Head of private Ruthin School talks community, fees and the future

It's a bold plan for an historic institution which proudly displays the original Deeds of Endowment signed by Queen Elizabeth I in 1584 in its halls. But it's one which new head Frances King believes will benefit the private school's own students and the wider region, while helping build Ruthin's reputation on the global stage.

Ruthin School's new headteacher Frances King (Image: Ruthin School) "We are very proud of our academic results," said Frances. "But when I think about success, I think about 'what is the purpose of this school? 

"The answer, I think, is that we focus on inspiring students to love learning. You could have the best academic results in the world but that is not the school I would be proud of. I'd be impressed, but what matters is the wider effect of education, helping students to be open and ready to think about the world as they move forward.

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"It's important to recognise we are a business and must break even, so we must ensure we remain viable. But the way to do that is to realise that purpose."

Around a third of Ruthin's students are day pupils - who travel in each day from the local area - almost three times the UK average for an independent boarding school.

As the respected former head of prestigious schools including Collège Beau Soleil in Switzerland, Roedean in Brighton and Mill Hill in London, Frances King already had a successful career. What prompted the decision to join Ruthin School?

"If this was not an exciting school I would not have taken the post," said Frances. "This school has been here since 1284 - the time when it was having to reflect on whether it was going to get by has passed.

"Now there are a number of exciting opportunities. We have a high percentage of day pupils and work in three languages - English, Chinese and Welsh - which works very well indeed.

The original Deed of Endowment for Ruthin School signed by Queen Elizabeth I. (Image: Alec Doyle, Newsquest) "This is Ruthin's School. It belongs to Ruthin and we want Ruthin to be proud of it and for it to remain affordable for them. We have seen it come through some challenging times and we are now putting plans in place to grow and realise the school's full potential."

Following the completion of the sale of the school to Chinese investors last year and the appointment of a new board, Ruthin School - under Frances and deputy head Kathy Campbell - is keen to write a new chapter.

"We have a multi-year plan but we are in year one, month one," said Frances. "Our goal is to build and strengthen our connections both with our local community and globally to bring benefits to everyone.

A Chinese Bianzhong gifted to Ruthin School by investors to mark its 740th anniversary. (Image: Alec Doyle, Newsquest) "So if we have students who want to visit local businesses to learn about them, whether that is aeronautical engineering, livestock management, whatever it might be, we want to work with local businesses to create those opportunities and hopefully they will benefit from the work of our students.

"We also want to be confident in saying to the world, 'we are here'," said Frances. "We are building Ruthin's international reputation. Currently we are hosting some incredible students from Hiroshima Global Academy who have blown us away with their ability. We will be sending some students there next year in what is an exciting exchange."

Reshaping the school's relationship with the community is a key goal for the leadership team.

"I have spoken to people in Ruthin who have lived here their whole lives and not seen inside the school," said Kathy. "We feel it's important for Ruthin School to be more integrated into the local community.

Ruthin School plans to open up some educational resources to local students. (Image: Alec Doyle, Newsquest) "That is why our plans include a completely new outreach programme. We intend to work with community groups to open up our facilities where possible so they can use them outside of school hours.

"For example we have a phenomenal local ballroom dancer coming in and we are looking at whether we can support her by offering a hall here free of charge for her to provide lessons to people in Ruthin.

"We are also starting to invite local sixth form students in to join us when we have guest speakers and are exploring web-based talks so that local families, children and students can access them alongside our own students.

"There are also people who perhaps cannot afford our fees or have chosen a different route, who can still benefit and enjoy some of the things we offer so we are looking at providing taster sessions in fencing, badminton and art outreach where we allow students from schools and colleges around Ruthin to use our photography equipment."

Opening up Ruthin School to the wider community is a policy supported by the new investors. 

"They are very supportive of all-round education for our students and of the school working more collaboratively with the community," said Frances. "We are  a business but they are very keen to develop the arts.

"They supported Ruthin Arts Festival this summer and plan to launch an arts foundation for the town. They want Ruthin to be an outward-looking school that benefits the wider community."