A school with a long tradition
Founded in 1567, Rugby School is one of the United Kingdom’s most established schools, with a history shaped by academic ambition, strong pastoral care, and the development of character.
For centuries, Rugby has held a clear understanding of education: that a school should prepare young people not only for examinations or future study, but for life beyond the classroom. Intellectual curiosity, judgement, responsibility, and integrity have long formed part of the Rugby experience.
Rugby School Hanoi brings this tradition to a new setting, while remaining guided by the same principles that have defined Rugby for generations.
A new school, rooted in purpose
Rugby School Hanoi will open in September 2026, beginning with its Pre-Prep for children aged 2 to 6, from Early Years through to Year 2.
Starting with the earliest years is a deliberate choice. These formative stages establish the foundations of confidence, curiosity, communication, and learning habits that support a child’s development over time.
As the school grows, Rugby School Hanoi will extend into Prep and Senior School, creating a complete educational journey guided by a consistent ethos and clear academic pathway.
The whole person
At the centre of a Rugby education is a simple belief: that education concerns the whole person.
Academic learning is developed alongside character, relationships, and a sense of responsibility to others. Children are encouraged to think independently, engage with the world around them, and develop confidence in their own abilities.
This principle shapes not only what pupils learn, but how they experience school life. Learning, pastoral care, co-curricular opportunities, and daily routines are understood as parts of a single experience.
A British curriculum with international perspective
In the Early Years, children follow the British Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), where learning is shaped through exploration, conversation, and carefully guided play.
As pupils move into Year 1 and Year 2, they begin the English National Curriculum, building strong foundations in literacy, numeracy, science, and enquiry-based learning.
Over time, this pathway will extend into IGCSE and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, providing a clear route through each stage of education.
The curriculum is supported by a broad experience of the arts, physical development, language learning, and wider cultural understanding.
A personal environment
Rugby School Hanoi begins as a deliberately small school.
This allows each child to be known as an individual — academically, socially, and personally. Teachers are able to understand how children learn, provide appropriate challenge, and build strong relationships with families.
A smaller environment also supports the development of a close and connected community, where children feel secure, understood, and confident to participate.
A school community
Rugby School Hanoi is intended to be both international in outlook and grounded in its setting.
Families from different backgrounds come together within a shared framework of values, creating a community that is respectful, outward-looking, and connected.
School life extends beyond the classroom. Through daily interactions, shared routines, creativity, movement, and enquiry, children begin to develop the habits and qualities that shape how they learn and how they relate to others.
Looking ahead
Rugby School Hanoi begins with Pre-Prep, but its vision extends beyond the earliest years.
As the school develops, it will grow carefully and steadily, maintaining a clear sense of purpose and continuity across each stage of education.
The aim is not simply to build a school, but to establish a community shaped by thoughtful education, strong relationships, and a lasting sense of identity.
The Rugby ethos
This is what defines a Rugby education.
Not only what pupils achieve, but who they become.
Because at Rugby School Hanoi, the whole person is the whole point.