who have the tools to see our world as it really is because they have encountered and imaginatively experienced another that is so like, and so very unlike, our own’ (Charlotte Higgins).

The subject has an illustrious history at Rugby School. The department continues to use Dr Arnold’s old teaching room, Upper Bench, home to Classics teaching for near-on two centuries. Its academic society, named after him, meets regularly, while the department runs frequent local trips to plays, museums and lectures, and annual international trips to the Mediterranean.

“Computer Science empowers students to create the world of tomorrow.” – Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. If you relish problem-solving and enjoy mathematics Computer Science is an ideal subject to study as it develops your logical and analytical thinking skills. Computer Science is available to all students from year 9 onwards. The subject is taught, by staff who have specific software development backgrounds, with a strong emphasis on building the students’ practical coding skills, alongside the study of theoretical topics including information representation, network and Internet technologies and a range of hardware components. The department offers weekly academic study sessions to those who may require additional support or advice. Students across the School are encouraged to participate in national competitions such as the Bebras and Oxford University Computing Challenges as well as the British Informatics Olympiad and are welcome to attend the regular student-led Computer Science Society meetings which explore topics chosen by students. 

The world-renowned scientist Richard Feynman was once asked for the sentence that has advanced humankind the most. He immediately replied: “All things are made of atoms”. As the central science, Chemistry is underlined by a dynamic range of skills; in particular, the ability to apply knowledge; analyse information and evaluate results. By studying Chemistry, our students develop the propensity to think critically, clearly and on their feet. Ultimately, the department aims to produce a generation of open-minded inquirers who are adept at applying new ideas to new and exciting contexts. Chemistry is divided into three parts: 

•  Organic Chemistry is the study of carbon containing molecules. This encompasses a range of substances from fuels and plastics to perfumes and flavourings. 

• Physical Chemistry involves the application of mathematical skills to chemical contexts. Students can use calculations to predict chemical measurements. 

• Inorganic Chemistry is the holistic study of the periodic table. Nobel Prize winning work from the early 20th century is used to explain trends and predict properties. 

Students are invited to attend regular guest lectures from active scientists and related professionals. Recently, this included the Nobel Prize winning chemist Sir Fraser Stoddart. The Department is also successful in various national competitions including the Chemistry Olympiad and the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge. 

There is little in our day-to-day lives that hasn’t been designed in some way – the clothes we wear, the buildings we inhabit, the products we use. 

Design students focus on the art of decision-making; why choose one way over another? Our courses are based heavily around practical work in our superbly equipped workshop. There remains a strong emphasis on timber, metal and plastic manufacturing, whilst computer-based design continues to grow in importance. In all year groups, students will be challenged to think of new and original work, whilst developing their theoretical knowledge of materials and processes, alongside the craft skills to make them. 

Outside the exam courses, the workshop bustles with enrichment opportunities. Students can access the workshop every evening to work on their own projects, with support available from two full-time technicians. There are a wide variety of clubs, including Engineering, Longboard and Bow-Making. 

Economics surrounds us informs both fundamental and day to day decision making for individuals, firms and governments. 

Whilst studying this subject, you will gain a unique understanding of the world around you and be far more able to interpret current affairs’ and government policy, better understanding how such things affect our lives, our purchasing power and our standard of living. A grounding in Economics can help us understand why footballers are paid so much, why there are both unemployed people and job vacancies around the country, and why petrol is taxed so highly. Economics can help us interpret and evaluate the real costs and benefits of wind power and explain why the government gives money to purchasers of solar panels. It can also explain why we would rather have rising prices than falling ones. 

The department runs the Ostrom Society to give students an opportunity to delve deeper than the examined curriculum. A number of visiting speakers is planned every year. There are weekly booster sessions for students who need extra consolidation and where they can bring specific difficulties within their studies.

The English department is a crucible of debate and discussion, where big ideas are tackled and lines of argument are finessed. We love the broad brush but also the fine toothcomb, and students are challenged to think, encouraged to be creative, and dared to be different in their time here. Our alphabet goes from Adichie to Zephaniah, with texts crossing centuries, continents and cultures. We have a rich programme of speakers (two Poet Laureates in the last two years) and our literary and creative clubs meet on a weekly basis. We run trips to the theatre (including Stratford and London), and an annual creative writing residential at Ted Hughes’ house in Yorkshire. Teachers are always available for one-to-one support and the Learning Development team offer additional sessions as well.   

