ASHVILLE NEWS Summer 2026
SUMMER 2026
SENIOR SCHOOL SPEECH DAY Guest of honour at Senior School Speech Day this year was Old Ashvillian, Dr Blanc Wan BEM. Blanc has established a profile as a concert pianist, musicologist and an educator. He has performed globally and was elected Young Steinway Artist in 2011 and the title of Steinway Honour Teacher was conferred on him in 2021, recognising his achievement and contribution in the world of piano education. After leaving Ashville, Blanc graduated from Oxford and received his Ph.D. from King’s College London. He currently holds ten degrees and fellowships from world-leading institutes. Blanc spoke about his time at Ashville and how he arrived as a boarder speaking very little English but embraced every opportunity presented to him and soon felt part of the Ashville family.
We were inspired by heartfelt words from our Chair of Governors, Greg Styles and Head, Rhiannon Wilkinson, alongside speeches from our Heads of School, Tom and Rose whose reflections perfectly captured the spirit of the occasion. The audience was treated to a monologue from Twelfth Night by Ciara, and vocal interludes by Rose and Olivia and a performance of Chopin’s Prelude No.4 in E Minor by Finley. Congratulations to all the prize winners and performers – you made the day truly special.
PREP SCHOOL SPEECH DAY Our Prep School Speech Day was a fantastic celebration of a year filled with achievement, growth and success. Families and guests gathered in the Soothill Hall to reflect on the many highlights of the academic year and celebrate our prize winners. We were delighted to welcome our special guest, Sarah Roberts, a wildlife presenter, conservation communicator, author, and adventurer, whose inspiring address and engaging audience participation made the occasion even more memorable. Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this special day!
US GRADUATION CEREMONY Ashville is the only school in the North of England accredited by NEASC to award the high school diploma to our American pupils. This year, nine pupils graduated at our US Graduation Ceremony, where families were invited to join us in person or via video link from the US. The national anthem was followed by a welcome from Chair of Governors, Greg Styles and Director of US Studies, Christian Baker, a student address by Layla and other speeches by Chaplain, Catherine Frieze and Head of Lower Sixth, Gilmour Coad. Destinations for our US Graduates include Rice University, Virginia Tech and North Carolina Central University. We wish them every success for the future!
A LEVEL RESULTS Another Stand-Out Set of A Level Results Pupils from Ashville are heading to leading universities, international institutions and prestigious global organisations spanning the UK, Europe and the United States after another stand-out set of A Level results. The Class of 2026 is taking up a diverse range of higher education opportunities, from Medicine to Ancient History, and coveted apprenticeships, including Ernst & Young, after securing their destinations of choice. The next destinations secured by Sixth Form leavers reflect academic excellence, the breadth of home-grown talent nurtured at Ashville, and the increasingly varied pathways now available to young people promoted through our Future Ready Programme. Head of Ashville, Rhiannon Wilkinson, said the rich and unparalleled diversity of this year’s destinations highlighted the individuality, ambition and futureready mindset of the school’s pupils. She said: “All our pupils are supported to be exam ready, university ready, career ready, and life ready for a rapidly changing world. Our new-look Sixth Form Centre and unique pre-university experience is adding a new dimension to this.
“The opening of their envelopes and emails has opened up a new and exciting world to explore and put their ‘Ashville’ stamp on. These global destinations highlight not only academic success but also reflect the broad range of interests and aspirations we offer and encourage at Ashville.” Among the many personal Ashville triumphs is Deputy Head Boy, Ben, who has secured a coveted apprenticeship with EY (Ernst & Young). This rare accolade marks the second consecutive year Ashville pupils have been awarded a coveted position with the ‘Big 4’ global professional services leader.
Ben, who combined his A Level studies with a passion for rugby and Mathematics during his time at Ashville, said: “Getting an apprenticeship with EY is an incredible opportunity and I’m proud to have secured my place and be part of their world. “It’s an exciting launchpad for my career, gaining hands-on experience with such a global organisation while working towards my professional qualification. It feels like the perfect next step, and I can’t wait to get started. “I would also like to thank the Ashville teaching community for all the support and guidance I have received to enable me to reach this milestone.” Another success story is Lennon, who took all his A Level exams while his father, Jesse, was leading Canada as its Head Coach to a historic finish in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, reaching the last 16 for the first time in the nation’s history.
after starring as Deloris in this year’s school production of Sister Act. Toby, her co-star, will join her to study Drama and Film Studies at Manchester. Within the arts, Jasmine will pursue her passion in Fashion Buying and Merchandise at Manchester.
Lennon is now set to follow in the footsteps of his father, who formerly managed Leeds United and gave an insight into his sporting journey to pupils at Ashville before heading off to the World Cup, after securing a place at the University of Bath to study Sports Management.
Building on Ashville’s sporting heritage, Connie will take up her offer to study Sports Exercise Science at Durham, while next stop for Olivia will be Loughborough, recently crowned the world’s best university for sports-related subjects for the tenth year in a row, to read Mathematics and Sports Science.
