Warwick School
PROSPECTUS
Welcome
As an Old Warwickian myself, I am immensely proud to be Head
Master at Warwick School.
Choosing a school for our children is one of the most important decisions that we make as parents. Our committed and dedicated staff work tirelessly to ensure that Warwick School is a place where your son will thrive, seeking to develop his talents and those of every pupil, and always guided by the school motto, Altiora Peto - ‘I seek higher things.’
Our engaging staff foster a learning environment in which every pupil is challenged intellectually and thrives academically, and where they will be happy, cared for, and have their interests ignitedwhatever these may be.
Every pupil within Warwick School benefits from a wealth of experiences outside the classroom that will broaden his horizons and develop his character. Pupils are known as individuals and are celebrated - whatever their strengths or abilities - enabling them to flourish in what is now, more than ever, a rapidly changing world. This is ‘The Warwick Way’. We hope to welcome you to our site soon to experience our stunning campus for yourself.
James Barker Head Master
Scan to read Mr Barker’s blogs.
Our aim is to build people of character, enabling every pupil to thrive in the world, both now and in the future.
Introducing Warwick School
Warwick School is a leading, award-winning independent school for boys aged 11-18, located on a beautiful campus in the town of Warwick.
We have been delivering world-class education since c.914, making Warwick one of the oldest schools in the country. We combine this experience and our traditional values with a forwardlooking approach, underpinned by our purpose - to inspire and nurture every pupil to thrive in the world, both now and in the future.
Our boys are at the heart of everything we do; we aim to develop them morally, spiritually, intellectually, physically, and socially. We believe that an outstanding boys’ education is one that enriches them holistically, not just academically. As such, we look to build on their individual strengths and help them to grow into well-rounded
young men, confident but not arrogant, who can play a positive role in the world.
Academic expectations are high, but so are our achievements. Together with outstanding pastoral care and exceptional co-curricular provision, these characteristics make Warwick School a wonderful place to be educated.
Boarding at Warwick School
Whilst Warwick School is primarily a day school, there is also boarding accommodation for more than 60 or so busy, happy, and well-integrated boarders.
Boarding at Warwick offers pupils very high standards of pastoral care and a rich experience of community living in a stimulating environment, helping them to develop academically, physically, and emotionally.
Boarders are accepted from Year 9 to Year 13.
All of our boarders, wherever they are from, are encouraged to integrate with the school community. They form an important part of every aspect of school life, from the sports field to the concert hall, the science laboratory to the Chapel, the boarders are always involved in whatever is going on.
Awardwinning
In recent years, the quality, depth, and breadth of our educational offering has been recognised by a number of awarding bodies.
We are immensely proud to have been named as ‘Independent Boys’ School of the Year’ at the Independent School of the Year Awards 2022, whilst we have also been shortlisted, and named as finalists, for several other awards:
• Finalist – Student Careers 2024 (Independent Schools of the Year Awards)
• Finalist – Outstanding New Initiative 2023 (Independent Schools of The Year Awards)
• Shortlisted – Pastoral Care and Wellbeing 2023 (Talk Education Awards)
We have also been awarded the Artsmark Platinum Award, accredited by Arts Council England, which ‘recognises schools’ exceptional commitment to creativity’. It is the only creative quality standard for schools and reflects our promise to deliver a high-quality arts and cultural education.
Exceptional facilities
Warwick School has truly exceptional facilities, set in 55 acres of outstanding grounds adjacent to the River Avon.
In recent years, we have invested over £30m in new facilities. The most recent investment is the extended and refurbished Warwick Hall, which is large enough to accommodate the whole school in assemblies and provides one of the finest school performance spaces nationally.
The state-of-the-art Cheshire Science Centre arguably offers the best school science facilities in the country. The sports centre includes a large sports hall with climbing wall, gymnasium, squash courts, a 25m swimming pool, and medical centre.
Our World Rugby-certified floodlit 3G pitch and two superb full-sized hockey (TigerTurf) pitches are outstanding.
