Opened in 2017, Rugby School Thailand provides a British education and the opportunity to board in a location with a difference. Here we find out what the school offers students and families and why it’s one of the best British boarding schools in Thailand.
#1 A noteworthy location and campus
The campus is best appreciated in person, so the school encourages anyone who is interested to visit if they can. The 80 acres of grounds have everything students might need to flourish. The rural location is beautiful, too, and only 20 minutes from the Pattaya coast and 70 minutes from Bangkok’s main international airport.
Within the campus there are some impressive facilities – highlights include a Performing Arts Centre with a professional recording studio, four swimming pools including a 50m competition pool, a dedicated science centre and a sailing lake.
In the land surrounding, there are tracks and trails for cycling, walking and running, a unique Outdoor Education Centre with a zipline, archery, high ropes course and bamboo classroom, as well as a neighbouring national park for hikes and outdoor adventures. The school says these outdoor areas are used regularly by students, and that the experiences they offer complement Rugby School Thailand’s “whole person” ethos.
#2 The chance to discover Thailand
Students of all ages get to explore the local area and learn about the culture, both in Thai lessons and beyond. There are exciting residential trips throughout the year. These increase in length and distance from the school as students go up the years, for example: Nursery children might visit the nearby mulberry farm, Year 3 students might spend a day at a local cacao farm, and Year 10 might spend three days in Kanchanaburi to learn the rich history of the area, complete with SUP adventures along the River Kwai.
#3 A British curriculum
Rugby School Thailand follows the British curriculum in a similar way to many top independent schools in the UK, which leads to IGCSE and A Level examinations. These qualifications are recognised as a gold standard for university entrance worldwide.
However, the school says that its commitment to education is not simply about grades and exams; it’s about unearthing the full potential within each student; and this will be different for each individual. A Rugby School education, they add, imparts knowledge, but also instils a joy of learning, the art of critical thinking, and teaches strong values. This is achieved through the bespoke Rugby School Thailand “Learner Profile” that focuses on developing core characteristics that help its students to be reflective, resilient, versatile, inquisitive, globally-minded communicators and collaborators.
#4 Flexible boarding options
This British boarding school was awarded a COBIS Beacon status for excellence (along with its Enrichment activity programme) and is the heart and soul of life on campus. There is capacity for 210 boarders aged 10 and above, and around 40 percent of Senior School students currently board. There are flexible options to suit family needs, too. These include part (three nights), weekly (five nights) or full (seven nights) board. As a result, the school attracts students from a range of places, with many coming from around Thailand plus other countries in Southeast Asia and beyond, such as India, Japan, Korea, Dubai, and mainland China and Hong Kong.
#5 An enriching daily schedule
Boarders are woken and attend morning registration in the Houses, before walking across the playing fields to breakfast. Every meal includes Asian and Western options to suit the tastes of the school’s international community. After breakfast, boarders have their school day, from 8am to 6pm. Once school is finished, they congregate back in the dining hall for supper. This is usually themed around a world cuisine, such as Korean or Italian. But there are always Thai and Western options, too. (On Sunday mornings, there’s a popular “brunch” that includes a traditional British fry-up, as well as the usual tropical fruit, yoghurt, cereal and Thai dishes.)
Prep School boarders (ages 10 to 13) enjoy activities after supper, followed by showers and some chill time in the House. There’s also music practice, homework or assisted reading where relevant. Everyone will be in bed reading by 8.45pm, with lights out by 9pm.
Senior School boarders (ages 13 to 18) have free time until 8pm. This is when many of them play informal games of football or basketball, jam in the recording studios or head to the fitness centre. From 8pm, they have study time when academic tutors are on hand to support. 9pm is downtime – playing ping pong, chatting or watching TV. Staggered bedtimes follow according to year group. Year 9 students head to bed first, at 9.30pm.
#6 Academic support for students
Houses are run by teaching staff who can guide the students pastorally and academically. In addition, there is a rota of teachers and tutors on hand in the Houses each evening who bring specialist support in a variety of areas. For younger boarders, they often support with reading. In Senior, they help with extra study or homework.
#7 Savings on fees and scholarship opportunities
The location of the School means it can offer lower fees than UK-based boarding schools, but still employ the same high-quality teachers. This is a huge plus for any Hong Kong family considering a British education for their children with significant annual savings possible. It also means shorter flights and almost no time difference! Another factor in why this is one of the best British boarding schools in Thailand is that scholarships are also available for enrolment into Years 7 to 12. Students with talents in Academics, Art, Design & Technology, Drama, Music and Sport may apply.
#8 Easy application process
The enquiry and application process is straightforward – just get in touch with admissions@rugbyschool.ac.th and the team will help answer any initial questions, invite you to visit or offer a video call, and guide you through the enrolment process.
British boarding school in Thailand fact file
This award-winning British boarding school in Thailand near Pattaya is for boys and girls aged two to 18 years, with boarding from Year 6 (age 10). Highlights include:
- a spectacular 80-acre campus
- a countryside environment in an accessible location
- enriched longer school days (8am-6pm)
- a teacher-student ratio of 1:10
- one of the only schools to have been awarded two COBIS Beacon awards for excellence during accreditation
- high-quality teachers, mainly from the UK
- a school ethos – “The Whole Person, The Whole Point” – that supports a dynamic educational journey for each individual student
The Principal of Rugby School Thailand is Bruce Grindlay, a Cambridge graduate who was previously Headmaster of Sutton Valance School in the UK. Bruce is an experienced educator who is also passionate about music, and the school is growing exponentially under his leadership.
Why “Rugby School”?
Rugby School Thailand is one of only three Rugby Schools in the world. The original Rugby School has over 450 years of history as one of the leading independent schools in the UK. The school’s name came from its location in Rugby, Warwickshire. Famously, Rugby School is where the sport of rugby originated in 1823 when a student called William Webb Ellis, who had a fine disregard for the rules of football, picked up the ball and ran with it, creating the start of a whole new sport.
Want to learn more about these British boarding schools? Visit rugbyschool.ac.th
This article about featuring one of the best British boarding schools in Thailand first appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.
