- Location
- Worcester
- Age range
- 2–19
- Attendance
- Day school
About RGS Worcester
Schoolscout directory record ·
RGS Worcester stands out as a beacon of educational excellence, offering a nurturing environment that fosters both academic and personal growth. With a com...
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
The Royal Grammar School Worcester (RGSW) is one of the oldest continuously operating schools in the English-speaking world. It was founded in 1291 by Bishop Bosel of Worcester — predating Eton by some 150 years and Westminster by more than 270 — and has occupied its present site on Upper Tything, immediately east of Worcester Cathedral, for most of its modern history. The school holds a royal foundation: a charter was granted by King Henry VIII in 1541 confirming its independent status. It is co-educational, educates around 1,272 pupils across all sections (Junior School, Senior, Sixth Form) and is a member of the HMC. The headmaster is John Pitt.
RGSW's cricket pitch, Flagge Meadow, is used by Worcestershire County Cricket Club for second-XI fixtures and historic first-team matches, and the school has produced multiple Worcestershire and England cricketers — Dean Headley among the most recent. Its most famous twentieth-century alumnus is Imran Khan, the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan (2018-22) and the captain of the Pakistan team that won the 1992 Cricket World Cup; Khan attended RGS Worcester from 1971 to 1972 while preparing for entry to Aitchison College and then to Oxford.
The school's medieval heritage is alive in its older alumni list. Sir Reginald Bray KG, who served Henry VII and is credited with the architectural design of King's College Chapel, Cambridge, was a pupil. So was the 15th-century jurist Sir Thomas Littleton, whose Tenures (printed posthumously by Wynkyn de Worde) was a foundational text of English property law for three centuries. The medieval allegorical poet William Langland (Piers Plowman) is also said to have studied at the school, although the documentary evidence is fragmentary.
In modern public life and the arts: the National Poet of Australia, Adam Lindsay Gordon; the aeronautical engineer Sir George Dowty; the Royal Society of British Sculptors member John McKenna; the international tenor John Mark Ainsley; and the SETI Program Office founding director John Billingham. The Manchester Ship Canal — the largest civil-engineering project of the late Victorian period — was designed by another Old Elizabethan, Sir Edward Leader Williams. The school operates a substantial bursary programme and remains the senior independent school of Worcestershire.
School life and highlights in the catalogue
- Founded 1291 — 735-year history (one of the oldest schools in the English-speaking world)
- Located adjacent to Worcester Cathedral on Upper Tything in the centre of Worcester
- Co-educational ages 4-18 across the RGS Worcester family (Junior School, Senior, Sixth Form)
- Flagge Meadow ground also used by Worcestershire County Cricket Club
- HMC member; the senior independent school of Worcestershire and the West Midlands
- Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan and World Cup-winning cricket captain, was a pupil
- Strong rowing programme on the River Severn
- Substantial bursary programme via the RGS Worcester Foundation
- 1,440-pupil community
- A-Level A*-B*: 46% achieve AAB+
Education and school life
- Education levels
- Nursery, Pre-Prep, Prep, Senior, Sixth Form
- Age range
- 2–19
- Attendance
- Day school
- Pupil intake
- Co-educational
- School type
- Mainstream
- Headteacher / principal
- Mr John Pitt
- Religious ethos
- None listed in this source
- Listed inspectorate
- ISI
Subjects and qualifications
- Cricket (Worcestershire CCC ground share at Flagge Meadow)
- Rowing
- Music (full orchestra; alumnus tenor John Mark Ainsley)
- Sciences
- Classics
- Modern languages
Listed memberships and accreditations
- HMC (Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference)
- ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)
Progression and destinations in the catalogue
- Oxbridge
- Russell Group (Birmingham, Warwick, Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh)
- Pakistan top universities (LUMS, IBA) — Imran Khan alumnus connection
- Music conservatoires
Alumni notes
- Imran Khan (22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan; Pakistan World Cup-winning cricket captain 1992)
- William Langland (medieval poet — Piers Plowman)
- Adam Lindsay Gordon (National Poet of Australia)
- Sir George Dowty (aeronautical engineer and industrialist — Dowty Group)
- Sir Reginald Bray KG (statesman to Henry VII; architect of King's College Chapel, Cambridge)
- Dean Headley (England Test cricketer)
- Tim Curtis (Worcestershire cricket captain)
- John Billingham (founding director of NASA's SETI Program Office)
- Sir Edward Leader Williams (civil engineer of the Manchester Ship Canal)
- John Mark Ainsley (international tenor — Britten, Mozart)
- Sir Thomas Littleton (15th-century jurist; foundational figure in English property law)
- Benjamin Williams Leader RA (Royal Academy landscape painter)
Supporting school records
These dated records may contain different information. Ask our team about current details.
