The Old Ashvillian Newsletter - Christmas 2025

THE OLD ASHVILLIAN

Message from the Head

Dear Old Ashvillians,

I hope you enjoy reading this newsletter which brings together news from our Old Ashvillians and our current school community.

Ashville prides itself on the closeness of our community and this has been much evident in how we have welcomed and encouraged new pupils and staff this Autumn term. I have been impressed by the palpable atmosphere of warmth in our community. There is a sense of excitement around the school and I am happy to report that the new academic year has got off to an enjoyable and excellent start.

I am sure existing parents and staff will agree that the events of the Summer term showed us at our best as we welcomed back Old Ashvillians Jim Carter OBE and William Dutton, and we were delighted by the external validation of our progress in the report on Ashville in the Good Schools’ Guide. The school continues this term in good heart as we begin the new academic year with increased pupil numbers at all ages and an exciting, new pre-university sixth form provision, Six @ Ashville. A growing school is a real sign of our commitment to improvement, growing popularity and success.

I should like to acknowledge the outstanding service to Ashville of Mr Jamie Search, who stepped down from the Board after 16 years of service. A former pupil of the school, Jamie followed in his father’s footsteps in becoming Chairman of Governors here between 2019-2024. We will be renaming the meeting room The Search Meeting Room in his honour.

After 40 years as a Maths teacher at Ashville, Paul Williams retired this summer. To celebrate his time at the school a room in the main school building has been named after him. This was Paul’s office for many years where he undertook the task of writing the school timetable.

Over the last four years, we have articulated our values and shared a vision to be the best we can be. We have been optimistic and bold and have worked very hard to maintain and develop the school in equal measure. Despite the fact that “winning” is never guaranteed, our journey has been an impressive one. I am confident that everyone in the community feels renewed in our commitment as we move quickly towards Ashville’s 150th anniversary in 2027.

Best wishes,

Mrs Rhiannon Wilkinson MA (Oxon) MEd Head

Message from the OA Society Committee

Thank you to everyone who attended the OA Society AGM. It was a pleasure to connect with so many of you and share the developments from what has been a purposeful and productive year.

Building Capacity for the Future

This year has been focused on strengthening the foundations of the Society. We’ve been developing the leadership and administrative structures needed to support the OA community more effectively, and we’ve proposed bringing some administrative responsibilities into the College. This would help alleviate the pressure on volunteers and provide greater continuity as we move forward — particularly as we prepare to celebrate the OA Society’s 150th anniversary.

Communications and Engagement

Our mailing list now includes 993 alumni, with 924 valid email addresses. Email engagement has been encouraging, with our August update receiving a 49% open rate and 33.5% clickthrough rate, and the December mailing showing a strong 38% open rate with 247 clicks.

Social media continues to play a key role in our outreach. The OA Facebook page now has over 1,500 followers and 1,400 likes.

We’ve also seen a growing number of alumni returning to the College to engage directly with pupils. Special thanks go to:

• James Rushbrooke, who hosted the College’s Equestrian Team for a course walk at the Bramham Horse Trials.

• Ian Brown, OA Committee Member, for giving a talk to pupils about his career journey.

We are also delighted that Jim Carter — Old Ashvillian and actor best known for playing Mr Carson in Downton Abbey — returned to the College as this year’s Speech Day guest speaker.

Database Development

Behind the scenes, work continues on building a master alumni database. This long-term project is key to improving how we stay in touch, manage events, and support the growing OA network.

Memories of Boarding

In 2025 Ashville celebrated 148 years of boarding as the College enters a new era as a dedicated, growing day school. We have been delighted to receive memories from past boarders which have been compiled into this Memories of Boarding booklet.

Click here to view the booklet

Looking Ahead

As we look ahead to the OA Society’s 150th anniversary, we hope to create more opportunities for alumni to reconnect — both with each other and with the College.

Whether through events, visits, or occasional involvement in College life, we’re keen to encourage a stronger sense of ongoing connection. We’re also continuing to explore ways for OAs to support pupils — whether by sharing experiences, offering guidance, or simply being part of the wider school community.

Further engagement and fundraising initiatives will follow in due course, and we look forward to sharing more in the months ahead.

For the complete minutes of the 126th Ashvillian Society AGM please click here

Thank you once again for your continued interest and support. It’s this sense of community that helps the Society grow and remain relevant for generations to come.

With warm regards,

The OA Society Committee

Downton Abbey’s Jim Carter OBE returns to Ashville roots to play starring role at senior school speech day

Former Ashville pupil Jim Carter OBE returned to his Harrogate roots as the Downton Abbey star and much-loved actor presented prizes to over 100 pupils at the annual Senior School and Sixth Form Speech Day.

Invited back to Ashville, where he attended as a pupil from 1959 to 1967, the acclaimed star of stage and screen praised the pupils for their talents as we celebrated another year of academic, sporting, musical and dramatic success - as well as rewarding personal development and those making a positive impact in the school and wider community.

No doubt more accustomed to actually receiving awards than handing them out, the actor – who was born in Harrogate - delighted pupils as they were called up to collect their awards and shake hands with one of the school’s most famous alumni.

Mr Carter, who has retained close links with the school and returned to open the new drama studio dedicated to him in 2014, said he was delighted to have been asked back to join in the celebrations of another successful Ashville school year.

Head, Rhiannon Wilkinson, said: “It was wonderful to be able to welcome Jim back to Ashville. We

are so very grateful to him for the support that he continues to show the school and to our pupils, who will no doubt have been enthralled by his appearance and his wonderful words.