Our performing arts facilities are exceptional, including the purpose-built Bridge House Theatre, opened by Dame Judi Dench and seating up to 300 people, alongside Warwick Hall, the £7.5m state-of-the-art venue which opened in 2016.
Our Shared Sixth Form Centre provides shared facilities for Warwick School and King’s High School sixth formers to study, socialise, and access careers advice.
The first year
Starting at a new senior school is a big step; we make every attempt to ensure that the process is as easy and enjoyable as possible both for boys and their parents.
Each year, we have applications from pupils from over 75 primary and preparatory schools. The majority of boys join in Year 7, but others join the school at Year 8, 9, or in the sixth form.
In June, at a New Parents’ Morning, parents and their sons are invited to hear from the Head Master, the Head of Lower School, and other senior teachers about various aspects of school life even before boys join in September.
Moving Up Day is also arranged in the summer term for new Year 7 boys. Many activities take place, including music, drama,
and sports, as well as an induction into more practical matters such as registration, the school timetable, and how to use the library.
In September, Year 7 boys attend an induction morning before the start of term. Soon after, they go on an overnight Belonging Trip to Oaker Wood to take part in fun outdoor activities and team-building exercises.
For those joining in other year groups, arrangements are made to meet their Form Tutor and gather any relevant information before starting at school. New sixth formers are invited to the sixth form induction week in July.
A Foundation at the heart
We are a large but united community, focused entirely on ensuring that the pupils in our care have the most exceptional of educational opportunities.
Warwick School is part of Warwick Schools Foundation, which also includes Warwick Preparatory School, The Kingsley School, and King’s High School.
The schools are individual but benefit from the strength and support of the Foundation. This enables our schools to be best resourced to provide an exemplary environment in which to educate our pupils for the future.
Our Warwick Campus is a unique model of education in the Midlands, offering ‘the best-of-both worlds’; teaching specifically tailored to the needs of our pupils, with extensive opportunities to collaborate with other Foundation pupils outside the classroom.
Best-of-both worlds education
Whilst we are firmly committed to delivering a first-class single-sex education, with our boys developing and enjoying a broad range of opportunities without constraint from gender stereotypes, we also recognise the social benefits of a co-education environment.
Our sixth form structure allows pupils to reap those benefits; they continue to learn in the single-sex classrooms that they have known throughout their time at Warwick, whilst having the opportunity to socialise and study with students from King’s High School in our Shared Sixth Form Centre.
Further, many of our Thrive Friday Electives take place across both Warwick School and King’s High School. These activities include Combined Cadet Force (CCF), Learning
Languages with AI, Modern United Nations, Psychology in Action, and Science in Action.
The 2024-25 academic year marked the first in which pupils from all three Foundation senior schools – Warwick School, King’s High School, and The Kingsley School – took part in some of these activities together. The programme empowers these pupils to collaborate and socialise with like-minded peers, and truly reflects our ‘best-of-both worlds’ approach.
‘The
Warwick Way’
‘The
Warwick Way’ is what makes us distinctive and special –our vision of education and the values that underpin it.
We live in a world of rapid, unpredictable change. The traditional model of education –focused on knowledge and fixed skills – no longer guarantees success or fulfilment. We must prepare our children for the time when they must go it alone - for the day when we are not there to uphold the rules or show them the possible consequences of their actions.
Our purpose is simple and powerful: ‘To inspire and nurture every pupil to thrive in the world, now and in the future’. To thrive is to be happy, fulfilled, and have a positive impact on the world.
'The Warwick Way' has four key elements:
1. Mental and physical well-being - pupils cannot thrive unless they are mentally and physically well. We place wellbeing at the heart of school life.
2. Belonging – young people thrive when they feel known, valued, and part of a community.
3. Flourishing academically – academic excellence opens doors, but our aim goes further. We foster intellectual curiosity, a lifelong love of learning, and the ability to think critically and creatively.
4. Character development – we seek to build people of principle – ready not just for the world as it is, but as it may become.
