Rugby High School 11+ Guide

About Rugby High School

Rugby High School is a selective secondary school in Warwickshire. For children to get into Rugby High School they need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Hence, Rugby High School is a traditional grammar school, one of only 163 remaining in England.

Nestled in the heart of Bilton, Warwickshire, Rugby High School is a prestigious selective girls' grammar school that has been nurturing young minds and shaping futures for over a century. With a mixed sixth form, the school fosters an environment where students are encouraged to become ambitious and creative thinkers, striving for excellence in both their academic pursuits and extracurricular endeavors.

Rugby High School offers a comprehensive curriculum that encompasses a wide array of subjects, including economics, languages, science, business, art, and computer science. The school's primary objective is to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in their chosen fields and thrive in further education. By providing a challenging academic program and a supportive learning environment, Rugby High ensures that its students are well-prepared for the rigors of higher education and beyond.

In addition to its strong academic focus, Rugby High School places great emphasis on developing well-rounded individuals. The school offers an extensive range of extracurricular activities, from Ancient Greek and debating to rounders and choir, allowing students to explore their interests and cultivate their talents. These activities not only enrich the learning experience but also provide opportunities for students to interact, forge lasting friendships, and develop essential social skills. With an outstanding record of student behavior and attitudes, as recognized by Ofsted, Rugby High School maintains a harmonious and welcoming atmosphere that fosters personal growth and academic success.

At Rugby High School, students are guided by the school's motto, "She Sets Heights In Her Heart," which encapsulates the institution's commitment to empowering young women to reach their full potential. The school's dedicated faculty and staff work tirelessly to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment that encourages students to set ambitious goals and strive for excellence in all aspects of their lives. By instilling a love for learning, a strong work ethic, and a sense of social responsibility, Rugby High School prepares its graduates to become confident, resilient, and successful individuals who are ready to make a positive impact on the world.

School Information

Below you will find further information about Rugby High School together with their admissions contact details.

Rugby High School is a girls only school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).

In total 889 pupils attend Rugby High School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mr Mark Grady.

Rugby High School Location

Below you will find a map showing the school's location:

GCSE & A-Level Subjects

Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Rugby High School for the 2022-23 academic year.

West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Information

In order to get into Rugby High School, children need to pass the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.

West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Subjects & Structure

The West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:

• English comprehension
• Maths
• Verbal reasoning
• Non-verbal reasoning

The West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test is the examination used by Rugby High School to assess prospective students. This rigorous assessment consists of two papers, each lasting one hour. The papers are further divided into smaller sections, each with its own allocated time, focusing on various aspects of academic ability.

The exam covers a range of subjects, including English comprehension, which tests the student's understanding and interpretation of written passages. Mathematical skills are also evaluated, assessing the child's proficiency in numerical reasoning and problem-solving. Additionally, the test includes sections on verbal and non-verbal reasoning, which gauge the student's ability to analyze and manipulate language and patterns, respectively.

Throughout the examination, students are presented with multiple-choice questions, and they are required to mark their answers on separate answer sheets. These answer sheets are then electronically assessed to determine the student's performance in each subject area.

Other Schools using West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+

As well as Rugby High School, several other schools also use West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+. These are:

• Bishop Vesey's Grammar School
• King Edward VI Aston School
• King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys
• King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
• King Edward VI Five Ways School
• King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
• King Edward VI Handsworth School
• Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
• Haberdashers' Adams
• Newport Girls' High School Academy
• Queen Mary's Grammar School
• Queen Mary's High School
• Alcester Grammar School
• King Edward VI School
• Lawrence Sheriff School
• Stratford Girls' Grammar School
• Wolverhampton Girls' High School

West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Rugby High School is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.

Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.

Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.

It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!

West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Pass Mark

The pass mark for the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).

Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at Rugby High School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

Ofsted Information

Rugby High School was last inspected by Ofsted on 15/11/2022 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 12/01/2023, declaring that the school was 'Good'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.

Last Ofsted Report Data

Ofsted Report Summary

The inspection of Rugby High School on 15 November 2022 resulted in an overall outcome of Good. The school received a Good rating for the quality of education, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth form provision. Behaviour and attitudes were rated as Outstanding.

The inspection report highlights the school's strengths in providing a good quality of education across all areas, with effective leadership and management supporting student development. The Outstanding rating for behaviour and attitudes suggests that students at Rugby High School demonstrate exemplary conduct and engagement in their learning.

While the school performs well in most areas, the report implies that there is room for improvement to reach an Outstanding rating in the quality of education, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth form provision. Nevertheless, Rugby High School's overall Good rating indicates that it provides a solid educational experience for its students.

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Rugby High School per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.

GCSE Results Information (2022-23)

A-Level Results Information (2022-23)

Past 11+ Paper Downloads

Unfortunately, Rugby High School has not made any of their past 11+ papers publicly available.

Practice 11+ Paper Downloads

Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the West Midlands Grammar Schools 11+ Ensure you double-check with Rugby High School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.