“Ashville has a long and proud history of pupils who have gone on to achieve great things in later life and it is very important for us to be able to invite them back to inspire the next generation of Ashvillians.

“Congratulations to all of this year’s prize winners, there were some truly stand-out displays of exceptional home-grown talent over the last academic year and it was only right that we celebrate that pool of diverse-rich talent with another successful Speech Day.”

Jim’s Story

One of our most respected and loved character actors, national treasure and Old Ashvillian James (Jim) Edward Carter OBE, has entertained TV, film and theatre audiences for more than five and a half decades in a career that has ultimately seen him become the best-known butler in Britain.

Earning him four nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, his flawless portrayal of Yorkshireman, Mr Carson, in the hit ITV drama Downton Abbey has secured his place among the greats of his trade and in the hearts of millions worldwide.

However, it would be wrong to think that Jim Carter’s career resided solely within the luxury of a country mansion house owned by the aristocratic Crawley family.

The man, who once said ‘I wouldn’t want to be reincarnated as a butler. I couldn’t for the life of me do the job in real life’ has a credits list dating all the way back to 1970, with top movie roles in The Madness of King George, Brassed Off, Shakespeare in Love and more recently, Wonka.

Prior to becoming the chief steward of Downton Abbey, his TV appearances included The Singing Detective, Cracker, and Cranford, while in two and half years at the National Theatre he appeared in The Mystery Plays , The Oresteia and Guys and Dolls where he met his future wife Imelda Staunton.

A true all-rounder, his rich, hearty, Yorkshire accent has been utilised as the narrator in a wide range of documentaries and seen him voice movie characters in The Sea Beast and Transformers

It is no wonder then, that Ashville is proud and honoured to say that this legend of stage and screen is very much a part of our community.

Born in the August of 1948 in Harrogate, Jim was a pupil at Ashville from 1959 through to 1967 when he left to carry on his studies with a Law degree at Sussex University.

Something of a star pupil, he excelled not only in the classroom, but also on the sports field, and not surprisingly, on the stage.

His academic awards included the 1965 Tom Sawyer Memorial Prize for French, the 1966 Frederick Swire Memorial Prize for English and the Lawrence Crowther Public Speaking Prize in 1967.

A 1965 rugby report on his performance highlighted how he ‘jumped well in the line-out’, was ‘useful in the open’, and ‘tackles hard’. He would go on to represent the 1st XV, while captaining both his house and the sevens.

While a review of the 1966 school play Strife, in which Jim played the character of Henry Trench picks him out for special praise: “Almost all the other members of the cast had the fun of trying to develop real character and amongst these Carter as the Company Secretary and Kay as an elderly chapelgoing worker were quite outstanding.”

It was a performance which went a long way to him winning that year’s Dramatic Prize.

As Senior Prefect and Head of House, he would set the standards for his fellow pupils to follow. Standards that in later life not only saw him succeed in his career, but also saw him recognised by Her Majesty The Queen as he was awarded the OBE in the 2019 New Years Honours List for his contributions to drama.

Married to fellow acting royalty, Imelda Staunton since 1983, the couple’s daughter, Bessie Carter, has followed in their star-studded footsteps and is best known for her roles as Prudence Featherington on the Netflix series Bridgerton and Nancy Mitford in Outrageous

In 2014, Jim returned home to Ashville College as its new drama studio was dedicated in his name. There can be little doubt that, just like then, his appearance as Guest of Honour at our 2025 Speech Day, brought Ashville memories flooding back.

In the words of his most popular alter ego, Mr Carson: “The business of life is the acquisition of memories. In the end, that’s all there is.”

Old Ashvillian, William Dutton, Returns to Ashville for Prep School Speech Day

Our Prep School Speech Day was a wonderful celebration of an incredible year! Families and guests gathered in the Soothill to reflect on the pupils’ achievements, enjoy highlights from across the academic year, and celebrate the prize winners. We were honoured to welcome Old Ashvillian, William Dutton, Founder and Director of Cuore Chamber Orchestra, who inspired pupils and families alike with his uplifting words and audience participation.

William’s Story

William Dutton is fast making a name for himself as one of the most exciting and sensitive young artists in the UK. Having won the Strings Final of BBC Young Musician of the Year, he is now emerging as an exciting young conductor, having been the first British conductor ever admitted to the Italian Conducting Academy in Milan where he studied with Gilberto Serembe.

William is Founder and Artistic Director of Cuore Chamber Orchestra, a new professional orchestra for Yorkshire which launched in May 2025 at the Royal Hall, Harrogate. Highlights for the upcoming season include performances alongside renowned international soloists Oxana Shevchenko and Jack Liebeck. Beginning his international music career as a singer, William won the BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year in 2006, enabling him at a young age to perform with world class soloists, orchestras, conductors and celebrities including José Carreras, Philip Langridge, Aled Jones and Ken Dodd. He made his BBC Proms debut in July 2007 and his Welsh Proms debut in July 2008 as the Youth in Mendelssohn’s Elijah alongside Bryn Terfel. Film credits include ‘First Boy’ in a production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute’ directed by Kenneth Branagh. In 2007 William was signed by Universal Classics and Jazz as a member of ‘The Choirboys’.

William asked to play the violin aged 3 and began taking lessons when he was 4. In 2004 his talent was recognised by the Kazakh virtuoso Marat Bisengaliev; he subsequently studied with Marat and his wife Vassilia and then with Raimonda Koço in Leeds. In 2008 William gained a place at the Yehudi Menuhin School where he studied with Lutsia Ibragimova.

William is a former pupil of Ashville, having spent many years in the Prep School. He was delighted to return to inspire future generations of musicians.