Ashville pupils taking up global higher education opportunities include Ida and Layla, whose exceptional grades will lead to studying Medicine in Germany and the United States; Magnus, who is heading to Berlin CODE University to read Business; and Ebube, whose learning journey will take him to the renowned Rice University in Texas, United States – regarded as “the Harvard of the South”. Closer to home, many pupils have secured places at the UK’s leading universities, spanning Durham, Edinburgh, Manchester, Newcastle, York and Bath. Alice, who after choosing to come to Ashville for Sixth Form and leading the Politics Club for younger pupils, will be pursuing her passion for History at one of the UK’s most prestigious universities. Katie will be studying English Literature and History of Art at Edinburgh University. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects are highly represented including Amelia who will study Materials Science and Engineering at Manchester and Sophie who will study Chemical Engineering at Sheffield. Grace and Toby are two top-of-the-bill success stories from the Performing Arts department that continues to flourish at Ashville. Grace has been awarded a place to study Drama at Manchester
Mrs Wilkinson added: “Results Day is a milestone day for our pupils and marks a proud moment for our school community. Everyone is delighted to see pupils pursue UK and international destinations and courses that genuinely reflect their passions and strengths, whether in STEM, the arts, business, sport or the humanities. “These grades reflect years of hard work and focus from a wonderful cohort. They have earned the rewards that will propel them to their next steps. “They leave Ashville as confident, capable young people ready to embrace exciting futures across a wide range of industries and professions. “I am immensely proud of all our Upper Sixth pupils and the dedication, character and ambition they have shown throughout their time at Ashville. “It has been a privilege to see them grow into the young people they have become, and the entire Ashville community wishes them every success as they take their next steps in their life journeys. We look forward to tracking their future success. “I would also like to send a big thank you to our brilliant staff and supportive families. They made these achievements possible.”
GCSE RESULTS Class of 2026 Achieve Excellent Set of Grades Ashville has praised pupils from its GCSE Class of 2026 after achieving another “excellent” set of grades, complementing the success of its A Level high-performers. Rhiannon Wilkinson, Head of Ashville, said: “Our whole school community is thrilled to congratulate our Year 11 cohort on their fantastic GCSE results. Every success has been well-deserved and we are so proud of what these pupils have achieved both in and out of the classroom. They can now focus on the future and the many opportunities that lie ahead for them.” “We look forward to welcoming pupils to Six @ Ashville, our new-look Sixth Form Centre with the unique and reimagined experience it offers. It is tailored to open up increasingly varied pathways to young people to ensure they are exam ready, university ready, career ready, and life ready for a rapidly changing world.” Among the many pupil success stories are: Ciara – who achieved GCSE academic success alongside her drama and sports performances which saw her crowned Ashville’s Young Actor
of the Year, playing a lead role in the school’s. flagship musical Sister Act, while representing the school on the sports field in both Hockey and Netball.
Natalie – whose musical talents saw her play alongside Dr Blanc Wan BEM, an Ashville pupil from 2002 to 2008 and world-renowned classical pianist, in a Masterclass when he returned to the school in July after being honoured with a British Empire Medal by King Charles this year for his contribution to UK Higher Education and Music Culture.
Mrs Wilkinson added: “This success is never a solo journey and everyone at Ashville would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our first-rate teaching and support staff, who have again gone above and beyond to guide our pupils including personalised mentoring. Excellent results like today’s aren’t achieved in isolation and they are a testament to the teamwork that exists between pupils, staff and parents.” There was also an across-the-board success for a group who won academic scholarships ahead of their GCSE years as a result of great work and progress at Ashville in Years 7 – 9, each of the four progressing to achieve excellent results: Bella, Oliver, Max and Lily. Lily combined her passion for Art and Netball, while Max blended his interests in Maths and Engineering while representing the school at Basketball, to achieve their first-class grades.
TRIPS AND GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES Music Tour to the Netherlands The recent Music Tour to the Netherlands was a truly memorable experience for all involved. Pupils represented both themselves and Ashville with distinction, earning glowing praise from accommodation staff and members of the public alike. Across the tour, pupils delivered three outstanding concerts in beautiful historic settings, including White Church Gardens in Noordwijkerhout, Grote Kerkplein in Zwolle, and the Markt in Delft. The final performance was particularly special, as audiences gathered from surrounding cafés and restaurants to listen, applaud, and even sing along. Beyond the performances, pupils embraced a rich cultural programme. Highlights included visits to Zaanse Schans, the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, a canal cruise through the city, and the fascinating Museum Speelklok in Utrecht. There was also ample opportunity for fun, with bowling in Haarlem and a thrilling final day at Efteling Theme Park, where pupils and staff supported one another as they stepped beyond their comfort zones.
Year 5 Residential to London
Year 6 Trip to Barcelona
Year 5 went on an amazing five day fun-filled residential to London. The jam-packed itinerary included a walking tour of London taking in the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Elizabeth Tower with some time to play in Hyde Park. Pupils visited the Globe Theatre, the Golden Hinde and watched Hercules at the Drury Lane Theatre which was incredible. They managed to fit in not only the Science Museum and British Museum but also the Natural History Museum. Pupils behaved impeccably and had an absolutely fantastic time!