To help fulfil our purpose, we have developed four key priorities:
• Knowing the individual
• Excellence in teaching and learning
• Broadening horizons
• Serving our community
We hope that this prospectus gives you a flavour of how these priorities underpin everything that we do.
Scan QR to read more about ‘The Warwick Way’ and our six school values.
If we want young people to thrive in a world shaped by social media, AI, and global uncertainty - we need to help them to develop qualities of character that mean they will choose what is right – even when the right path isn’t obvious.
Knowing the individual
Every pupil is known, cared for, valued for their individuality, and is physically and emotionally safe.
Happy boys thrive, and so we do all that we can to create an environment that boys enjoy and in which they feel supported and safe. All pupils feel celebrated, regardless of their strengths or challenges.
Pastoral care here at Warwick School is baked into the fabric of the school and informs the way we do everything. From our powerful tutoring structure and wellbeing facilities, to our vibrant Pupil Voice group and peer-to-peer support, we are committed to providing the right kind of care for every pupil, their families, and our wider school community – 365 days a year.
Our dedicated and expert tutors make sure that each boy receives specific advice, support, and individual attention throughout his time at school. Our vertical House system gives pupils a sense of community, identity, camaraderie, and, most importantly, fun, whilst allowing them to mix with other year groups and broaden their horizons.
Our Wellbeing Hub opened in 2022 and has become an integral part of school life and an essential component of many pupils’ education. The Hub is a stunning, safe space, open to pupils throughout the school day if they need emotional support or a calm space.
And our school would not be complete without our two wellbeing dogs, Aggie and Benji. Their roles are to support our pupils if they need a calming influence, assist with their social and emotional learning needs, and help to relieve anxiety and stress.
I am compelled to write to you directly to let you know how very much we, as a family, appreciate all the hard work, kindness, and patience your staff have shown to our son.
Parent, current Year 8 pupil
Scan for more information about our pastoral support.
Whilst Warwick School is a large school, we want all boys to feel recognised and celebrated – regardless of their strengths or challenges.
Excellence in teaching and learning
Warwick School is an academic school which aims to inspire a love of learning amongst our boys and a lifelong passion for their subjects.
We have the confidence to initiate change and not merely react to it, so that the education we provide is pertinent, challenging, and engaging. This is a result of employing the highest-quality staff, alongside outstanding facilities and plentiful resources.
By developing our staff to become outstanding professionals, we provide inspirational teaching, helping to create a learning environment where every pupil is challenged intellectually and thrives academically.
Maximising every pupil’s academic achievement, through excellent teaching
and learning, is central to ‘The Warwick Way’. The curriculum is designed to provide an extensive range of subject options and many different learning experiences, whilst conferences, visits, lectures, and links with universities extend boys’ learning horizons further.
At all ages, class sizes are small - an average of around 20 up to and including Year 11, and approximately 10 per subject group in the sixth form.
Close monitoring of boys’ work complements the regular reporting on academic progress, and ensures that the highest standards are achieved.
AN INNOVATIVE AND FLEXIBLE CURRICULUM
We work to create a curriculum that is challenging and which fosters creative and critical thinking. Our curriculum is broad, encompassing a full range of subjects, and can be considered truly innovative and flexible. Here are some of the subjects on offer:
Art and design
Classics
Computing
Design technology
Drama
Economics and business
English
Extended Project Qualification
Geography
Government and politics
History
Mathematics
Modern foreign languages
Music
Physical education
Psychology
Sciences
Sociology
Theology and philosophy
Results that speak for themselves
As a result of our excellence in teaching and learning, and the dedication they show throughout their studies, our pupils consistently achieve top examination results at both GCSE and A level.
In 2024, our pupils excelled once again. More than half of all GCSE grades were awarded 9/8, whilst more than three-quarters were awarded 7-9. The average points/pupil was 72.3, with five pupils achieving a ‘perfect’ set of GCSEs –all grade 9.
At A level, 19% of all grades were awarded at A*, 49% of grades were awarded at A/A*, and 79% of grades were awarded at A*-B.