A Summer of Success Super A Level Results

Staff and pupils alike were thrilled in August as the school celebrated its “best ever” A Level results for another successive year.

Results day has seen an across-the-board rise in top grades for the school, with members of the record-breaking Class of 2025 securing places at their preferred universities based across the UK, USA and beyond.

From Oxford, Cambridge, Warwick and Bristol to Northeastern University in the United States, to The Royal Northern College of Music, the next stages in our pupils’ global academic journeys continue to be rich in diversity.

Building on posting the best A Level results in Harrogate in 2024, highlights included:

• A rise in top A Level grades at Ashville. 18% of all grades achieved were A*.

• A record 44% of all grades achieved were A* to A.

• A record 72% of all grades achieved were A* to B.

• A record 93% of all grades achieved were A* to C.

• A 6% year-on-year improvement in the percentage of A*to B grades.

• 92% of Ashville pupils attained their first-choice destination.

Mrs Wilkinson said the range of domestic, international and prestigious university places and apprenticeships secured filled her with immense pride – and she congratulated pupils on securing so many destinations of choice.

“This set of stand-out results is unprecedented and consolidates a progressive upward trend that has built momentum over the past few years,” she said.

“They also highlight the advantages of the ‘new’ Ashville where established co-education within a nurturing environment, in a growing and flourishing school, maximises opportunities for all.

“On behalf of everyone in the Ashville family, we send our heartfelt congratulations to all our Upper Sixth pupils on their outstanding achievements and the launchpad these give them for their future success.

“Ashville provides a unique pre-university experience, creating a platform for pupils to build future-ready skills for a rapidly changing world.”

We are celebrating two pupils who have secured places at Oxford and Cambridge.

Ed will study History at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge gaining top results in his A Level subjects alongside Distinctions in his Cambridge Technical Performing Arts qualification. Giles has been awarded an Organ Scholarship to study Music at Pembroke College, Oxford.

Achieving 3 A*s, placing him within the top 2% of candidates nationally, is Rhys one of Ashville’s Heads of School, who will be studying Economics at the University of Warwick. The other Head of School, Tara secured 2 A*s and 1 A and heads off to the University of Bristol to read Biology. Jacob, attaining 3 A*s, will take up a flagship degree apprenticeship with Ernst & Young.

Rhys said: “The Ashville community has shaped me into the person I am today. As I prepare to leave Ashville, I know it will remain with me—the friendships, the memories, and the person it has helped me become.”

Tara said: “All the hard work has paid off. I have to thank all my teachers for their constant support during the lead up to my exams and through all my time here. I could not have made it without them.”

This year, pupils have secured places spanning a range of degrees, from Architecture, Law and Computer Science to Sport Sciences, Languages, Physics and Filmmaking. Fergus will be taking his place at the University of St Andrews to study Medicine.

Mrs Wilkinson said the diversity of choices reflected the school’s ability to nurture confidence and ambition in every individual.

William gained a coveted place at The Royal Northern College of Music to study Vocal Studies and Opera.

Devan, from the USA, achieved a phenomenal SAT score putting her within the top 1% globally and this leads to a place to study Physics at the University of Manchester where physicist, Brian Cox is professor of Particle Physics and where Ernest Rutherford split the atom.

Other destinations include renowned institutions such as the University of Edinburgh, University College London, the University of Bath, the University of Exeter, the University of Newcastle and the University of Durham, covering a broad spectrum of disciplines.

Gabriella will be continuing to develop her skills by studying Musical Theatre at Leeds Conservatoire and Eliza has earned a place at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA).

Breanne, winner of the senior national title in the Rotary Club Young Artist Competition, has seen her talent rewarded with an A* in Art and a place at Nottingham Trent University to study Interior Architecture and Design.

Sporting excellence has also been recognised, with a Tennis scholarship at Menlo College, Southern California, awarded to George while swimmer, Jacob, has achieved a place at the prestigious Loughborough University.

These places alone underscore our dedication to fostering creative and sporting talent.

Mrs Wilkinson added: “Ashville provides the ideal foundation for pupils to discover what their special interests and talents are and to develop confidence, resilience, and ambition within them.

“Our pupils’ successes reflect their dedication to their studies and future-ready skills, as well as the exceptional support from our teachers in a nurturing environment, empowering every pupil to excel academically, explore their passions, and discover new strengths.

“The success of the Upper Sixth of 2025 serves as an inspiration to younger pupils, demonstrating that excellence is built over years of commitment and opportunity.”

Budding physicists, musicians, an emerging Leeds United player and young Wimbledon tennis ace among those propelling Ashville to record-breaking GCSE results

Pupils at Ashville have achieved recordbreaking academic progress in their GCSE results.

The Class of 2025 broke new ground in their overall performance across the year, securing results more than half a grade greater than their predicted score – a record high.

Personal success stories include Joe who achieved excellent results as he balanced his studies whilst training with Leeds United, where he has now signed a youth contract.

The Class of 2025 has a wide range of interests. Physics, considered as one of the more demanding GCSE subjects, saw 80 per cent of the entrants achieving grades of 9 and 8. Music saw 75 per cent of entrants awarded the highest possible grade of 9.

Among those to excel was George whose hard work was rewarded with nine Grade 9s – the highest possible grade.

Emilia, a rising talent on the local, regional and national tennis circuit, having played at Wimbledon, is celebrating another top performance off the court by securing excellent grades. She will now pursue her sporting dream in Spain, while continuing her A Level studies with a bespoke, flexible programme under Ashville’s tutelage.