Year 6 had a fantastic residential in Barcelona - a week of fun and culture with a visit to Camp Nou thrown in as well. The pupils saw inside the mind of the architect Gaudi, visiting the Sagrada Familia Basilica, followed by his most famous house – Casa Batllo, then Park Guell and an incredible 4D Gaudi movie experience. They also managed to fit in Barcelona Aquarium, Montjuic, the beach, La Rambla, the Camp Nou Experience, Poble Espanyol and a day in a theme park in a busy week - and not forgetting using their Spanish to purchase delicacies in La Boqueria market, including octopus tentacles for some of the more adventurous! Travelling on foot, tram, metro, coach and plane we filled every second of each day and ended the trip with a fabulous salsa class on the hotel’s rooftop terrace as we watched the sun set over the Barcelona skyline.
Year 7 Beach Day One of the highlights of the summer term for our Year 7 pupils is always the trip to the beach – and what a beautiful day they had in Bridlington! Even with a brisk sea breeze, spirits were high throughout. Between excellent company, visiting the capybaras and a three-day-old zebra at Bridlington Zoo, and some very impressive picnics, there was plenty to keep everyone smiling.
Year 10 Business Trip to Flamingo Land Year 10 Business Studies pupils visited Flamingo Land where their visit started with a business lecture about Flamingo Land’s business model. Pupils learnt about the three elements to the business and were surprised to learn that the holiday let accommodation was the most profitable part! Pupils heard how all the departments worked together to help create a successful enterprise. They saw first-hand how to apply business theory for their GCSE exam and future careers as entrepreneurs! Following this, everyone had the opportunity to hold some animals and they went on a guided tour of the Zoo.
The highlight of the day was once again the guided cross-country course walk that we were treated to by James Rushbrooke, an Old Ashvillian who has competed at the highest level of eventing, including the formidable 5* competitions at Badminton and Burghley. James explained the different ways riders may tackle fences, and the course designer’s rationale behind certain questions and the changes to the course this year. Our team were also lucky enough to cross paths and get a photo with Ros Canter, recent winner of Badminton 5* with Lordships Graffalo for a record-breaking 3rd time and currently 4th in the FEI world rankings! The pupils have been highly inspired by what they’d seen, who they’d met and of course James’s fantastic insights.
Year 10 Classics Trip to London Our Year 10 Classics pupils went to London to see Hadestown – an award-winning musical about two Greek myths that they study as part of their Classics GCSE curriculum – Hades and Persephone and Orpheus and Eurydice. It was a fabulous day – they travelled by train and walked down to Buckingham Palace and the Mall where pupils spotted Greek columns and discussed the various statues and the classical influences used. They had a picnic lunch in Green Park and walked down Piccadilly to the Lyric theatre for the show before the train home. It was much enjoyed by everyone and hugely valuable for remembering Greek myths.
Equestrian Team Trip to Bramham Horse Trials Ashville’s Equestrian Team greatly enjoyed their annual trip to Bramham Horse Trials despite the windy and rainy conditions. They learnt a lot watching some of the best riders in the world complete the dressage stage of the 4* competition and saw upcoming equine talent in the Burghley Young Event Horse qualifiers. The team also enjoyed exploring the shopping village, buying treats and presents for their own ponies!
Year 8 Beach Day and Flamingo Land Year 8 had a lovely time at the beach at Bridlington, followed by more fun the next day when they went on a trip to Flamingo Land to celebrate the end of term.
ART AND DT SUMMER SHOW The Art and Design Technology Summer Show showcased an exceptional breadth of creativity, technical skill and innovation. The exhibition celebrated outstanding work from across the school, with inspiring displays from Key Stage 3, GCSE and A Level pupils highlighting the remarkable talent, individuality and dedication of our young artists and designers. Key Stage 3 work was well represented, with the Scholars’ Exhibition providing a glimpse of the exciting potential emerging within the department’s enrichment programme. Visitors enjoyed discovering the wide range of co-curricular opportunities available. Among the many highlights were Mr Griffiths’ everpopular Giant Pencil Club and Mr Brooks’ Fantasy Night Lights project, demonstrating the creativity and enthusiasm fostered beyond the classroom. A standout feature was the exhibition of Old Ashvillian art and design work. We were delighted to welcome contributions from Isabella, who shared her award-winning, professional work from her 3rd year Architecture degree show at Northumbria University; Alyssa, who exhibited her 2nd year Costume Design work from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, included was her very heavy and incredibly intricate costume for The School of Scandal; Breanne, who presented projects from her 1st year studying Interior Architecture at the Nottingham Trent University;
and Sophia, who shared work from her 1st year of Interior Design at Northumbria University. Other exhibits celebrated the wider creative pathway within Ashville’s Six at Ashville, a selection of EPQ artefacts, demonstrating the breadth of opportunities available to pupils beyond their examination courses, also included impressive skills-based work from the bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Visitors were amazed by the quality and diversity of the work on display. Many expressed surprise that the GCSE exhibits were not A Level portfolios. The Summer Show was a celebration of another outstanding year for both the Art and Design Technology departments and a testament to the creativity, commitment and ambition of everyone involved.
