Address: Newton-le-Willows, Bedale, Yorkshire DL8 1TF
Website: aysgarthschool.com
Founded: 1877
Number of Pupils: 211
Ages: Prep school – eight to 13 years; pre-prep – three to eight years
Fees: £2,820 – £8,630 per term
Head Teacher: Rob Morse
Religious Affiliation: Church of England
Entrance Procedure: Aysgarth is not an academically selective school and there is no entrance examination. All boys will meet with the headmaster and, if we feel that we can do a good job by them, the boys are welcomed to the school. All new boys are invited to a taster day and to the annual new boys’ weekend
Contact: 01677 451021
Email: [email protected]
School Trips: Ski trip for 70 + boys to Courmayeur, Italy; music/history/French trip to Normandy
The Curriculum
The academic subjects taught are English, maths, science, French, history, geography and Latin. In preparation for 13+ examination the syllabus for each subject is written by the head of department, in consultation with other teachers within the department, and based upon the ISEB Common Entrance syllabus. Other subjects taught, though not examined at 13+, are religious education and wellbeing, music, art, information and communication technology, physical education, craft and design technology, drama and PSHCE. All departments include subject specialists.
Pastoral Care
How do we look after pupils wellbeing? In short, by providing time, space, access to the great outdoors and by identifying a sensible approach to technology. How we do this however requires a rather long answer.
Never before has there been so much pressure on our children; the age-old complications of being a teenager, the ever increasing competition for schools, universities and jobs and, most significantly, the exponential growth in technology and its related social media and gaming platforms.
It is therefore all the more important to ensure that we provide our children with the environment to stay healthy and with the tools and skills to maintain this.
This starts of course with a healthy work/life balance, for if we cannot provide this for our children when they are still at school, what hope is there for them as they enter the wider world? It is essential that we work to provide a balance of academic and extracurricular activities, of cerebral and physical activities and, of course, a balance of screen and non-screen time.
Traditional boarding prep schools provide time for a full education and here at Aysgarth we pride ourselves on the fact that the boys spend half of the day in academic pursuits leaving the other half for creative, physical and enjoyment based activities. Exactly the right work/life balance to enable the children to enjoy their schooling, keep healthy whilst building confidence, and friendships along the way.
Equally importantly, schools need to ensure that their staff are trained to promote the mental health of those in their charge. Here at Aysgarth, in addition to the curriculum outlined above, we are proud to work in partnership with Teenagers Translated with regard to practical strategies for boys and staff alike. September saw us implement the STEER programme to support and enhance our existing pastoral care system.
Furthermore, we ensure that those in our care are discussed at daily briefings, staff meetings, boarding staff meetings, management team meetings and, most importantly, that all discussions and information is ‘joined up’.
And who benefits? The boys of course as we look to support them, help them to learn, to build good habits and to have plenty of fun along the way.
Recent Scholarships
Remote Aysgarth was especially well received by both parents and pupils alike, and we are delighted to report that all of the 2020 leavers passed common entrance exams to the Schools of their choice, ranging from Harrow in the South to Fettes in the North, and in spite of the restrictions due to COVID achieved an impression number of Scholarships.