Geography sits astride the border between the sciences and humanities. It is unique in that its students gain skills from the transdisciplinary nature of the subject and, as a consequence, are uniquely placed to thrive in a challenging and dynamic world. Students will explore all corners of the earth from the highest mountains to the deepest oceans as well as the cultures they influence. Field trips form an essential component of study, students build skills of extended project work collect real time data about the world around them. Enrichment opportunities include working with the Biology Department studying the geography of health and disease in, GAIA magazine, and The Geography Book Club for the Sixth Form along with a regular speaker programme open to all years. Teachers are always available for one-to-one support and a dedicated support session is run once a week. 

The Department seeks to develop a passion for historical research and academic curiosity amongst pupils. Whilst exams are important, we believe that a broader interest in the subject is cultivated by lively, well-informed argument. In richly varied courses, pupils range widely across themes, geography, and chronology exploring the defining contours of the modern and pre-modern world. The subject helps develop skills such as critical thinking, debate, and extended writing. The department is noted for its excellent enrichment offering, with a flourishing academic society (Hydra) which meets regularly to hear papers from visiting speakers, staff, and pupils. In addition to what we provide within school, pupils also have the opportunity to go on residential and day trips and attend lecture days. Recent trips have included Berlin/Krakow and Washington DC. 

Schools of Empire: Class and Colonialism, c.1750–c.1945 is a 5-year project that seeks to explore the historical intersection of education and empire, focusing on the themes of class, colonialism, gender, and race. The direction of the Schools of Empire project is overseen by an independent academic advisory board.

Simultaneously drawing on the rich resources of the Rugby School Archives and bringing together a network of partner schools, their archives, and universities, one of the central aims of the project is to facilitate and support independent research. Internship programmes are at the heart of the project, and contribute to Rugby School’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. In collaboration with the AHRC and the Crankstart Foundation at the University of Oxford, Schools of Empire provides opportunities for doctoral researchers and undergraduate students to access the archives of Rugby and other public schools. Interns’ independent research projects employ intersectional approaches to class, gender and race, and the school provides on-site training in digitisation, archival handling and preservation. Pupils also get involved in this research as part of their community outreach programme.

The project has been recognised in the Highlights of The National Archives’ Year in Archives 2021 and won the Boarding Schools’ Association Award for Best New INDEX (Inclusivity and Diversity Excellence) Initiative 2022.

Mathematics is full of fascinating ideas and important applications. The process of understanding a new mathematical concept or solving a problem using maths is enormously satisfying and the subject helps students develop many vital and transferable skills: Logical thinking, creative problem solving, systematic working and precision are just a few such examples. 

Students at Rugby enjoy their Mathematics and are equipped with resilience to tackle challenging questions, no matter their ability. The Department has a diverse, experienced staff with a wide range of high-level mathematical backgrounds. They tailor lessons to provide stretch for the strongest, but understand that some students need more support. The department prides itself on being one where teachers work alongside students to support them through their mathematical learning and are always on hand to help. Our best students take their mathematics to the highest level available and we always allow students to pursue their love of the subject as far as they can. The Department enjoys significant success in various UKMT Team, Individual Challenges and Olympiads, reflecting the enjoyment students and staff see in the subject. 

Studying languages is an enjoyable and fulfilling experience, which opens up a new world of possibilities, fosters curiosity and enhances inquisitive skills. Students learn to confidently communicate a wide range of ideas orally and in writing and significantly improve their listening and reading skills. Active learning is central to successful language teaching and so interaction plays a vital part in our lessons. All students will find that their confidence grows in their chosen languages and that they finish the course keen to learn more. Grammar and vocabulary are vital for success and are taught alongside and embedded in a wide range of communicative activities. We also provide an insight into the countries where the language is spoken through film, short stories and other authentic materials. Outside of lessons, we offer weekly support sessions and organise a varied and exciting enrichment programme, including talks by visiting speakers, bake-off evenings, film nights, advanced conversation and translation workshops. The department also organises several annual overseas trips to destinations in France, Spain, Italy and Austria. 