NEW UNIFORM FOR A ‘NEW’ ASHVILLE We have been working over a number of years on plans for a new, contemporary and smart uniform for Ashville. We are delighted with the excellent quality and look of the new uniform and we look forward to seeing the project come to fruition in September. It was actually in 2021 when we first heard from parents, pupils and staff regarding their views and how they wished for a uniform that was of higher quality, traditional, aspirational and one that would be different from other schools. Therefore, as part of the ‘New’ Ashville branding plans, the new uniform project was born. Our aim has been both to produce a uniform which reflects the ‘New’ Ashville and to create clothing which honours our long tradition and heritage. We are proud of who we are and what we stand for, and we believe the new uniform reflects this both in quality and visually. During the planning process we have undertaken consultation, and feedback has informed our decision-making. Between 2021 and 2023 extensive consultation took place listening to pupil and parent views. Many of the comments and issues raised regarding the old uniform have been directly addressed in the final design.
Bronze Award Winners
Pupils in 2024, when reviewing samples, highlighted the importance that the senior blazer would remain burgundy and, following feedback from girls regarding modesty they liked the idea of the four-pleat split skirt. Pupils in 2025 enjoyed discussion with Schoolblazer regarding the CAD drawings for the sports kit and ideas such as the zips for the tracksuit bottoms were introduced following these focus groups. Feedback from parents in 2024 once again drew attention to the importance of quality and cost effectiveness. Following ratification from Governors, the new uniform was ready to be launched in September 2025. At that point, however, we made the decision to delay the introduction for a year until September 2026. This was due to a number of reasons, not least mindful of the possibility of a Labour Government and the introduction of VAT. We were concentrating instead on supporting parents through uncertain times with regard to costs. Schoolblazer were very understanding of the delay. To mitigate the impact further, a decision was also taken to build in a generous two-year lead-in.
Click here for the New Uniform Brochure
Ashville News
PERFORMING ARTS Blanc Wan Masterclass We were delighted to welcome back Old Ashvillian Dr Blanc Wan BEM for a piano masterclass as part of his visit to Ashville as a Steinway Artist. Blanc, who attended Ashville between 2002 and 2008, worked with Natalie, Sam, Mathis and Finley, offering invaluable advice on technique, interpretation and performance mindset. It was a wonderful morning, and it was a privilege to hear Blanc perform.
Summer Concert A wonderful display of music was presented at this year’s Summer Concert. From ‘Festival Gloria’ to ‘Eye of the Tiger’ and ‘Houdini’, there was a fantastic variety of genres for everyone to enjoy. Well done to all the Ashville ensembles — Folk Band, String Quartet, Elmfield Singers, Cello Ensemble, Una Voce, Drum Line, Ashville Singers, Tour Choir, Tour Band and Orchestra — as well as our supporting teachers, for their truly memorable performances. An incredible evening showcasing talent and creating lasting memories!
What A Knight! During the Summer Term, our Year 6 pupils worked incredibly hard to bring their production, What A Knight, to the stage. Performing in the Soothill Hall is no small feat, but the children rose to the challenge and delivered a show full of confidence, humour and talent. Well done to everyone!
Aldborough Festival
Mega Band June saw the return of our ever-popular Mega Band event. Mr Simpson’s arrangement of Beyoncé’s Crazy in Love brought together pupils from Year 2 all the way up to Year 13 for a spectacular collaborative performance in the Soothill Hall watched by families, friends and staff. We were also delighted to be joined by some members of staff, with special thanks to Mr Hillier and Mrs Storey for taking part.
Upper Sixth pupil Rose was chosen as a local Young Artist/Musician to sing in the prestigious Young Artist Showcase at the Northern Aldborough Festival in the beautiful setting of St Andrew’s Church. One of the festival’s most cherished traditions, the Young Artists Showcase celebrates the rising stars of Yorkshire’s vibrant classical music scene.
ASHVILLE SCOOPS TOP PERFORMERS’ AWARD AT EDINBURGH FRINGE Pupils present and past from Ashville have marked their debut at the Edinburgh Fringe by being crowned the world-famous festival’s “Best Young Cast”. Budding theatre and rock stars from Ashville have broken new ground by taking a home-grown rock musical to the Edinburgh Fringe for the first time in the school’s history, following in the footsteps of some of Britain’s most celebrated performers. The 25 performers, aged between 13 and 20, were presented with the coveted Derek Award after a sellout six night run of ‘Beth. This August, the Fringe played host to more than 4,200 official shows across 258 venues, and featured artists from no fewer than 71 countries It is surpassed only by the Olympics and the World Cup in terms of global ticketing events. ‘Beth was ranked 856 in the Fringe chart and named an official ‘Fringe Pick’. Written, created, composed and brought to life by Ashville’s Performing Arts team led by Karl Boyd, the production is a gender-swapped reimagining of The Bard’s classic tragedy through a contemporary lens. It transforms Macbeth into ‘Beth - an ambitious warrior whose pursuit of power, destiny and desire drives the story forward.
The production follows last summer’s ambitious open-air performance in Ashville’s 70-acre campus and marks another significant milestone for Ashville’s thriving performing arts programme.
