School Chef

Old Buckenham Hall is now part of the Rugby Schools Group and is a leading co-educational preparatory school for children aged 2 – 13 years and has been educating children for over 160 years.

Here, children remain just that. They experience, they learn, they grow, but they do so within one of the most idyllic environments imaginable.

We are proud of our beautiful school, but it is what goes on inside these old walls and in the grounds that really matters. Every teacher at Old Buckenham Hall is committed to delivering the very best for every child. For us this means inspirational academic and co-curricular teaching, outstanding pastoral care and embracing risk and challenge. Children here feel happy and safe and they have a chance to explore their aspirations and develop their character.

Situated in the heart of rural Suffolk, near the historic town of Lavenham, Old Buckenham Hall is just 20 minutes away from Bury St Edmunds, Sudbury and Stowmarket; and 35 minutes from Colchester.

A range of transport options are available, including morning and evening bus routes and accompanied train journeys to London. Stowmarket and Colchester train stations are both direct lines to London Liverpool street.

Part of Rugby School Group

Old Buckenham Hall joined Rugby School Group in January 2026, becoming the third prep school to do so after Bilton Grange (2020) and Aysgarth School (2025).

Rugby School Group is one of the UK’s most respected and forward-looking educational families, led by the historic Rugby School – the UK’s leading co-educational true full-boarding and day school for pupils aged 13-18. All schools share Rugby School’s core principle: The whole person is the whole point, underpinned by a universal commitment to developing ambitious, compassionate global citizens whilst maintaining the freedom for children to be children.

As part of Rugby School Group, pupils benefit from a range of additional opportunities, both in their academic studies and co-curricular pursuits. The benefits of the partnership include OBH pupils having the opportunity to utilise Rugby School’s world-class facilities, whilst Rugby School staff visit OBH to share expertise in the form of academic projects, sports coaching, and performing arts.

OBH maintains its unique identity, while benefitting from collaboration, investment, and shared excellence. The overriding aim of the Group is to support a some of the most outstanding prep schools in the country to thrive long into the future.

To learn more about Rugby School Group, please visit www.rugbyschool.co.uk.