Ashville rated as a great school with ‘new energy’ in the Prestigious Good Schools Guide

An inspector writing for the prestigious Good Schools Guide has praised Ashville as a great school with ‘strong learning and high aspirations, tempered with holistic ambitions.

Regarded as the most independent, critical and fair examination of state and private schools, the report is celebrated for its unbiased and candid reviews –and is highly respected across the education sector and trusted by parents worldwide.

The Guide only selects schools to be included on merit alone, providing a first-hand experience of their visit and offering insights into teaching and learning, sport and the performing arts, co-curricular activities, pastoral care and leavers’ destinations.

Ashville and its teachers were applauded throughout the report which highlighted an ‘overwhelming sense of enthusiasm and community from every child’.

The review states:

“The atmosphere is bubbly and exciting to experience. There is a new energy amongst the staff and parents, but most importantly from the children. There are big plans for the ‘New Ashville’ with plans for significant structural developments and a re-focussing of the holistic ethos; and everyone we spoke to is on board for the ride.”

Not only does the report rely on the visiting inspector for their experiences of Ashville, but children and parents were also invited to give their opinions.

One parent commented: “The growth in the last two years has been exciting, raising children in a community.” While a second added: “Never had a day when all four of mine haven’t wanted to go.”

They also described Mrs Wilkinson, as ‘fantastic’ and making ‘a positive change’ with a ‘proactive’ approach and a ‘very visible’ and ‘clear ethos’.

The school’s extensive sporting facilities and impressive arts provisions were also heavily praised in the report, which has now been published on the Good Schools Guide website.

Mrs Wilkinson said:

“We are delighted to have hosted the Good Schools Guide for the visit and thank them for the excellent review, which will now offer parents an independent perspective on the quality of education that we seek to provide here at Ashville.”

“We take great pride in preparing our pupils for the next steps in their lives and it is heartening for all involved at the school to see that our efforts are being recognised by the prestigious Good Schools Guide.”

Click here to read the full review on the Good Schools Guide website.

In Memoriam

Andrew Norfolk (OA 1977-1983)

We were saddened to hear of the sudden death aged 60 of Andrew Norfolk, a former pupil and Head Boy of Ashville College who became one of the most respected journalists of our day. The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, led tributes to the former Times journalist who exposed the grooming gangs scandal in Rotherham and Rochdale.

The following obituary was prepared for the wider Ashville community by Richard Chew, an old Ashvillian and contemporary of Andrew Norfolk.

Prime Minister pays tribute to OA described as ‘one of the greatest investigative reporters of our or any age’

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer led the tributes to Old Ashvillian Andrew Norfolk (OA 1977-83), the multi award-winning journalist who achieved national fame in a stellar 24-year career with The Times, after his sudden death aged 60.

Andrew, who excelled on both academic and sporting fronts - from Russian to rugby - was the son of former Ashville Head, David Norfolk (197787). He served as Head Boy in his final year before studying English at Durham University, where he became Sports Editor of its student newspaper.

This created a platform for a lifelong career in journalism.

He will be best remembered as the reporter who, in 2011, exposed the Rotherham child exploitation scandal and other cases of on-street child grooming. His subsequent investigations led to formal inquiries by official agencies and prosecutions of the perpetrators.

His work led to him being garlanded with awards, including the Paul Foot and Orwell prizes for journalism. He was crowned Journalist of the Year in the 2014 British Journalism Awards.

Sir Keir, who was Director of Public Prosecutions at the time of the Rotherham scandal, said: “Andrew wasn’t just an incredibly talented reporter, at The Times and elsewhere, he was driven by the desire to call our attention to injustice and protect the most vulnerable. “His passion for supporting the victims of grooming gangs shone through, and he was absolutely integral to making sure we could change the rules to increase convictions of the vile perpetrators.”

Tony Gallagher, his Editor at The Times, said: “Andrew was without doubt, one of the greatest investigative reporters of our or any age.”

Ian Hislop, Editor of Private Eye, which runs the Paul Foot Award, described him as “a terrific journalist”, adding Andrew won the prize in 2012 for “a really important story that is still in the news today”.

After leaving Ashville, where he boarded at Mallinson House, and Durham University, Andrew’s first job in journalism was as a reporter with the then Scarborough Evening News. He then worked for the Yorkshire Post from 1995 to 2000, when he uncovered the “Donnygate” council corruption scandal, before joining The Times.

The Rotherham MP who campaigned on grooming gangs, Sarah Champion, said he was “just the bravest and most principled person I have ever known”.

She added: “His drive for the truth is a rare and precious thing, and I hope others follow in his footsteps, because we really need them right now.”

He is survived by two brothers and a sister.

The Times and the National Council of Journalist (NCJT) recently announced the launch of the Andrew Norfolk Investigative Journalism Award.

Creative Arts

Old Ashvillian proves ‘a big draw’ as she wins national finals of prestigious art competition.

We are incredibly proud of Art Scholar Breanne who has been named the winner of a prestigious national art competition. Having already succeeded in local Harrogate heats of the Rotary Young Artist Competition she progressed to the UK finals by winning her Seniors age group at the district round covering Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the Humber before winning the national final.

The competition, organised and promoted by Rotary GB&I, was launched in the Autumn term of 2024, inviting artists under 17-years-old to create a piece of artwork based on the theme of ‘Wonderful Water’. Each entrant was tasked with producing one finished two-dimensional work of art up to a maximum size of A2. The artwork could be completed in any medium, including pen and ink, paint, collage, printmaking, or digital format. Having clearly wowed the judges, Breanne’s painting of a Kingfisher secured her a place alongside fellow district heat winners from around the country in the grand final.