The numbers
89% AWARDED 9-6
58% AWARDED 9/8 GCSE (2024) A LEVEL (2024)
5 ‘PERFECT’ SETS OF GCSE s
141 PUPILS CHOSE 114 DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OF SUBJECTS
79% A LEVELS AT A*-B
49% AWARDED A*-A GRADES
19% A LEVELS AT A*
171 PUPILS CHOSE 125 DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS
horizonsBroadening beyond the classroom
Warwick School offers a rich, diverse, and inclusive educational experience.
We provide opportunities for every pupil to enjoy participation in a balanced programme of cocurricular activities, embracing the arts, careers, leadership, outdoor education, and sport. We offer a wide variety of experiences which inspire imaginations, develop confidence and abilities, and provide meaningful social, mental, and physical experiences. This will enable our
young men to thrive in the wider world, both professionally and personally. Whilst the majority of teaching is done within the classroom, many opportunities are taken to enhance learning through field trips and excursions.
The range of activities on offer reflects our commitment to provide opportunities for every boy.
424
228 PUPILS PARTICIPATED IN DUKE OF EDINBURGH PUPILS TAKE ONETO-ONE PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS PER WEEK
100 MUSIC CONCERTS A YEAR
81 THRIVE FRIDAY ELECTIVES
155 PUPILS ARE INVOLVED IN MUSIC ACTIVITIES OR ENSEMBLES
3 MAJOR DRAMA PRODUCTIONS A YEAR
617
PUPILS TOOK PART IN AT LEAST ONE TRIP
7 RESIDENTIALS
172 PUPILS TOOK PART IN CCF (COMBINED CADET FORCE)
74 SPORTS TEAMS
315 SPORTS FIXTURES IN ONE TERM:
SportSport is a valued and integral part of school life, contributing to every pupil’s personal development and helping to shape confident, well- rounded young men.
Pupils are encouraged to fully immerse themselves in the life of the school, with active participation in sport playing a central role to that experience.
We offer a broad and inclusive sports programme that caters to all levels of interest and ability – from recreational participation to high-level performance. Every pupil has the opportunity to pursue activities that match their interests, abilities, and ambitions.
We have an outstanding national reputation for sport, with a huge variety of games on offer. Magnificent facilities, all on site, along with the highest-quality coaches and specialists, ensure that boys’ talents are maximised. The school prides itself not just on the number of boys that consistently take part and represent the school, but also on the standard of performance – with many boys regularly selected to play at county, regional, and even national levels.
Music
MUSIC-RELATED EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ON OFFER, ALONGSIDE 100 CONCERTS ANNUALLY.
Every pupil has the opportunity to excel in their music alongside their academic study. Music at Warwick is characterised by the belief that everybody should be able to participate, no matter their experience when they join us, but also by the promise that those who want to excel are empowered to do so.
We are lucky to have a team of over 40 music teachers - all professionals who are highly trained and are excellent educational and instrumental practitioners - to cater for a whole variety of instruments and genres.
Our Music School is well-resourced, with a sound-proofed music studio, recital room, 20 practice rooms fully equipped with pianos, a suite of computers with music
software, and enough instruments to give one to every boy in Year 7 plus more!
Warwick Hall is our £7.5m state-of-the-art on-site venue for our biggest concerts, with other purpose-built recital halls for smaller concerts, and The Bridge House Theatre for musical productions.
We have several specialist ensembles, both at Warwick School and across the Foundation - with pupils from our school,
King’s High School, and The Kingsley School playing together in our Foundation ensembles at spectacular concerts throughout the academic year.
Excellence is promoted by our outstanding teaching staff, but importantly, so is enjoyment. This balance is central not only to music, but across everything that we do.
Performing arts
Warwick School has a long tradition of exceptional performing arts.
We believe that the arts are a vital means of developing character through creativity, courage, perseverance, responsibility, humility, and curiosity. Every performance, rehearsal, talk, and competition enables pupils to practise these values.
