Ipswich High School
Same Suffolk area with a comparable local commute
School profile
Verified 18 August 2026
Royal Hospital School is a private secondary-stage school in Ipswich, Suffolk, with a published age range of 11-18.
Private school Co-ed Ages 11-18 Sixth form Boarding school
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 11-18
- ISI ?
- Standards met
- Boarding ?
- Boarding school
Royal Hospital School
On this page
At a glance
Key facts
- Sector
- Private school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 11-18
- Boarding ?
- Boarding school
- Route check
- Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
- ISI ?
- Standards met
Overview
Overview
Naval heritage is the thread that connects Royal Hospital School's long history with its current life beside the Stour estuary. Greenwich Hospital founded it in 1712 to educate boys from seafaring backgrounds, and the community moved to its Suffolk campus in 1933. Today, the co-educational day and boarding community occupies 200 acres near Ipswich, with that maritime inheritance widened into a broader education.
The academic route runs through GCSEs, A levels and BTEC qualifications. Tutor guidance, learning support and English as an Additional Language provision sit alongside lessons, while societies, debating, public speaking, trips, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and RHS Futures extend the programme towards later study and work.
Sailing gives the campus a particularly recognisable strand. The academy at Alton Water introduces Year 7 pupils to the sport and supports competition at national and international level. Music, drama, art and design, sport, the Combined Cadet Force and clubs add different ways to contribute, perform and develop skill.
Boarding can be full, weekly, three-night, ad hoc or arranged through a boarding bundle, and day pupils share the same community. Years 7 to 9 applicants attend experience days and complete English, mathematics and GL Assessment verbal-reasoning tests. The all-through 11-to-18 structure includes a co-educational Sixth Form and boarding.
Key points
Key points
- Assessment route
- Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
- Places and demand
- Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
- Catchment
- Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
- Results
- 1.1% grade 5+ in English and maths and 50.9 Attainment 8
- Sixth form
- Sixth form available with 25.9% AAB or better.
GCSE benchmark
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Suffolk and England.
School Local authority England
- Attainment 8
- 50.9
- Grade 5+ English and maths
- 1.1%
- EBacc APS
- 4.50
- EBacc entry
- 0%
Attainment 8 trend
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Suffolk and England.
School Local authority England
School details
School details
- Sector
- Private school
- School type
- Other independent school
- Funding
- Independent fee-paying
- Application
- Apply direct to school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Age range
- 11-18
- Headteacher
- Mr Steven Dixon
- Pupil roll
- 495 pupils
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Boarding
- Boarding school
Location and contact
Location and contact
Address
- Address
- Holbrook, Ipswich, Suffolk
- Postcode
- IP9 2RX
- Area
- Suffolk
School leadership
- Headteacher
- Mr Steven Dixon
School contact
- School phone
- 01473326200
Admissions contact
- Admissions team
- Admissions
- Admissions email
- reception@royalhospitalschool.org
- Admissions phone
- 01473326200
Admissions
Admissions
- Application route
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 11-18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Boarding
- Boarding school
- Day fees
- £7,509–£8,734/term
- Boarding fees
- £11,319–£17,033/term
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Entrance details
- English and Mathematics are internally set and marked and Verbal Reasoning uses GL Assessment papers; assessments are tailored to the year of entry. Scholarship assessments are additional where applicable.
- Admissions note
- GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
Oversubscription and eligibility
Use the official admissions policy for the current priority order and eligibility rules.
Exam and test format
Exam and test format
Entrance route and assessment
English and Mathematics are internally set and marked and Verbal Reasoning uses GL Assessment papers; assessments are tailored to the year of entry. Scholarship assessments are additional where applicable.
- Assessment route
- Apply direct to school
- Papers and stages
- 1 paper
- Format
- Mixed format
Papers and rounds
-
Paper 1
English, Maths, Verbal reasoning
Secondary entrance assessments
Mathematics and English assessments are internally set and marked and Verbal Reasoning is assessed using GL Assessment papers, tailored to the year of entry.
Published assessment components
English, Maths and Verbal reasoning are listed across the school's published assessment routes.
Published
-
English
-
Maths
-
Verbal reasoning
Mathematics and English assessments are internally set and marked and Verbal Reasoning is assessed using GL Assessment papers, tailored to the year of entry.
Application
Application
Key dates
Get date reminders-
Years 7-10 registration and scholarship application deadline
27 November 2026
Route: Years 7-10; entry: September 2027.
-
Years 7-10 entrance assessments
16 January 2027
Route: Years 7-10; entry: September 2027.
-
Years 7-10 scholarship assessments
Week commencing 18 January 2027
Route: Years 7-10; entry: September 2027.
How to apply
- 1
Apply direct to the school
Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
Check school admissions
Results
Results
Attainment snapshot
- Attainment 8 ?
- 50.9 Attainment 8
- GCSE results
- 1.1% grade 4+ in English and maths
- Grade 5+ English and maths ?
- 1.1% grade 5+ in English and maths
- EBacc average point score ?
- 4.50 EBacc APS
- A-level results
- 25.9% AAB or better
- A-level average points
- 38.35 A-level points per entry
Inspection
Inspection
Standards met
Latest inspection: 14 January 2025
- Leadership, management and governance
- Standards met
- Quality of education, training and recreation
- Standards met
- Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Standards met
- Social and economic education and contribution to society
- Standards met
- Safeguarding
- Standards met
Quick summary
- Latest ISI report: Routine Inspections 2025 records an inspection beginning 14 January 2025. The report says the relevant standards were met.
Similar schools and comparisons
Similar schools and comparisons
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Shortlist comparisons
Explore this school in context
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Related pages and guides
Related pages and guides
Area and ranking pages
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Guides and related reading
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does Royal Hospital School handle admissions?
Royal Hospital School handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
How do I apply to Royal Hospital School?
1. Apply direct to the school: Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
When are the key dates for Royal Hospital School?
Years 7-10 registration and scholarship application deadline: 27 November 2026. Years 7-10 entrance assessments: 16 January 2027. Years 7-10 scholarship assessments: Week commencing 18 January 2027
What does the latest inspection picture look like for Royal Hospital School?
Royal Hospital School is currently rated Standards met following the latest published inspection dated 14 January 2025.