To some, Music is a universal language, an art, or a science; yet it is all three in creative synergy. Individual student musicians bring a range of creative interests, musical experiences and musical understanding to the department. We seek to develop and nurture these through the exploration of the interdependent skills of analysis, performance and composition; with creativity at its core. Whilst some topics are prescribed, there is space for students to develop their own musical interests and understand their place in a global context. Students develop their ability to perform, compose and write about music with authoritative theoretical, conceptual and contextual understanding. The music department is the largest department in the school with over 40 full time or visiting musicians offering bespoke and diverse musical engagements and encounters to suit and broaden the interests of all musicians.  

Physics is one of the most prestigious and rewarding subjects to study. It offers not only fantastic career and academic progression opportunities, but also promotes a wide range of transferrable skills: problem solving, modelling, mathematical ability, reasoning critical thinking and scientific method. To study Physics is to attempt to understand the world around us: Why is the sky blue but sunsets red? How can we save premature babies from dying? What holds parts of the atom together? How can we predict natural disasters?… and many more. 

The department offers wide ranging enrichment including Big Bang Society, Solvay Society and Olympiad preparation. Supported Study runs weekly for those looking for extra help. 

If God is loving, why is there evil in the world? Can one ethical theory solve all ethical dilemmas? Is the influence of religion decreasing in society? The Philosophy & Theology department is a dynamic and exciting place to be. We approach all our teaching through engaging, interesting and inquisitive questions, as a class we then think through various answers and approaches. This then leads to critical analysis as we examine the merits and weaknesses of various ideas. The department loves to run trips to exciting, cultural places that link to interesting ethical, philosophical and religious concepts and ideas we have learnt in lessons. Sidgwick Society regularly runs for all year groups and each session brings a new, exciting and interesting philosophical issue for students to discuss. The department prides itself on being organised, well-resourced and approachable in all aspects of academic life. 

“If you do not take an interest in the affairs of government, then you are doomed to live under the rule of fools’. (Plato) 

Studying Politics will provide insight into political beliefs central to an understanding of the modern world. It nurtures analytical and evaluative skills in relation to interesting topics prevalent in the dynamic political climate of today. Our programmes provide foundations of political knowledge on which to develop skills for citizenship and university study. From analysing election results, the health of political institutions, the styles of political leaders and parties, the protection of rights to examining the dynamics of international relations, studying politics serves to promote a spirit of enquiry and excitement. This is nurtured through varied and dynamically delivered lessons, delivered in state of the art facilities and complemented by an exciting speakers’ programme (Tawney Society) and a Rugby Parliament. Sustaining a high standard of achievement for all is realised through our teachers providing bespoke learning journeys. 

The study of Psychology aims to explore why we do the things that we do. What determines human behaviour? Can we really explain or predict it using a theory or model? Psychology must draw on a number of disciplines such as Biology and Sociocultural studies in order to explain the complexity of human behaviour. It is a dynamic and engaging subject because, as our world and our human experiences change, so does the way we look to explain our behaviour. Students of Psychology have the opportunity to learn about research methods and participate in research themselves. They will study classic and new theories of behaviour and evaluate how these relate to the modern, more global world. Students are curious and questioning and are encouraged to challenge their own perceptions of human behaviour. They learn to think critically about why brain anatomy, cognitive ability, society and culture all help to create the individuals that we are. 

The students run their own Psychology Society and academic support is available twice weekly for anyone who would like some help or raise a new debate. 

The vision of the Sports Science department is to ‘Educate, Excite and Excel’. Through this vision statement we aim to develop students who have a fascination with the workings of the human body and understand the importance of good physical exercise and sporting habits. 

In addition to the exceptional facilities and equipment within the school and department, we run annual trips to universities and hold a weekly Sports Science society where students can nurture their curiosity and passion beyond the specification. 

In theatre and performance studies, we develop skills in being, doing and thinking: intertwining creativity, collaborative skills and critical thinking. These are the very bones of what it means to work and communicate in a school setting and beyond, in ‘the real world’. Theatre is never created in a vacuum. It is always the product of the cultural, social, political and historical contexts in which it is made. Theatre and performance gets to the crux of what it means to be human, and what it means to genuinely strive to understand other humans. Our students are therefore cultural producers, theatregoers, and theatre theoreticians: performing, watching and writing about theatre from Ancient Greece to the 21st century.