Our long-established provision offers exceptional diversity of opportunity in a setting that delivers an outstanding arts
and cultural education - evidenced by our Artsmark Platinum Award status.
There are three high-quality major drama productions a year, as well as improvisation shows and GCSE and A level performances, alongside superb LAMDA provision and 550 graded lessons per week. In drama, we offer multiple workshops and productions across year groups.
The quality of the drama is amazing. And it’s not all about acting on the stage. We have students who do makeup, set design, stage managers, and everybody has a part to play.”
Current pupil, Lower Sixth
617
PUPILS PARTICIPATED IN AT LEAST ONE TRIP, OF WHICH SEVEN WERE RESIDENTIAL
Trips
Trips and tours enhance the learning experience of our pupils, providing stimulation outside of the classroom.
Some of the trips are linked to the curriculum and are spread out across the academic year.
There are field trips, cultural visits to museums, theatres, and art galleries, visits
to universities, and regular exchanges to France, Germany, and Sweden, all of which help to supplement learning. We also offer tours and expeditions all over the world, including to Sri Lanka, Canada, and Iceland!
Clubs, societies, and activities
The wide range of activities on offer supports our aim to provide opportunities for every boy.
With a programme of more than 90 clubs, societies, and activities, we are confident that there is something to capture the imagination of every boy. Our clubs operate at lunchtimes, before and after school, or at weekends.
Some examples of our clubs include:
• Animal Care Club
• Book Club
• Chess
• Eco-committee
• Fencing Club
• Game Design
• History
• LAMDA
• Kung-Fu
• Manga and Comicbook Club
• Minecraft Club
• Minipainting and Warhammer
• Music
• Science
• Spanish Debating
• Sports and Specialist Training
Scan for more on clubs and activities.
Thrive Friday Electives
A Warwick education is about far more than the transfer of knowledge or the mastery of specific skills. One of the most important—and challenging—tasks for any school is to prepare its pupils not only for the world as it is, but for the world as it may become.
The world is ever-changing. Today, change feels faster, deeper, and more complex than ever. We cannot predict with certainty what knowledge or skills our pupils will need to succeed in 2050. Nor can we rely solely on rules or outcomes-based reasoning to guide moral decisions – because both assume we know what the future holds.
This is why, at Warwick, we place character at the heart of our approach. Our values-based education – centred on 'The Warwick Way': courage, creativity, humility, perseverance, and responsibility – is designed to build
character that endures in uncertain times.
Our Thrive Friday Electives are a vital part of that journey. It is where character is sought – through the breadth of enriching opportunities on offer; caught – by staff who intentionally guide pupils to reflect on the moments they enjoy; and taught – through structured experiences that foster growth.
From learning a new language to conducting scientific research, from gaining nationally recognised qualifications to exploring new skills, the options are diverse and inspiring.
Serving our community
We want to be the most inspiring, rounded, and caring boys’ school in the UK.
Our aim is that every member of our community feels truly valued and connected to the school, and that every pupil feels a duty of service to others, such that we have a positive impact on the world around us.
Pupils engage in a variety of activities, from volunteering to raising funds for charity. There are many opportunities to volunteer with a range of community partners, including local charities Kissing it Better, Warwick District Foodbank, Heart of Warwick Community Centre, and a range of local primary schools.
Between September 2023 and April 2025, Warwick School raised over £82,000 for local, national, and international charities.
In spring 2025, the money raised from a sponsored walk, non-uniform day, and doughnut sales was used to purchase two ambulances in aid of Ukraine, and they are now in use.
In addition, Sports Leadership Awards, Duke of Edinburgh, and Combined Cadet Force (CCF) also include volunteering and service, and all pupils take part in the Floreat Character Programme which focuses on civic virtue.
“On behalf of the people of Ukraine, my deepest thanks to everyone at Warwick School. Your kindness and commitment will never be forgotten.”
Andrew Velhosh, UK Education Specialist “Warwick School boys visit Warwick Hospital with us every week, making a powerful difference to patients’ wellbeing.”