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
- Headteacher / principal
- John Pitt
- Founded
- 1291
- Religious ethos
- Church of England (originally Catholic foundation)
- Campus setting
- Urban
- Scholarships / bursaries
- Options indicated; confirm availability and eligibility.
Additional source record ·
- Scholarships / bursaries
- Options not indicated in this record; availability unconfirmed.
Pupil information
- Total pupils
- 1,440
- Boys
- 736 · 51.11%
- Girls
- 704 · 48.89%
- Pupils receiving SEN support
- 395 · 27.43%
- Pupils with an EHCP
- 3 · 0.21%
Counts and percentages are reproduced from the directory. SEN means special educational needs; EHCP means Education, Health and Care Plan. A pupil census year is not supplied.
A-Level results
- Results year
- 2025
- Progress score
- 0.42 (Well Above Average)
- Average grade
- A-
- AAB percentage
- 45.70%
Results refer to the year shown. The directory does not provide a cohort size or a full methodology for these measures.
Tuition and costs
The fee year is not specified. Ask our team about current fees, VAT and included services.
Schoolscout directory record ·
| Attendance | GBP · Period and VAT unverified |
|---|---|
| Day | £4,860 – £7,242 |
Current fees and VAT treatment require confirmation from the school. Directory labels are not a verified school quotation.
Check whether boarding, meals, registration, deposits, examinations, trips and guardian arrangements are included. Amounts are in pounds sterling (GBP), without currency conversion.
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Read the directory’s school and admissions questions below.
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Explore MEC guidanceQuestions in the school directory
Schoolscout directory record ·
What type of school is RGS Worcester?
RGS Worcester is a co-educational independent mainstream school for pupils aged 2 to 19, located near Worcester in Worcestershire. The school offers education from Nursery through to Sixth Form, with pathways leading to GCSEs and A Levels.
How do I apply to RGS Worcester?
Historical directory text below. Its fees, billing period and VAT have not been verified with the school.
The admissions process usually starts well in advance of entry and may involve assessments and interviews. The school admissions timeline guide outlines key stages and deadlines.
What are the fees at RGS Worcester?
Historical directory text below. Its fees, billing period and VAT have not been verified with the school.
The cost of attending RGS Worcester typically ranges around £4,860–£7,242 per term, with variations based on age and boarding.
Is RGS Worcester a day or boarding school?
Pupils at RGS Worcester can attend as day.
Is RGS Worcester selective?
Admissions to RGS Worcester are selective, with entry based on overall fit and, where relevant, academic assessment.
School location and enquiries
- Street address
- Upper Tything
- Town / locality
- Worcester
- County
- Worcestershire
- Region
- West Midlands
- Postcode
- WR1 1HP
- Country
- United Kingdom
Talk to our team about this school, current fees and your application.
Enquire about this schoolView the school locationUpper Tything, Worcester, Worcestershire, West Midlands, WR1 1HPSchoolscout directory record ·
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
Additional source record ·
Collection and catalogue update dates are shown above; they are not fee years or pupil census dates. Source text is retained in its original language. The school’s official information takes precedence for current admissions, programmes and fees.