Royal Hospital School

The Royal Hospital School (RHS) is set in 200 acres of stunning Suffolk
countryside overlooking the River Stour. Located approximately one hour
from London and Cambridge, RHS is a leading independent, co-educational
boarding and day school, rooted in 300 years of naval heritage but
providing a full and broad education fit for the modern world. The school’s
ethos is understanding each young person’s strengths, to help them to
make the right choices at the right time, navigating through their critical
formative years and ensuring their education becomes the foundation for
their happiness and success.

RHS achieved the highest grading possible of ‘Excellence’ in all
categories in the most recent ISI Educational Quality Inspection. This year
a commitment to the wellbeing of pupils, parents and staff led to them
being granted the prestigious Wellbeing Award for Schools. In addition,
they were one of five finalists for ‘Co-Educational School of the Year’ in
the Independent School of the Year Awards 2022. In the Muddy Stilettos
Best School Awards they were a finalist in the ‘Happiest Boarding School’
category and winners of the ‘Empowering Young Entrepreneurs’ category as
well as being highly commended for their teaching of music and the arts.

Headmaster, Simon Lockyer, explains our core aims;
“We inspire our pupils to have the courage to be ambitious for their futures
and the commitment to pursue whichever path they choose. We challenge
pupils of all academic abilities, steering them to look beyond the confines
of the classroom, and to approach life with an open and receptive mind. It
is through thinking creatively and taking initiative that they discover their
influences, strengths and ambitions and establish the skills they need to
pursue purposeful and fulfilling lives.
Everyone can achieve the most exceptional things but we are all different.
That is why we focus on the individual, getting to know every one of our
pupils and finding out what motivates them. It is this focus on personal
challenge and individual guidance that enables our pupils to develop into
self-reliant, socially responsible adults with enviable open mindedness and
resilience – qualities so sought-after by employers and important in life.”

Exceptional Boarding Provision
With nearly 400 boarders, the school’s extensive grounds and boarding houses
allow pupils to thrive in an exceptional environment. Saturday school and a
busy weekend and evening programme allow boarders to take advantage of all
that is on offer at the same time as building lifelong friendships.
Pupils entering at age 11 join the junior house, which offers a more
nurturing start to senior school life. For pupils aged 12 to 17 there are three
senior boys’ and two senior girls’ boarding houses to choose from, with
shared 4-bed rooms for younger pupils and en-suite double or single studies
for seniors. In their final year, all pupils join Nelson House in single study
bedrooms, with one wing for boys and one for girls, where more independent
living is encouraged in preparation for university life.

Extensive Facilities
The large campus includes a state-of-the-art music school with recital hall,
recording studio and specialist rooms, drama and dance studios, an art and
design technology centre, science laboratories and a newly refurbished
library with meeting and study facilities. There are over 96 acres of sports
fields, an all-weather hockey pitch, extensive tennis and netball courts, a
golf course as well as indoor facilities that include a large swimming pool,
squash courts, a climbing wall, gymnasium, martial arts studio, strength
and conditioning room and fitness suite.

Exciting Co-Curricular Activities
All pupils can take part in traditional team sports such as rugby, cricket, netball
and hockey, but there are also opportunities to try a diverse range of over 80
co-curricular activities such as sailing, water polo, mountain biking, climbing,
basketball, horse riding, golf, dry skiing, shooting, tennis and kick-boxing. The
school is an RYA training centre and has a specialist Sailing Academy.

Entry requirements
Entry for Years 7 to 10 is by way of the school’s entrance examination or
through Common Entrance. Sixth Form entry is subject to GCSE results (or
equivalent). Those pupils for whom English is not their first language are
required to take a test in Maths and English as an Additional Language (EAL).
All pupils are required to have an interview which may take place in person
or via online video call. A number of Open Mornings and Experience Days
are held throughout the year, but individual visits can also be arranged. RHS
offers a number of awards and scholarships at Year 7, 9 and 12 entry, plus
means-tested bursaries, full details of which can be found on the website.

“I joined RHS at the beginning of this academic year. I was able to settle in really quickly both in
the classroom and in my boarding house” – Year 12 girl.

The Royal Hospital School is committed to maintaining broad access for talented pupils who would benefit from an outstanding all-round and full education by rewarding talent through a limited number of awards as well as offering financial support through means-tested bursaries. Pupils in receipt of an award are provided with additional opportunities and support to stretch them and in turn they will realise their full potential and gain the confidence to achieve great things.

Scholarships

All our awards (Scholarships and Exhibitions) reward excellence based on performance at assessment. They normally constitute a modest discount on the full fee either for a set period of time or for the entire duration of a pupil's time at the school. The award in some cases may be ‘Honorary’, whereby the recipient gains the accolade of being a scholar or an exhibitioner but with no monetary discount. This is normally the case when a pupil is in receipt of another substantial discount such as the MOD Continuity of Education Allowance or Greenwich Hospital Bursary. The number of these awards are at the discretion of the Headmaster, subject to the School’s budgetary constraints and subject to review.

We offer a full range of awards, including academic, creativity, drama, music, sailing and sports, further details of which can be found on our website: AWARDS AND BURSARIES - Royal Hospital School

 

Bursaries

Candidates in receipt of an award may be eligible to apply for additional assistance by way of a means-tested Royal Hospital School bursary should the financial circumstances of the family necessitate it. Bursaries may be awarded in the form of discounts on the boarding or day fee, depending on the financial circumstances of the applicants and subject to the School’s budgetary constraints, but would not normally constitute more than 50% of the full fee. For more information regarding criteria, please refer to our website or contact our Admissions Office.

 

Royal Springboard Bursaries

The Royal Hospital School is an accredited Royal SpringBoard school. Through our work with this nationally acclaimed charity we have been able to provide life-transforming opportunities to disadvantaged and vulnerable children who would benefit from the positive impact of a boarding school environment. If you believe that your child would merit a bursary and you meet the criteria, you can contact Royal SpringBoard directly to find out whether you are eligible. Home | Springboard (royalspringboard.org.uk)

 

Seafaring Families

The Royal Hospital School is part of Greenwich Hospital, a Crown naval charity, one of whose charitable objectives is to provide for the education of the children of seafarers. As such they are able to offer a limited number of seafaring bursaries and discounts, further details of which can be found on our website.

 

Services Families

RHS welcomes services families and is able to offer a discounted full boarding fee for those in receipt of MOD Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA). If the candidate is granted an award for outstanding performance, this will confer scholar’s privileges and the relevant accolades but will be represented by a non-monetary Honorary Award.

 

Sibling Discount

Families with two children in the School at the same time receive a 5% discount on the boarding or day fee for the eldest child. Those with three children in the school are eligible for 10% discount for the eldest and 5% discount on the second eldest and those with four children will receive 15% discount on the eldest, 10% on the second eldest and 5% on the third eldest, when all are at school at the same time. The sibling discount does not apply to fees discounted by a means-tested bursary, Continuity of Education Allowance and certain other discounts.