Eleanor, Roxie and Isla were highly commended in the local Harrogate heats, while Millie also made it through to the district stage of the competition winning the Intermediate category.

Simon Brook, Head of Art, said:

There is no shortage of young talent at the school across all mediums –from drawing and painting to sculpture and textile design – and we are thrilled to see this showcased successfully in this competition.

All entries produced by pupils from Ashville were of an incredibly high standard and they should be proud of their efforts. The contest has been a truly rewarding experience for everyone connected with Ashville and it is a great achievement for one of our pupils to not only reach the national final, but be crowned winner.

The Ashville community is so proud of Breanne as she competed against some of the UKs brightest young artists in the national final.

Breanne has a bright future ahead of her. After achieving fantastic A Level results, including A* in Art, she has seen her talents rewarded with a place at Nottingham Trent University to study Interior Architecture and Design.

Ashville reimagines Sixth Form as £1m school development opens new opportunities for learning

Ashville has broken new ground by launching a reimagined pre-university Sixth Form experience – inspired and shaped with input from pupils themselves.

Six @ Ashville promises to redefine the school’s Sixth Form experience to extend pupils’ development through an unprecedented range of new and innovative courses, opportunities and freedom.

Harnessing the benefits of a complete renovation of the Sixth Form Centre to give it a “serious WOW factor”, new pathways and a new philosophy, the concept is tailored to meet the changing and diverse needs of today’s 16 to 18-year-olds and the importance of preparing them for the world of work.

Building on the school’s academic success, with the best A Level results in Harrogate again in 2025, the academic curriculum includes more than 20 A Level, BTEC and Cambridge Technical courses.

In addition, there is an innovative Future Ready programme with a menu of pathways for the scholar, creative, athlete and budding entrepreneur. Providing a route to global higher education destinations, Six @ Ashville is being introduced to complement the redeveloped Sixth Form Centre, which draws upon the very best in university campus and corporate design. It offers pupils the use of a cafe and social hub, a collaborative study zone, “academic buzz” space and areas for individual study.

Head, Rhiannon Wilkinson, said:

Our new Sixth Form Centre is a space with a serious WOW factor which has inspired us to reimagine what pupils are looking for from their post-GCSE education pathway.

Designed to empower, inspire and expand horizons, our new Six @ Ashville is fresh, exciting and built around the needs of today’s Sixth Formers as they look to progress their lives with opportunities and additional qualifications that really make a difference.

Our dynamic curriculum offers an innovative and flexible way to learn with the spaces and philosophy tuned in to provide what we believe is a transformative Sixth Form experience. Added to our heritage, the many opportunities we offer and our strong sense of community, we have a winning formula for success.”

Six @ Ashville pupils are able to mix and explore their way through six key pathways:

The Creative:

Focusing on public speaking, performing arts, theatre, music and the development of artwork.

The Scholar:

Offering a deep dive into a range of subjects, including super-curricular activities, much sought after by top universities.

Sport +:

A new programme led by specialist professional coaches covering performance, nutrition and video analysis. You can even gain a qualification in lifeguarding.

Enterprise:

Perfect for those pupils thinking of starting their own business, with a series of experienced mentors on hand to provide the skills needed to succeed through LEAP or a Future Learn Business and Management course.

Community and Care:

From first aid to sign language, volunteering and self-defence to organising charity events, this is ideal for those who want to make a difference.

The Six Award:

Everything a pupil takes on will earn them credits towards the Six Award, a new qualification celebrating individual growth and future-readiness.

Our 70-acre campus has undergone a major £1m modernisation in the last year alone, with Phase 2 of the Campus Masterplan focusing on the re-design of the estate and seeing the Sixth Form Centre benefit from a purpose-designed upgrade.

The development features a wide range of enhancements designed by education specialist architectural designers, Envoplan - all with the aim of impacting positively on pupils’ wellbeing as well as accommodating new technology and ways of learning.

Bramham Horse Trials

Ashville’s Equestrian Team had a fantastic – if slightly soggy – day out at Bramham Horse Trials. They enjoyed watching the current and former world no.1 riders, Olympians and other international event riders complete the dressage test stage of arguably the toughest 4* competition in the world. They saw the young horse event classes and pursued the shopping village, along with seeing young horse event classes, and perusing the shopping village.

The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the guided cross-country course walk that we were treated to from James Rushbrooke, an Old Ashvillian who competes 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 designers rationale behind certain questions. Our team were clearly inspired by the visit and guided talk, suggesting some team cross country lessons soon!

Heads of School 2025-2026

We are pleased to announce Tom and Rose have been selected as the new Heads of School for the academic year 2025-2026

Rose said:

I am honoured to have been offered the position, from year seven upwards I have always seen the Heads of School as role models and I am grateful to now inspire people through all year groups to seize all the opportunities that Ashville has given me.

Tom said:

I am honoured to have been given this opportunity at Ashville. I’m looking forward to learning more about the role in the weeks to come and making a positive impact on the school.

DC & NYC – An Unforgettable American Experience

Pupil Trip Report by Ava and Rose in Year 12

It was an early start with a meet of 2am at the Sports Centre. Once we were all on the coach, we started our journey down to Heathrow, ready for our 9:30am flight.

We arrived in New York City by the afternoon and headed straight to Manhattan! Seeing the famous city skyline from the coach was a thrill. We couldn’t wait to get out there! After checking in, we had free time to explore Times Square and the iconic 5th Avenue. In the evening, we went to the top of the Empire State Building to see the beautiful views of the city twinkling below whilst enjoying some live jazz! Everyone was very tired by Friday evening and slept well once back at the hotel, having been awake for over 24 hours and having before walked 25,000 steps!