Leading the cast was former Ashville pupil Gabby Salvin, who is currently training at Leeds Conservatoire. She takes on the title role of ‘Beth, a complex anti-heroine whose ambition and vulnerability sit at the heart of the story. Ashville’s Director of Performing Arts, Karl Boyd, said: “The show combines a powerful rock soundtrack, fast-paced choreography and dynamic staging to create a theatrical experience that is both intimate and intense. “What makes ‘Beth unlike any Fringe offering is its immersive sonic architecture. Using state-of-theart spatial audio, the entire soundtrack is broadcast directly to each audience member through wireless headphone technology. Audience members heard every whisper in every corner of Glamis Castle, every slice of the dagger in the Queen’s bedroom, every disembodied cry upon the heath — creating a theatre experience that places viewers directly in the thick of the action. The result is theatre as lived experience: close, immediate, and eerily physical.” Head of Ashville, Rhiannon Wilkinson, said: “We are incredibly proud of the pupils and staff involved in this production. Taking a show to the Edinburgh Fringe for the first time is a significant achievement and reflects the creativity, imagination, commitment and ambition of everyone involved.
“’Beth is a bold and innovative production that showcases the breadth of talent within our school community. The pupils have embraced every aspect of the creative process and have worked tirelessly to bring this original interpretation to life. “The Edinburgh Fringe provides an outstanding platform for young performers and we were excited to see our pupils share their work with audiences from across the world.” For Ashville’s performers, the production represents an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of former pupils who have gone on to achieve success across the arts, including former Ashville pupil and Downton Abbey star Jim Carter OBE, after whom the school’s drama studio is named in his honour. As they made their own Fringe debut, the young cast wrote the latest chapter in the school’s rich performing arts story. Following the success of ‘Beth at the Fringe, Mr Boyd has been commissioned to write a musical by an American theatre company.
DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD SCHEME Gold Qualifying Expedition Our Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award participants completed an unforgettable four-day expedition in the stunning Lake District. Starting near Keswick and finishing in Coniston, our two groups journeyed through Buttermere, Borrowdale and Langdale, taking in some truly spectacular scenery along the way. While much of the country experienced an intense heatwave, our groups were fortunate to avoid the most extreme temperatures, allowing them to enjoy four fantastic days of walking with breathtaking views across the fells. Throughout the expedition, our pupils demonstrated resilience, teamwork and determination as they navigated challenging routes, carried all of their own equipment and supported one another every step of the way. To make the adventure even more memorable, Hermione celebrated her birthday on expedition—a birthday she’ll never forget! Congratulations to all of our pupils on completing such an incredible challenge, and thank you to Mrs Jennings, Mr Coad, Dr Bayly and our assessor Ian who supported them throughout. We are immensely proud of everything they achieved.
With the expedition now complete, our pupils will be turning their attention to the remaining sections of their Gold Award. Several are looking forward to completing their Residential section over the summer, bringing them one step closer to achieving the prestigious Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. We wish them every success as they continue their DofE journey!
Bronze Award Winners
Bronze Qualifying Expedition
Award Winners at the Palace
54 pupils successfully completed their Bronze DofE qualifying expedition. From two starting points in Ilkley, groups headed either north or up onto a windy Ilkley Moor. Assessors were impressed with improved navigation and strong, confident pacing throughout, with some teams even having to be extended with an extra loop to slow them down!
At the end of May, seven Old Ashvillians and current Upper Sixth pupil, Monty, were invited to the annual Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award celebrations at Buckingham Palace, recognising their outstanding achievement in completing the prestigious Gold Award.
Ghyll House Farm provided a stunning campsite, with views across to Beamsley Beacon and Addingham Moorside. Groups set up camp efficiently, cooked plenty of pasta (and even fresh duck eggs!), and enjoyed games and well-earned screen-free time in the outdoors. Sunday began early, with a beautiful sunrise and teams up and packing from 6am. Despite sore feet and tired legs, spirits remained high. Mr Atkinson even made a surprise visit to support his year group, just in time to catch the final few groups as most had already set off with real determination. Every group showed resilience, teamwork and determination to push through and complete the expedition at Ilkley Lido in the sunshine. A fantastic effort from all involved, supported by Mrs McHugh, Mr Gavancho, Mrs Simpson, Mrs Styles and Miss Jones. Final section sign-offs now remain, with this shaping up to be a potentially record year and many pupils hopefully progressing on to Gold in Year 12. A huge well done to everyone involved!
Guests enjoyed an afternoon in the Palace gardens, hearing inspiring speeches from The Duke of Edinburgh, Dame Kelly Holmes and other special guests, before celebrating with afternoon tea and delicious cupcakes served in commemorative reusable cups. This year’s event was particularly significant as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme celebrates its 70th anniversary. Representing Ashville was DofE Lead Mrs Jennings, while DofE Gold Award Lead Mr Coad also attended the event as a parent. Reflecting on the occasion, Mrs Jennings said: “It was wonderful to be part of such a special event celebrating the achievements of our pupils. Mr Coad has been looking through our archives and discovered that Ashville has been offering the DofE Award for at least 65 years. It remains every bit as challenging and rewarding today as it was when it began in 1956. The commitment, resilience and determination required to complete the Gold Award are immense, and we are incredibly proud of all our Gold Award holders.”Congratulations to all our award recipients on this remarkable achievement!
