Rugby Free Secondary School
Rugby, CV22 5PE · Warwickshire · secondary school
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31st of 37 secondary schools in Warwickshire we can score, 38 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 3.8/10 against 879 of them, against 3.9/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 18 | 35% | 0.63 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 34.0 · 22 | 30% | 0.67 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.13 · 59 | 25% | 1.48 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 43.5 · 36 | 10% | 0.36 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Rugby Free Secondary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 39.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 43.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.13 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (5.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.6 out of 10 against all schools). The school was inspected in April 2026 under the new report-card framework.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Duke of Edinburgh Awards, STEM clubs, Equality club, Sign language, and Robotics groups, attend music concerts, and use the after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,168 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,150. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
What specific support is available for pupils aiming to raise their Attainment 8 scores? How are the STEM and Robotics clubs structured for different year groups?
What Ofsted said about Rugby Free Secondary School
Overview
Rugby Free Secondary School is described as a "welcoming and inclusive" institution where pupils "enjoy learning" and feel safe. The report highlights that the school is "well led and managed" following recent leadership changes, with staff working as a "harmonious team" and pupils demonstrating "positive attitudes to learning."
Strengths
- The school has developed a "highly effective programme for pupils' personal development," ensuring students have an "impressive understanding of issues relating to equality and diversity."
- Leaders have created a "positive, inclusive culture" where "bullying is rare" and relationships between staff and pupils are "harmonious."
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are "well supported" through "robust systems" and "timely and tailored interventions."
- The sixth form provides "high-quality careers advice and guidance," with students achieving well in external examinations and GCSE resits.
- Staff receive "high quality" professional development and are "very well supported with their workload and wellbeing."
Areas to improve
- Leaders should ensure that the curriculum is "consistently taught well" so that "highly effective teaching is embedded in all subjects and key stages."
- Leaders should ensure that actions to improve attendance are "embedded" so that attendance for all pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, "continues to improve."
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders having established an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns are "actively identified, acted upon and managed."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 43.8 |
| 2024/25 | 43.7 |
| 2025/26 | 43.5 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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