On Saturday, the day started with a morning boat cruise to the Statue of Liberty, an iconic and renowned landmark. We made sure to take some photos with Mrs Norton’s American flag, as well as purchasing Statue of Liberty tourist headbands. Afterwards, we visited the deeply moving 9/11 Memorial Museum. Learning about this atrocious event in history was extremely interesting, however very upsetting. We spent the afternoon wandering West Village and getting a classic New York deli lunch in our free time – pastrami bagel anyone? In the evening, we then headed to Broadway for a show - The Great Gatsby. It was a wonderful and entertaining experience to see the talent of the performers and experience a lively Broadway audience. Some of the A Level Drama and Music pupils also got the opportunity to meet some of the actors after the show, making sure to get photos and autographs.

On Sunday, we began the day with a walking tour

of Harlem, learning about its interesting history and the Harlem Renaissance. We also visited poet, Langston Hughes’ house and learnt more about the culture of Harlem. Then we were off to Penn Station to catch the Amtrak to Washington DC. Once we arrived, we got settled into our hotel. We had delicious tacos for dinner, before going to bed and getting a good night’s sleep, ready for the next full day of DC.

Monday was a packed day, full of monuments, memorials and sights, as well as major political buildings on our famous Norton and Russell tour. We started our day visiting the US Supreme Court, and made the most of the gift shop before visiting the US Capitol building. Whilst we were there, we had the opportunity to visit the House of Representatives. However, much to Harry’s disappointment and willingness to give up lunch to wait, the members of Congress were out on a break so unfortunately no debate took place. Despite this, it was an amazing experience to sit inside the House and see where major acts in politics and history have taken place. Later that day, we visited Georgetown for some shopping.

The Brandy Melville staff welcomed a crowd of Ashville girls and teachers wanting to know what all the fuss was about. The evening ended with pizza and bowling, which saw some impressive strikes as well as some gutter balls.

Our last morning included a visit to the White House and the Washington monuments. Not only did we experience these amazing places, but we were also lucky enough to visit Washington during their blossom season. We then continued our tour to the Lincoln Memorial, more commonly known by everyone on the trip as the ‘Forrest Gump place’, before heading to the solemn and moving Korean and Vietnam War memorials. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial highlighted the epic journey through his highly significant presidency, and we all enjoyed rubbing Fala’s ears for good luck! Before leaving, we made sure to get a photo outside the iconic White House. Then came the long journey home, departing in the evening from Washington Dulles airport. We landed back at Heathrow early Wednesday morning.

This trip was an amazing experience, packed with history, culture and memorable moments. A great thanks should go to Mrs Norton, Mr Rodgers, and Mrs Wales-Smith for joining us on the trip and an even bigger thanks to Mr Russell for organising this amazing experience.

Sports Tour to South Africa

Pupil Trip Report by Connie and Katie

In the summer 54 pupils alongside 6 members of staff eagerly set off on our sports tour and adventure to South Africa.

Once we arrived in Manchester after a bus journey that can only be described as a musical throwback sensation, we were yet to find out that our connecting flight from Istanbul to Cape Town was in fact not one, but five hours delayed! However, in true Ashvillian spirit we were reluctant to let the delay derail us, instead we took the opportunity to cash out in duty free and amuse ourselves with the luggage trollies. Finally we landed in Cape Town before taking our transfer to Stellenbosch, where our sports tour finally commenced.

Now it was time to put the sport into the sports tour. Ashville played an outstanding match against De Kuilen High School whilst demonstrating exceptional skills and sportsmanship across all sports. As a team, not only was it a pleasure to play sport to a high level in a completely different environment, but also to experience a difference in culture during the post-match service. Just to worry the parents slightly during our travels in Stellenbosch we visited the cheetah encounter, and with great pleasure we were able to send photos stroking the cheetahs up close with very little context given. As we ventured up the mountains to complete what was next on our agenda, the Cape Canopy tour, it was certain many of us felt out of our comfort zone off the sports pitch for once. However, the breathtaking views made everything a little less scary, resulting in a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.

After a jam packed few days it was time to progress west to the vibrant city of Cape Town. We were welcomed with open arms at the Cape Milner Hotel. Feeling well rested we departed on a full day’s Cape Point tour, during our tour we travelled along the Atlantic seaboard via Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay. To wrap up our busy day as top tourists we enjoyed a meal in small groups at the VA Waterfront and had the chance to fuel up before our second sporting outing of the tour. Bernadino Heights Secondary School took great care of us the entire morning whilst providing excellent sporting standards for us to compete against. Minus a few bumps and bruises we all left feeling inspired for the rest of our matches ahead and even a lucky few returned with tops that they exchanged with the pupils of Bernadino. Nearly a week into our trip and it was time to switch up the usual sports Ashville offers within the curriculum. All 54 pupils and a couple of very brave members of staff dived into the sea at Muizenburg beach with a surfboard in hand. This was deemed to be a great success for all despite some having more experience than others. Maybe it’s time for Ashville to create their own surf emporium on campus?

Then up the cable cars we went to the stunning Table Mountain - our final destination of the day. When we reached the top, we were able to see the whole of Cape Town and, of course, got the privilege to participate in even more group pictures. The next stage of our trip allowed us to experience more culture, gratitude and sense of reality.

