The Stray Ferret guide: top independent schools in Yorkshire

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Ashville College

Ashville College is Harrogate’s only independent co-educational day school for pupils aged two to 18.

Academically ambitious and committed to holistic education, Ashville College strives to support every pupil in their care to fulfil their potential academically and socially, as well as in their co-curricular pursuits, and be 'future ready' for their lives beyond school.

The school recently announced outline plans for the biggest investment in its academic and sporting facilities in its history.

A campus masterplan is being developed that will add pace and scale to the transformation of large parts of the estate ahead of Ashville's 150th anniversary in 2027.  This news heralds a new chapter for Ashville as they focus on becoming exclusively for day pupils, who currently form more than 90 per cent of the growing school community.

Rhiannon Wilkinson, head of Ashville College, said: “We are committed to creating the ‘new Ashville’, the school of first choice in the Harrogate area focused on the future and continuing to meet the needs and expectations of pupils and parents.

“We are very keen that all our pupils flourish in academic terms and have high expectations that they will gain the best possible results they can manage in public examinations.”

In autumn term 2023, Ashville was successful in both its Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) inspections.

ISI commented: “Leaders’ drive to fulfil the school’s aims is palpable as the school seeks to ensure that pupils are supported to fulfil their potential.”

Speaking to pupils' success, former student Ethan Marshall has accepted an offer to study Engineering at the University of Cambridge this September.

He said: "I can confidently say that without the incredibly kind help from the Maths, Physics and Computer Science departments at Ashville I would not have received this offer at all."

Age range

2 – 18 years old.

Address

Green Lane, Harrogate.

North Yorkshire.

HG2 9JP.

Contact

Website: https://www.ashville.co.uk | Phone: 01423 566358 | Email: reception@ashville.co.uk.

Cundall Manor School

Cundall Manor School, is a thriving co-ed Independent school situated in an idyllic part of North Yorkshire and has a long-standing tradition of successfully educating girls and boys aged two to sixteen.

An all-round academic, active and creative school, pupils are encouraged to challenge, inspire and support of each other as they foster a love of learning, excel academically - and have a lot of fun.

Pupils are guided towards reaching their full potential as passionate and innovative problem solvers, ready to contribute to society, through the support of a strong pastoral team and a style of teaching that focuses on the individual child rather than the whole class - meaning the needs of every child is properly accommodated.

Chris James Roll, headmaster at Cundall Manor School said: "When you join Cundall Manor, you join the family and that’s very much the atmosphere here."

This tailored nurture and support, stretch and challenge approach allow every pupil to achieve beyond their expectations.  The school boasts a 1.5 value-added score, meaning that at GCSE level pupils are gaining 1.5 grades higher than they might be expected to achieve.

The magnificent 28-acre site of green spaces and woodlands fosters exploration and discovery whether it is during outdoor education, break times or when learning is contextualised outside of the classroom.

Children develop sporting excellence through an extensive timetable of fixtures across the North Yorkshire circuit and beyond and with dedicated enrichment time, they can develop their character and explore their creative side with a variety of after-school enrichments such as pottery, astronomy, water polo and Duke of Edinburgh’s award programme.

This outstanding reputation that Cundall Manor enjoys has taken many years to develop and is built upon the commitment, skill and dedication of its staff and wider community. Families considering Cundall Manor are welcome to visit the highly distinctive school at any time, as they have a rolling admissions programme.

Age range

2 – 16 years old.

 Address

Cundall, York.

North Yorkshire.

YO61 2RW.

Contact

Website: https://www.cundallmanorschool.com | Phone: 01423 360200 | Email: admissions@cundallmanor.org.uk. 

Queen Mary's School

Queen Mary’s School was thrilled to be named in the top six independent schools with no sixth form in the UK, as so named by The Sunday Times 2024 Parent Power Schools Guide.

The school, just minutes from the A1(M), prides itself on providing an all-girls’ bespoke learning environment, specially designed with flexibility at its heart, to nurture and empower pupils to unleash their full potential and ambition to become confident and independent, and to mature from the inside out.

Queen Mary's commitment to personalised learning is evident in its diverse curriculum with the Good Schools Guide agreeing that 'there is a strong focus on high quality teaching and learning'. Traditional subjects sit alongside coding, performing arts and entrepreneurship within the personal development programme.

Along with academic excellence, Queen Mary’s offers exceptional extra-curricular opportunities with over 75 different activities on offer each week including gymnastics, dance, debating and STEM as well as outstanding music and choral provision.

The art studio, swimming pool and sports facilities are popular destinations and Queen Mary’s pupils love to be adventurous on site with canoeing, river swimming and climbing. riders and riding teams from Queen Mary’s equestrian centre have won major national titles.

Some girls choose to make Queen Mary’s their second home by flexi, weekly or full boarding in a 'home-from-home', supportive, family atmosphere.

Elisabeth in Year 10 loves the way in which Queen Mary’s gives pupils freedom; 'the freedom to express ourselves and not fit into a mould'. 

For one Year 11 parent, the sentiment is unequivocal: "Queen Mary's is the best decision we made as parents.”

Thanks to the unique combination of a small community, flexibility for busy family life, truly personalised learning and a determination to create magical childhood memories, the aim is for pupils to blossom at Queen Mary’s.

Age range

Girls: 3 – 16 years old.

Boys: 3 – 8.

 Address

Baldersby Park, Topcliffe.

North Yorkshire.

YO7 3BZ.

Contact

Website: https://www.queenmarys.org | Phone: 01845 575000 | Email: admissions@queenmarys.org.

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