Who Owns Repton Schools?

Repton School was founded in 1557 in the village of Repton in Derbyshire, England, by Sir John Port, a wealthy landowner and judge. Sir John Port established the school as a free grammar school for local boys, endowing it with land and funds to support its operation. The school was founded during the reign of Queen Mary I, making it one of the oldest continuously operating schools in England.

Repton School is located on the site of a former Augustinian priory, and several of the school's historic buildings date from the medieval period. The school's distinctive architecture, including the 14th-century undercroft and the historic arch, reflects its long history and connection to the village of Repton. The school has been continuously developed and modernized over the centuries while preserving its historic buildings and traditions.

Over its nearly five centuries of operation, Repton School has educated many notable alumni, including several prominent figures in British public life, the arts, and sports. The school has developed a strong reputation for academic excellence, character development, and the breadth of opportunities it offers students in sports, arts, and other activities.

Repton School expanded its educational offering over the centuries, adding a preparatory school (Repton Prep) for younger students and developing its boarding provision. The school became fully co-educational, admitting girls as well as boys, and now educates students from age 3 through 18 across its prep and senior schools.

The Repton brand was extended internationally through licensing agreements that allowed schools in other countries to use the Repton name and educational model. Repton UAE schools were established in Dubai and Abu Dhabi under license from Repton School, bringing the Repton educational approach to the large international community in the UAE. The UAE has a significant demand for premium British-curriculum international schools, driven by the large expatriate population and the preference of many UAE families for British educational qualifications.

In April 2023, Repton UAE schools joined Cognita Schools through a strategic partnership involving Cognita, Repton School, and Excella, the UAE-based education group that had previously operated the Repton UAE schools. The partnership brought Cognita's operational expertise, global network, and financial resources to the Repton UAE schools, while Repton School continued to provide the brand license and educational oversight. The partnership marked Cognita's entry into the premium boarding school market in the Middle East.

The Repton UAE schools include Repton Al Barsha in Dubai, Repton Dubai, and Repton Abu Dhabi. These schools offer the British curriculum, including GCSE and A-Level qualifications, to students from the large international community in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The UAE schools serve students from the British expatriate community as well as local Emirati families and other international families seeking British-curriculum education.

Repton School in England continues to operate as an independent charitable trust, governed by its own board of governors, and is not part of the Cognita partnership. The English school maintains its independence and its status as one of England's most prestigious independent schools.