Jill Fraser, CEO Kissing it Better
The numbers
IN 2024-25
20 CHARITIES WARWICK SCHOOL SUPPORTED 350kg OF DONATIONS WERE RAISED AT CHRISTMAS FOR FOODBANKS 16 PRIMARY SCHOOLS SUPPORTED WITH SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECTS
108
PUPILS COMPLETED THE FLOREAT CERTIFICATE, AWARD, AND DIPLOMAS
= 5,250 HOURS OF VOLUNTEERING SERVICE IN THE SIXTH FORM ALONE
240 OVER PUPILS VOLUNTEER ON FRIDAY AFTERNOONS = 5,760
HOURS GIVEN TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND PROJECTS
4 AMBULANCES IN TOTAL BOUGHT FOR UKRAINE’S FRONT LINE
Kissing it Better
Life
beyond school
Our pupils have access to a high level of support that gives them the greatest chance of succeeding in the pathway that they choose.
Leaning on the knowledge and expertise of our staff, we are proud to offer a range of support for our pupils, and we take particular pride in keeping in step with the latest options available to them as they leave school and embark on their next chapter.
We host a biennial Higher Education and Careers Fair to inspire our pupils to the many pathways available beyond school. For the latest edition, we welcomed over 40 universities, 30 employers, and a host of guest speakers, providing a wealth and a
truly invaluable opportunity to learn.
We recognise that support shouldn’t begin when our pupils reach sixth form; to give them the greatest chance of enrolling on the most competitive courses, we ensure that the framework of support is embedded right the way through from Year 7.
In part due to this specialist support, most of our sixth form leavers go on to study academic subjects at top universities.
In 2024, 103 pupils earned places at prestigious Russell Group universities or
other highly selective institutions, including nine Oxbridge places. 35-40% are involved in the academic pathways, and we have 43 different types of academic clinics and 14 academic societies available.
We are also proud to provide expert support for those considering Conservatoires, Drama Schools, Art Colleges, Degree Apprenticeships, and Global Universities.
Scan to read more about Life Beyond School.
The numbers 75% GO TO RUSSELL GROUP+ UNIVERSITIES
71% OF PUPILS MAKE THEIR FIRSTCHOICE OFFER
9 OXBRIDGE PLACES OFFERED IN 2024 OVER A THIRD OF PUPILS ARE INVOLVED IN ACADEMIC PATHWAYS
43 ACADEMIC CLINICS OFFERED 14 ACADEMIC SOCIETIES AVAILABLE
Admissions process
Choosing a school for your child is one of the most important decisions that you make as parents.
Get in touch
There are multiple ways in which you can enquire with us. You can book onto an open event, request a prospectus, or get in touch with our Admissions Team.
Visit us
We are pleased to welcome parents who are considering Warwick School for their son. You can book your place at one of our upcoming open events, where you can come and explore our excellent facilities and see what makes our school so special. To book on to an open event, please visit: www.warwickschool.org/ key-dates. We can also offer individual private tours throughout the year by contacting our Registrar.
Make your application online
Once we have received your application form, our Admissions Team will be in touch and invite your child to complete an entrance examination.
Contact details:
Please address all admissions enquiries to the Registrar on 01926 776400 or by email to WSS-admissions@ warwickschools.co.uk.
Sit the entrance examinations
Join us for our entrance examinations.
Senior School entrance examinations for Year 7 2026 entry will take place on Saturday, 15 November 2025. Please note that entrance to the sixth form is based on GCSE results.
Dates for your diary
Receive your offer
Pending sufficient performance in the examination, you will receive your offer of a place at the school. Scholarships and bursaries for relevant entry points are also offered at this stage. Sixth form offers will be conditional upon GCSE results achieved in August.
Join the Warwick Family
You are able to accept your offer, and confirm your son’s place at the school, by returning the acceptance paperwork together with the deposit.
WSS-admissions@warwickschools.co.uk
warwickschool.org