A warm welcome from Jonathon and Hester
Aysgarth is a special place where dedicated staff provide pupils with the opportunities, support, and challenges to thrive academically and personally while forming lifelong friendships.
It was evident from our first visit that Aysgarth is a special place, a wonderful school with a homely feel where a team of dedicated specialists provides pupils with the time, opportunities, support and challenge to develop their potential whilst forming life-long friendships and memories. It is a great privilege for us to lead this flourishing school, harnessing the considerable skills of our talented staff and providing the children with a magical childhood that creates firm stepping stones to their senior schools and their adult lives beyond. Our child-centred approach allows individual strengths and differences to be recognised, celebrated and nurtured.
At every opportunity, Aysgarth children are encouraged to make the very most of their potential both in and out of the classroom. Whilst academic rigour is paramount, the children thrive in the fields of sport, music, drama and art. Furthermore, an extensive extracurricular programme allows each child to explore and enjoy activities that fall outside of the normal curriculum, providing further scope to build self-confidence and develop new skills.
The Aysgarth values of respect, endeavour and courage run through the very heart of the School. The importance of kindness and service to others are also central to a child’s journey through Aysgarth.
Aysgarth has a strong boarding tradition and pupils from age 8 to 13 regularly travel from throughout the country and across the world to experience an Aysgarth education. As such, the School is also home to our many boarders and the numerous supportive staff who live in these delightful surroundings. The boarding house provides excellent opportunities for the pupils to develop a better understanding of themselves and the people around them. Their potential, individuality, independence and well-being are nurtured and guided and they flourish in the knowledge that you get what you give, so kindness and consideration become second nature.
In September 2024, we were delighted to welcome girls into our Prep School, marking a successful milestone in Aysgarth’s history. For over 30 years, girls and boys have thrived in our energetic and nurturing Pre-Prep environment, and this step extended the Aysgarth education to girls aged 8 to 13. Today, girls make up nearly 30% of the pupils, highlighting the remarkable success of this exciting milestone.
We recognise the importance of your decision to entrust your child to our hands. The environment in which your child grows up will deeply influence their worldview, their sense of self, and their understanding of the world around them.
Most families, like ours, began their Aysgarth journey with a visit. So we invite you to visit Aysgarth, to see the distinctive blend of tradition, innovation, and warmth. Let us show you how we deliver on our promises—investing in your child’s future, fostering a legacy that will endure for generations.
Jonathon and Hester Anderson
About the Prep School
Our ethos and values develop pupils in every respect - to be happy, confident, courteous, independent and ambitious.
We aim high! We are proud of our academic ambition and aim to stretch every pupil to make the most of their abilities in small groups, whatever the activity.
Every year Aysgarth sends pupils to selective schools such as Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Rugby and Radley. From September we look forward to widening the list of schools we sent our pupils to. Throughout the Prep school years, we work together with families to identify the best future school for their child, proudly witnessing our leavers embark on the next stage of their educational journey at the very finest senior schools.
Although boarding-focused, day pupils are very welcome. Day pupils make up nearly 15- 20% of our pupil population.
But don't just take our word for it, our pastoral care is award-winning, we are a STEER champion School, 'Prep School of the Year 2019/20' and our wonderful matron, Miss A was nominated in 2023 for Life Time Achievement Award by Tatler.
About the Pre-Prep
Oak House is the co-educational Nursery and Pre-Preparatory Department of Aysgarth School for children ages 3 to 8 years. Oak House provides a happy, busy environment, where the individuality of every child is recognised, and all children are encouraged and supported to make progress in their own way and in their own time.
It is located alongside the Prep School allowing the Pre-Prep children to take full advantage of the wonderful grounds and facilities at Aysgarth.
The curriculum and the teaching in the Pre-Prep incorporate the best of modern practice, equipment and facilities. We aim to lay sound foundations in literacy and numeracy; to develop an interest in art, music, technology and sport; to teach and demonstrate strong moral values and to ensure that the children enjoy this precious stage of their lives.
Small classes are vital to ensure individual attention so that children can make the most of their potential and talent. Our committed, energetic and enthusiastic staff are able to devote additional time to those children who are experiencing difficulties, whilst providing a myriad of opportunities for those who are keen to progress.
Fundamentally, we understand each parent’s desire for their child to feel happy and secure and consider ourselves extremely fortunate to play a part in the children’s development.
I do hope that you will come and visit us so that you can experience firsthand what makes Oak House so very special. Please contact the Admissions Department (admissions@aysgarthschool.co.uk) if you would like to arrange a tour.