After spending an entire morning on a Township tour of Langa all pupils and staff came away with a sense of how the quality of life can differ throughout a city. Nevertheless, we all reflected on how the community spirit in Langa continues to thrive and the messages to take from this. The tactic of catching up on some overdue sleep with a granted lie in certainly worked. Another brilliant performance and examples set by all teams representing Ashville in an excellent light. This particular fixture highlighted the importance of friendship on and off the pitch by Curro Dubanville School amusing everyone with their encouraging chants.

Finally, we touched down in Johannesburg for the final stretch of our tour. Staying at the Centurion Hotel proved to be a huge hit as the Centurion Mall was a very short walk away meaning all had the freedom to shop for souvenirs (sport related or not). For a promising start Woodhill College were kind enough to facilitate and host our last fixture of the tour against Eduplex High School. Just as we thought our performance couldn’t get any better, we left again with many wins and highlights for lots of players. To finish off everyone’s sporting successes, gifts were received by the team captains and the players of the match. For the rest of the afternoon, we visited the Winnie Mabaso Foundation. Within a few minutes of arriving, we found ourselves participating in a dance off. Minus the few embarrassing videos, the teachers managed to record everyone with a smile on their face appreciating all the work the foundation puts in to support local communities. Lastly, in Johannesburg, we celebrated Leo’s 18th birthday in true style at the Turn and Tender Steakhouse as we enjoyed a hearty meal whilst reflecting on the entire trip so far.

To add even more to the trip we visited the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, which was a powerful and thought-provoking experience that really offered a deeper insight into the Apartheid era in South Africa. We were lucky enough to have two excellent tour guides who were passionate about their culture and urged us to stand against all forms of injustice to build a fairer future for all. This eye-opening perspective into the country’s past showed us the hope and resilience of the people leaving us both moved and empowered. In the evening, we all joined together in cheering on the Lionesses in the Euro Final. Tension was high with a nail biting penalty shootout having everyone on the edge of their seats. But victory was inevitable and we erupted in cheers.

Our penultimate day was a busy one, with an early start to get to Sun City’s Valley of the Waves before opening! Being the only ones crazy enough to go to a water park in winter there were no queues in sight. Despite the cold temperatures, everyone had a great time on the thrilling slides and were happy to round off the morning with burgers for lunch.

The fun wasn’t over yet as we made our way to Bakubung Game Reserve and embarked on our first game drive. We got very lucky with our sightings including a herd of elephants crossing our path in the first 10 minutes! But that wasn’t all for elephant sightings as one elephant was just as intrigued by us as we were by him; running right alongside the truck for a better look.

We concluded our last night before travelling home with buffet dinner at the game reserve, which after such a long day many of us took advantage of. As well as a prize giving ceremony, followed by a massive thank you to all the teachers, along with our tour guide Chris, who made the trip so amazing.

We fortunately had our last early wake up of the trip but it was all worth it to watch the giraffes at sunrise. The safari was a perfect way to round off an amazing two weeks and we were very fortunate to spot all the Big 5 in two days!

And so the journey back began with a transfer back over to Johannesburg for our flight to Istanbul where many of us caught back up on sleep and were grateful for no more delays. Everyone was happy to get back home and to be reunited with their families after the experience of a lifetime that has left us all with closer friendships and unforgettable memories.

The results are in for the 2024/25 House Competitions

The House system is still a central part of Ashville life and provides another level of belonging in the Ashville community. Throughout the year competitions take place in a variety of pursuits from Debating to MasterChef, Design Technology to Photography, as well as Sports, Music and Drama:

The results of the Rigg Cup for 2024/25 were:

The results of the Festival Trophy for 2024/25 were:

Performing Arts

It was an exciting year at Ashville with a number of productions across the school. The annual Senior School production was a huge success as this review in the Harrogate Advertiser shows.

The Addams Family Musical at Ashville College: A Spooktacular Triumph

Ashville College in Harrogate delivered a spooktacular performance with their senior school musical comedy, The Addams Family. From the moment the audience took their seats and the iconic theme tune struck up, led by a 14-strong band of pupils and teachers under the direction of James Rodgers, it was clear that an evening of fantastic entertainment was in store.

The Soothill Hall, Ashville’s purpose-built 600-seat auditorium, provided an impressive backdrop for this wonderfully macabre tale. With principal roles shared across two casts to give more pupils the chance to shine, the performance I attended showcased the top-quality performing arts provision available at the school. The show opened with the rousing number ‘When You’re an Addams’, led by an engaging and charismatic Gomez, who surprised the audience with an entrance through the stalls.

As the curtain opened, a striking full-sized set greeted us - complete with eerie candlelight and cobwebssetting the perfect scene.

Each member of the Addams family was introduced with flair, while the ghostly ancestors, played by pupils from Year 7 upwards, dressed all in white, added a contrast to the family’s signature gothic aesthetic.

The story follows Wednesday Addams, the ultimate gothic teenager, who shocks her unconventional family by falling for Lucas Beineke, a seemingly ‘normal’ boy.

When the Beinekes come to dinner at the Addams’ mansion, chaos, misunderstandings and a hearty dose of comedy ensue. Gomez finds himself in an emotional tangle, torn between keeping Wednesday’s secret and staying true to his beloved wife, Morticia.

The production made excellent use of its large ensemble cast, with over 50 pupils contributing to the show’s dynamic musical numbers and effective movement - this was no easy task. Act One was packed with standout moments, including Wednesday’s powerful rendition of ‘Pulled’, capturing her turmoil as she navigates unfamiliar feelings of love - while still managing to torment her younger brother, Pugsley.

Another highlight was Pugsley’s heartfelt solo, ‘What If’, beautifully expressing his fear of losing his sister.