HOUSE NEWS Congratulations to everyone who has been involved in House events this year. The House system is a great opportunity to take part in a wide range of competitions, and therefore to try something new and develop skills. It is competitive, but inclusivity is at the heart of it. House Drama The Drama department has been extremely busy this year. The first official event was Young Actor of the Year where pupils from Year 9 to Year 13 took part in a competition judged by Actor and Director Dermot Hill. All pupils were outstanding but on this occasion Ciara in Year 11 came out victorious. Soon after the School Production of “Sister Act” came House Drama. With the theme of jukebox musicals, the competition was fierce. With less than two weeks to put the whole performance together, all four houses worked incredibly hard. It was a great afternoon to end the Spring Term with so much talent on show, however this year, Windermere took the win. Well done to everyone who participated and made it such a memorable event.
It has been another busy term in the Music Department, beginning with the Head’s Concert. Pupils from both the Prep and Senior Schools came together to rehearse and perform a wonderful selection of joint items. The annual Young Musician of the Year competition featured thirteen outstanding performances, making it a very special evening, We were delighted to welcome Mr Paul Dutton as our Adjudicator, whose thoughtful comments and decisions were welcomed by all. Olivia was awarded the Vocal Prize and Finley won the Instrumental Prize and was crowned overall Young Musician of the Year for his fantastic performance of Fantaisie-Impromptu by Chopin on the piano.
Junior Drama Colours: Bryony, Sophia, Daisy, Roxie and Ella House Music
Junior Music Colours: William, Bryony and Oliver Inter Music Colours: Mason, Katy and Monty
House MasterChef Our Year 8 and 9 pupils were tasked with creating delicious desserts. Judges praised the pupils for their originality, technical skills and professional-level presentation. Riverdale were crowned the winners for their Chocolate Brownie served with Creamy Vanilla Ice Cream, Honeycomb and Raspberry Coulis.
House Tennis House Tennis was competed in year groups, making them “half point events”, and took place in games lessons. A combination of both boys’ and girls’ singles and doubles action provided some exciting tennis. The Year 7 trophy goes to Riverdale, the Year 8 trophy goes to Duckworth and the Year 10 trophy goes to Windermere. House Debating Pupils from Year 7 to 10 competed in teams of four in Junior and Inters (combined) debating. For many pupils it was their first opportunity to take part in competitive debating, and Mrs Storey was impressed with the progress shown over the three rounds. The motions included whether plastic bottles should be banned, whether parents have the right to track their children, and whether exams are a good measure of intelligence. Congratulations to Riverdale who emerged as winners. House Maths
Year 10 embraced an exciting “Foods from Around the World” starter theme and the event was an exciting celebration of culinary creativity and teamwork. After much deliberation, judges awarded the victory to Windermere for their Crispy Sicilian Pancetta and Mozzarella Arancini served with Arrabbiata Sauce.
House Cricket The May Bank Holiday weekend saw the first Rigg Cup action of the term, with the Inter boys playing cricket. The sunshine made for a very enjoyable morning of hard ball cricket, in which Duckworth took the win. Later in the term, the Junior boys played a more time-restricted game during their games lesson, meaning that swinging the bat and pushing for extra runs was key to success. After a tentative start, the boys got the hang of this and were soon turning two runs into three and racking up the scores leading to another cricket victory for Duckworth.
Pupils worked in teams of four to complete a series of timed rounds in the Inters. Despite the intense competition, Duckworth and Ellis could not be separated so the victory was shared. House Art This year’s competition challenged pupils to respond to the “Visual Symphonies” set by the Music Department. Four pupils from each house worked together to create a large 1.5m2 artwork. In the six weeks leading up to the event pupils met every Tuesday lunchtime to plan their ideas before bringing them to life during a full school day of creativity. Mr Brook was impressed by the teamwork shown. The winning team was Duckworth and all the completed artworks will now go on permanent display in the Music Department.
Sports Day The final Rigg Cup action of the year was Sports Day which truly shows the best of our house system and the best of the school. Pupils from every house supported each other, and individuals pushed themselves out of their comfort zone to help their house gain valuable points. There were outstanding displays of sportsmanship and everyone did their houses proud.
House Colours Duckworth Junior Colours: Phoebe, Ella, Abby, Kate, Orla and Ellis Inter Colours: Amelia, Roxie, Daisy, Chloe, Gabriella and Isaac Ellis Junior Colours: Sofia and Emma Senior Colours: Molly Riverdale Junior Colours: Charlie and Alice Inter Colours: Liam, Max and Anthony Senior Colours: Will Windermere
The presentations took place at the end of the day, with trophies being awarded to individual winners and age group winners as well as the overall winners Riverdale. A big thank you to the PE department and all of the staff involved for making it such a wonderful day!
Junior Colours: Isabel, Josh, Patrick, Freddie and Evie Inter Colours: Olivia, Arina and Dani Senior Colours: Ida Final Results Congratulations to Riverdale who topped the commendations this term with 226! The Term Shield is awarded to the house that has accrued the most points across all competitions this term, and the winner is Duckworth. The Rigg Cup is our sporting trophy and is awarded based on points accumulated over the whole academic year and the winner is Duckworth. The Festival Trophy is for arts, performance and creativity throughout the year and the winner is Duckworth.
