Royal Hospital School
School summary
Set on the Suffolk coast near Ipswich, the Royal Hospital School is a medium-sized independent that boards as well as teaches day pupils across the 11-18 range. Its maritime heritage shows through in an unusual sporting offer, with sailing standing alongside the more familiar field games. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school excellent for both education and personal development, and its compliance obligations were fully met. With 560 pupils, including 225 in the sixth form, it has the scale to offer breadth while keeping a recognisable community.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Latest results
GCSE grade 9-7
57%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
46%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
67%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 14 January 2025
Teaching & academics
Results sit well clear of the national picture: 57% of GCSE entries reached grades 9-7, against a national average of 23%, while 46% of A-level grades were A*-A compared with 28% nationally. The sixth form spreads across sciences, humanities and social sciences, with Psychology, Physics, Mathematics and History among the most popular choices, and pupils can supplement A-levels with BTEC and EPQ routes. With around one in five pupils receiving SEN support, the school clearly accommodates a range of learning needs alongside its strong headline outcomes.
Languages
GCSE subjects
Acting Headmaster · Steve Dixon
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 225
A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Beyond the classroom
Sport is a defining feature, ranging from cricket, hockey, rugby and netball to the more distinctive sailing, climbing, golf, horse riding and kickboxing. Languages extend to French, Spanish and Chinese, and scholarships in music, drama, art and sailing point to genuine investment beyond the classroom. The phone policy tightens by age group, with younger pupils handing devices in for the day and sixth-formers given more freedom.
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Religious character
- None
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 21.28%
- EHC plans
- 0.37%
Mobile phone policy
Years 7-9: phones handed in on arrival, collected before going home. Year 10: handed in on arrival, collected at 5pm. Year 11: handed in on arrival, collected at 4.15pm (use permitted from 4.15pm onwards). Year 12: may have phones during the day. Year 13: may have phones at all times. Separate rules for boarders and Sundays.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £21,978 - £25,563
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £36,873 - £49,851
Means-tested bursaries available
Schools nearby
Ipswich High School
East of England
Orwell Park School
Nacton, Ipswich, Suffolk, East of England
New Skill Centre
Ipswich, East of England
St Joseph's College
Ipswich, East of England
Redstone Hall School
Ipswich, East of England
Include Suffolk
Lowestoft, East of England
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A coastal boarding school where strong academics meet a rare breadth of sport, from rugby pitch to sailing dinghy. Means-tested bursaries and a wide scholarship range mean it is worth a look for families drawn to that mix.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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Royal Hospital School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.