School House boys house in Rugby School.
School House, Lawrence Sheriff Street, Rugby, CV22 5EH
Tel: +44 (0) 1788 556 170
Email: schoolhouse@rugbyschool.net
School House is situated in the oldest part of the School and was the original House when Rugby School moved to its present site from the centre of the town around 1750. The current buildings were designed and built by the architect Henry Hakewill between 1809 and 1815. These include Old Hall, the vaulted study block that looks onto the Close and the dormitories. The Old Quad, OBS and other classrooms around the quad were also built at this time.
School House was extended throughout the 19th century, when further studies and another large dormitory (now the Assistant Housemaster’s accommodation) were added. It was during this time that Thomas Hughes (author of Tom Brown’s Schooldays) was a boy in the House under the great Dr Arnold; many of the places mentioned in that book still exist today.
The House underwent a major refurbishment in the late 1960s, when the current dining room was created out of an internal quadrangle and a wooden spiral staircase that went up through the House was replaced by a series of concrete flights. Between 1993 and 1995 the House was, once again, extensively refurbished and today provides accommodation for up to 54 boys.
For the first couple of years the boys occupy dormitories of five or six and from the GCSE year upwards they have their own study bedroom. In addition there is a House Library, three large common rooms, a snooker room and a number of kitchenettes around the House. The Close provides plenty of space for recreation and in the summer months the boys can enjoy the peace and quiet of the School House garden.
Housemaster
Andrew Smith became Housemaster of School House in 2021, having joined Rugby in 2015, first as a tutor in Whitelaw and then as Deputy Housemaster of Michell. Educated at The Perse School, Cambridge, Andrew spent his gap year teaching in Kenya before going to Trinity College, Oxford to earn his degree (MA English Language and Literature) and dabble in college rowing, drama, and journalism. After graduation Andrew moved to London, meandering through film production and publishing companies until, via an e-learning start-up, he returned to teaching. Andrew earned his PGCE at the UCL Institute of Education, and, while working at Rugby, completed his Master of Teaching degree, which he loves to talk about if you ask.
Outside the English classroom, Andrew has coached rugby, hockey, athletics and tennis, and his competitive nature emerges on the squash court and in the annual Crick Run. Past responsibilities include Debating and Landor Society, and he is currently Coordinator for the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. Andrew loves a school trip, and as well as taking groups to the theatre, he has enjoyed taking Rugbeians on expeditions to Madagascar (2017) and to Namibia, Botswana and Zambia (2019).
Tom Batchelor became Deputy Housemaster of School House in September 2024, joining Rugby School in September 2023 as a Teacher of Chemistry and a tutor in Bradley House. After graduating with a Masters in Chemistry from Durham University in 2014, Tom’s path here involved a number of years in the chemical industry before embarking on his teaching career, first at Queen Elizabeth Boys Grammar School, Barnet. When he is not in the science lab, as an avid sportsman, Tom can be found coaching hockey and tennis, with the CCF Army section, and participating in the Gold Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. Tom brings his wife, Lucy, a management consultant, and their three-year-old son, Fred. Outside of work, Tom and his family enjoy hiking, playing and watching most sports, and travelling and exploring new places!
Matron
After living in Spain for six years, Natalie found a revived sense of pride for her home town when she became resident Matron at School House. She has previously worked in a pastoral head of year role at a state school and found it so rewarding to be the student’s trusted adult, someone to listen to and support them. Natalie loves to create a warm and welcoming home environment for the boys in School House and finds it incredibly heartwarming to watch students grow into positive young adults hoping that her influence and guidance may be part of their making.