Prep and Acorns Sports Days Families came to support our youngest pupils at Acorns Sports Day where they competed in the egg and spoon race, mini javelin, mini hurdles, running races and long jump. They were treated to glorious weather and were awarded with medals for all their hard work. In Prep School, pupils competed in their houses in various events including races, long jump and hurdles. The children were amazing and really did show all they have been working on in this term’s Athletics lessons. Congratulations to the winning Houses Duckworth and Windermere. Thank you to Miss Rasbuary for all her help organising Acorns and Prep School Sports Days.
It is the first year of the competition for the Academic Cup, and along with it has brought a host of new house events giving the chance for even more pupils to participate in house competitions and the winner is Windermere.
END OF TERM FUN DAYS Prep School Summer Fete Prep School celebrated the end of the academic year with a wonderful Summer Fete with stalls and games spread across the playground and field with a collection for the Children’s Charity at Lineham Farm. The glorious weather ensured the ice cream van was very popular. Families were invited for the afternoon to enjoy all the favourites including hook a duck, beat the goalie, lucky dip, egg and spoon race and the sack race. There were some newer additions too including a human fruit machine and the very popular soak the teacher!
Year 11 Prom Year 11 celebrated the end of their GCSE journey at this year’s Murder Mystery-themed Prom. Dressed to impress and using various modes of transport to arrive in style (including on horseback!), pupils enjoyed an evening of mystery, laughter and celebration as they marked the end of an unforgettable chapter before an exciting summer and all the adventures ahead!
END OF TERM FUN DAYS Acorns Garden Party What a fantastic way to end the school year in Acorns! The space-themed celebration was truly out of this world. The children had an amazing time building rocket magnets, tackling the moon walk obstacle course, catching stars in the water to win an ice lolly, creating their own aliens at the craft station, and throwing asteroids into tyres to win prizes. To top it all off, Enchanticas delivered an incredible show filled with brilliant juggling that had everyone smiling. Thank you to everyone who joined us on our space adventure — our staff and children loved every moment!
Inflatables Day To celebrate the end of the school year and as a reward for all their hard work during exam season, Year 9 and 10 were treated to an exhilarating day on the field with a huge amount of inflatables and plenty of ice cream!
NEW FRIENDS OF ASHVILLE Welcome to the first-ever New Friends of Ashville (NFoA) Newsletter. Whether you’ve been part of the Ashville community for many years or have only recently joined us, we’re delighted to introduce this new way of keeping parents informed, connected and involved. NFoA Survey– The results are in! Thank you to all who completed our questionnaire. We had over 60 responses and your input will help us shape the future role we play in the Ashville community in the years ahead. Whilst most respondents knew who we are, what we do, how we raise funds and how that money is spent, there were still some areas where awareness could be improved. We hope this newsletter helps answer some of those questions. Who are the NFOA? Every parent or carer at Ashville is automatically a member of the NFoA. Whether you’d like to get involved, volunteer occasionally or simply stay informed, everyone is welcome. Our role is to support the Ashville community through fundraising, events and representing the parent voice. We also share news, opportunities and updates that we think will be helpful or of interest to Ashville families. How do we raise funds? Around half of our funds come from voluntary fee contributions and we use them to support year group events – your child will benefit even if you decide not to contribute, but we’d be delighted if you choose to ‘opt-in’. Other key sources of income are pre-loved uniform sales and the stalls we run at school events. What’s the future of our pre-loved uniform service? It’s our intention to continue offering pre-loved uniform during the two-year transition and we are still welcoming donations, which can be left at main school reception. All items labelled with a name a contact number/email will earn a 50% return if sold. Our service now runs out of Briggs boarding house and you can contact us on nfoapreloved@gmail.com to enquire about stock. How do we spend our funds? We have a Wishlist process that allows students, parents and teachers to request funds that can be
used to add value to the pupils’ experience at Ashville. The Committee considers the value of every request and ensures the funding is spread across years groups and departments. In Prep we recently agreed funds for instruments as part of the music strategy and several bird feeders and Swift Boxes, in support of their Eco-Schools project. In Senior School we recently agreed some exciting new purchases including Robotics kits and VR headsets. Our year group events have included support for the Sixth Form Spring Ball, Year 11 Prom, inflatables day for Year 9 and 10, and a fun-packed celebration event for Year 7 and 8. How can we have greater impact? Many respondents valued the support our parent volunteers provide at events, but felt we could do more to involve a wider range of parents. We’re committed to creating more opportunities for everyone who would like to play an active part in the Ashville community. Some respondents felt they didn’t know enough about the NFoA and its work. We’ll provide regular updates through this newsletter to keep everyone informed. Some respondents said they weren’t aware of the NFoA when they joined Ashville and felt we could be more visible at school events. We’ll work to change that by being more present around the school and included in induction information, making it easier for families to get to know us and become part of the NFoA community. Over 94% of respondents felt the NFoA should be called to provide input and feedback to the school on planned changes. We intend to work with the senior team to ensure we can feed in parents’ views more effectively. How can I find out more? If you have any questions about our work or where our funding goes, please email them to nfoa@ashville.co.uk.
