Our curriculum
At Rugby School Hanoi, the curriculum is designed as a continuous journey, beginning in the earliest years and extending through to advanced academic study.
While the structure of the school will grow over time, the principles that shape learning are consistent from the beginning: a broad and balanced education, intellectual curiosity, and the steady development of independence.
Our curriculum follows the National Curriculum of England, adapted thoughtfully to reflect our international context and our location in Hanoi.
The shape of learning
A Rugby education is not defined by a single stage, but by the progression between them.
In the early years, learning is shaped through exploration, interaction, and the gradual development of confidence. As pupils grow, this experience becomes more structured and subject-focused, allowing knowledge and understanding to deepen.
Over time, pupils move from guided discovery towards greater independence, developing the ability to think critically, to organise their ideas, and to engage with increasing academic challenge.
This sense of progression lies at the heart of the curriculum.
The pre-prep years
The first stage of the Rugby journey is formed within Pre-Prep, where pupils begin to develop the essential foundations of learning.
In the Early Years, children learn through a carefully structured environment in which play, exploration, and guided interaction are closely connected. As they move into Year 1 and Year 2, the curriculum becomes more defined, introducing pupils to English, mathematics, science, and a broader range of subjects.
Throughout this stage, emphasis is placed on communication, early reasoning, creativity, and the development of confidence. By the end of Pre-Prep, pupils are secure in their foundational skills and ready to move forward with increasing independence.
Rugby School Hanoi is an English-medium school, and language is central to the curriculum.
Alongside English, pupils engage with Vietnamese language and culture, ensuring a meaningful connection to their local context. German language and cultural elements are also introduced, providing an additional international dimension.
This combination reflects both the school’s setting and its wider outlook, preparing pupils to engage confidently in a global environment.
Across all stages, the curriculum is designed to provide both breadth and depth.
Pupils encounter a wide range of subjects and experiences, allowing them to develop academically while also discovering their interests and strengths. Creative, physical, and co-curricular opportunities are not separate from learning, but form part of a wider educational experience.
This breadth is a defining feature of a Rugby education, ensuring that pupils are not narrowly developed, but prepared for a range of future pathways.
As pupils move beyond Year 2, they enter the Prep School, where learning becomes more structured and subject-specific.
They begin to engage with greater depth, developing stronger analytical and organisational skills, while continuing to build independence. The transition is carefully managed, ensuring continuity in both academic expectations and pastoral care.
Beyond Prep, pupils enter the Senior School, where academic pathways become more clearly defined.
From Year 9, pupils prepare for internationally recognised qualifications, including IGCSE. In the Sixth Form, they follow the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, a rigorous and balanced course of study that develops both subject expertise and independent thinking.
At every stage, the purpose of the curriculum remains the same.
It is to provide pupils with the knowledge, skills, and habits of mind that allow them to think independently, to engage with complexity, and to approach the world with confidence.
Academic success is important, but it is not pursued in isolation. It sits alongside the development of character, curiosity, and a broader understanding of the world.
The whole journey
Although Rugby School Hanoi begins with Pre-Prep, it is conceived as a complete educational journey.
Each stage builds upon the last, moving from exploration to structure, and from structure to independence. In this way, the curriculum prepares pupils not only for examinations, but for a lifetime of learning.