The act reached its climax with the dramatic ‘Full Disclosure’, where a dinner game descends into comedic chaos. Pugsley’s attempt to sabotage Wednesday and Lucas backfires, leading to an unexpected and hilarious revelation from Alice Beineke, thanks to a mysterious potion.

Act Two opened with Morticia’s commanding solo “Just Around the Corner”, delivered with elegance and poise. Uncle Fester was an audience favourite, injecting energy and charm into every scene - his quirky love song, ‘The Moon and Me’, was particularly memorable. The energetic quartet ‘Crazier Than You’ was another highlight, with Wednesday, Lucas, Alice, and Mal throwing themselves into the fun with gusto.

Grandma also shone as a comedic gem, embracing her character’s eccentricity with delightful flair. Lurch, true to character, remained stoic throughout - until the final number, when his unexpected vocal reveal left the audience in awe - It was a brilliant surprise!

Under the skilled direction and production of Director of Performing Arts, Karl Boyd, the cast delivered a strong, well-paced show, showcasing excellent comedic timing and a solid grasp of the witty script. The humour landed perfectly with the audience, with even the subtlest jokes delivered with confidence and finesse - an impressive feat for such young performers.

The school’s commitment to nurturing talent was evident, with two pupils having secured places at prestigious performing arts institutions, Leeds Conservatoire and LIPA. Though there were a few minor sound issues, the cast handled them with remarkable professionalism, maintaining the momentum and ensuring the audience remained immersed in the story - a true credit to their preparation and stagecraft.

Ashville College’s The Addams Family was a triumph - a vibrant, hilarious, and spooky spectacular filled with energy, talent, and heart, it was a production to be proud of. A huge congratulations to all involved - bravo!

Stuart Hutchinson – Reviewer and Musical Theatre Enthusiast

Shakespeare on the Lawn

Our talented actors in Senior School took centre stage in July in an open-air original rock musical with a difference - ‘Beth!’

‘Beth is a modern take on Shakespeare’s Macbeth, written, composed, and directed by our Director of Performing Arts, Karl Boyd. Audiences enjoyed a unique experience wearing headsets to hear the performances, pre-recorded in the studio, while pupils wowed them with their outstanding visual performances live in the school grounds.

Mr Boyd said: “All the performers excelled in bringing to life an experimental and technologically ambitious production that brought new and different drama skills to the fore.”

We are thrilled that ‘Beth’ has been selected to appear at the Edinburgh Fringe in summer 2026!

Year 4 Does Shakespeare - ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

In Prep School we were all treated to a superb performance of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, whether that be in one of the dress rehearsals for fellow pupils to attend, or the parents’ evening performance. It was truly fantastic to watch and hear the Year 4 pupils bring Shakespeare’s language to life, covering some tricky concepts, they showed a real understanding of the story and characters. Our congratulations to all the young performers and our thanks go to the staff for their hard work in bringing this performance together. But especially to Miss Carpenter for her wonderful direction and inspiration,

Old Ashvillians Invited to Buckingham Palace to Receive Their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

Having to add on extra kilometres or slow groups down are not problems we typically face at Bronze DofE level, but our fantastic Year 10 pupils amazed their assessors with their navigation, strength, and teamwork. “They are one of the strongest Bronze groups we’ve ever seen!” Starting from beautiful Ilkley, 44 pupils set off on their qualifying expedition around the moors. With temperatures thankfully lower than the practice expedition, tough climbs quickly gave way to spectacular views. Pitching their tents in the rain, the sun thankfully came out in time for dinner, and everyone enjoyed some bonding time over a newly invented game of Water Bottle Cricket. Sunday brought drier skies, and participants worked well together to navigate speedily back towards Ilkley on the routes they had planned. All pupils showed resilience, determination, and good humour throughout the weekend, supporting each other through challenges and celebrating their achievements together. A huge well done to everyone involved. We are incredibly proud of what you’ve accomplished!

Towards the end of June, two groups of Lower Sixth pupils embarked on their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award qualifying expedition in the stunning – and often challenging – landscapes of the Lake District. Over four days, they trekked more than 50 miles through mountainous terrain, facing wet and windy weather with unshakable determination. Setting off from Braithwaite near Keswick, the groups navigated confidently through the dramatic scenery of Buttermere, Borrowdale, and Langdale, eventually finishing in Coniston. Despite the tired legs, heavy packs, and the inevitable soggy boots, spirits remained high. Their resilience, teamwork, and navigational skills were truly inspiring. With their expedition successfully completed, the pupils can now turn their attention to the remaining sections of their Gold DofE Awards. They will now work towards the honour of receiving their certificates at Buckingham Palace – a prestigious and thoroughly wellearned recognition of their dedication and perseverance.

Receiving The Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award at Buckingham Palace is a truly special and memorable event! It is the highest level of this challenging and rewarding programme and requires significant commitment. We were very pleased to hear that Callum, who graduated from Ashville in 2024 and is now studying at the University of Exeter, recently made the trip to London with his family to attend the celebration event at Buckingham Palace gardens hosted by Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh.

Congratulations to Jacob, Verity, Oliver and Christian who graduated in 2025 who have completed their Gold D of E Award - a culmination of 18 months of hard work and commitment. We look forward to hearing about their visits to the Palace!

We are also very proud of Gemma in Year 6 who, after many hours of completing tasks has been awarded the Platinum Junior Duke certificate. The Junior Duke is a ten-level Award aimed at increasing children’s independence, confidence and resilience by giving them a non-academic platform on which to feel success and achievement. Well done Gemma!