SUFFOLK’S leading boarding prep school, Old Buckenham Hall School, has this year joined forces with the historic Rugby School Group.
Old Buckenham Hall (OBH) is a co-educational day and boarding prep school in the Suffolk countryside, established in 1862, with 220 pupils aged between three and 13.
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding senior school in the town of Rugby in Warwickshire, established in 1567, with 890 students.
The two schools have always enjoyed a strong relationship, with many Old Buckenham Hall pupils joining Rugy for their senior school. Like Rugby, OBH is known for its excellent all-round education and high-quality pastoral care, focused on building character and values,and valuing sport and outdoor spaces for pupils.
The merger will see Rugby School Group making a seven-figure investment in OBH’s site, facilities and infrastructure, resulting in a range of new opportunities for pupils, both in academic studies and co-curricular pursuits. lames Large, who has been Headmaster of Old Buckenham Hall School since 2023, said: “This partnership willl enable OBH to enhance the education we offer to our pupils.
“Rugby shares our values and ambitions, and respects our identity and the strong relationship we have with our community. We are delighted by the opportunities the merger represents for our children.
“Both schools are keen to work together to promote best practices in teaching and learning. OBH pupils, who go on to many of the country’s most prestigious senior schools, will visit Rugby to enjoy its superb facilities.
“Rugby staff will visit OBH to share expertise in a range of subjects, including academic projects, sports coaching from former professional
players, including former England rugby captain, Dylan Hartley, and the creative and performing arts.”
Gareth Parker-Jones, Head Master of Rugby School since 2020, said: “In growing the Rugby School Group, our goal is not to centralise, but to support
a small number of outstanding UK prep schools that share our goals.
The merger with OBH -the pre-eminent prep school in East Anglia – is a vote of confidence in everything that the school represents, academically, pastorally and culturally.”
Old Buckenham Hall School will be the third prep school to become a member of Rugby School Group, joining Bilton Grange, with which Rugby merged in 2020, and Aysgarth School, with which Rugby merged in 2025.