SIX @ ASHVILLE Taste of Sixth Form for Year 10 Year 10 pupils enjoyed a Taste of Sixth Form Day. The day began with a guest speaker in the Soothill Hall, where pupils heard from polar expedition leader and explorer Alex Hibbert. Pupils then engaged in a range of thoughtfully designed SIX@Ashville pathways, exploring academic interests and experiencing life in the Sixth Form. From languages and engineering to creative pursuits and independent learning, the programme encouraged curiosity, independence and aspiration. The day concluded with an interactive nutrition session from Holroyd Howe, offering valuable insights into wellbeing and healthy living. We were also delighted to welcome Year 10 parents later in the afternoon for an informal opportunity to meet the Sixth Form team and enjoy a tour of the Sixth Form Centre. It was a wonderful day that encouraged pupils to broaden their horizons and look ahead with confidence.
Year 11 Sixth Form Taster Day Year 11 pupils enjoyed a Taster Day, experiencing life at Six @ Ashville. With personalised timetables tailored to their interests, they explored a wide range of subjects and discovered pathways to top universities, degree apprenticeships and successful careers. Within our Sixth Form, pupils can choose from over 20 A Level, BTEC and Cambridge Technical courses, alongside our innovative Future Ready Programme, designed to broaden horizons and inspire ambition. Come and see it for yourself at our Open Day on 19 September.
FUTURE READY Work Experience Breakfast
UCAS Day
Following their work experience week, our Lower Sixth pupils had the opportunity to celebrate and reflect on their placements. Parents and representatives from prestigious businesses were invited to listen to pupil presentations, and they also enjoyed a breakfast together in the Memorial Hall.
Lower Sixth pupils had a full day of preparation for completing their UCAS applications. Presentations from Northumbria, Lancaster, Newcastle and York Universities gave an insight into choosing the right course, how to make a strong application, student finance and student life and how to complete personal statements. John Rigg from Africa Asia Ventures gave a presentation on taking a gap year. Pupils also had the opportunity to speak to Mr Blythe about applying for apprenticeships and to Mr Baker about the American college application process. Thank you to Emily, Ben and Will, some of our Old Ashvillians from the class of 2025 who came in to talk about their first year at university.
Pupils had a wide range of placements from different industries including law, retail, property and finance. Thank you to all businesses for supporting our pupils!⠀
Career Appointments We believe that all our pupils should carefully consider whether they should go to university, or whether they would like to investigate alternative routes such as degree apprenticeships or employment, or setting up their own business. To help pupils explore next steps they can now book a 1:1 career appointment. Click here for more Future Ready news on Careers, Apprenticeships and Universities.
Ashville News
SPORT Senior School Sports Dinner Sport always has and always will be a fantastic way of bringing our community together, so we were delighted to invite parents to share the celebrations with us at the Annual Senior School Sports Dinner. The Crown Hotel was the location for a delicious three course meal and awards presentation evening where prizes were given out for Coach’s Player and Most Improved across all the sports we offer at Ashville. Parents, pupils and teachers had a fantastic evening celebrating success, improvement but most of all teamwork. Thank you to Mr Clemerson and Mr Atkinson for all their hard work organising such a successful and memorable event.
Cricket The Summer Term has been a busy one for Cricket with highs and lows for both boys’ and girls’ sides in all age bands, The boys have seen victories and losses with special highlights coming from the U13 boys as they progressed to the third round of their Area Cup. Who can forget the famous U15 victory against QWEGS! The girls’ side have continued to improve in the hardball format and we look forward to seeing how the sport grows in years to come. The U13 and U15 combined sides are not only improving but actively asking for more fixtures and training time - keep this up girls!
Tennis The Tennis season has been productive and enjoyable. Special thanks go to Mr Medway for arranging all our fixtures which have included matches against Woodhouse Grove, Pocklington and GSAL, and the Aegon competitions on a Thursday night have highlighted the strength we have as a school on court. Well done to the U15 boys who won their Harrogate Area Aegon competition. Whilst she has not been available to represent school Tennis this year, we need to praise Emi in Year 12 and wish her well for the remainder of her Tennis journey as she moves through the elite ranks.
Basketball The Junior NBA team has continued where they left off last term and produced a fantastic display in their semi-final to win by one point and progress to the final’s day at Leeds Beckett University. Well done to the entire squad and staff on finishing the tournament in second place and we look forward to seeing how this group progresses next year and beyond.
Athletics Our Senior School Athletics age groups have continued to impress this year. Personal bests have been achieved by a large proportion of athletes across all year groups. Special mentions to the Lower School girls’ side who qualified for the Northern B Finals in June and extra well done to Eleanor for receiving county trials.
OCTOBER HALF TERM RUGBY CAMP Three-day rugby camp for boys and girls in Years 5 to 9 run by Gary Mercer at Ashville 28 to 30 October 2026 10.00am to 3.30pm Book here 10% sibling discount with code SIBLING
Harrogate’s Top Performing School and within the Top 10 Independent Schools in the North for ages 2-18. Join us for Open Day - Saturday 19 September