Ackworth School

Set amongst 200 acres of sweeping grounds, Ackworth School, near Pontefract, was founded in 1779. It is fully co-educational and is an HMC school. It has approximately 410 boarders and day pupils between 11 and 18 and a Junior Department for children from 4 (from Sept,99) to 11.

Behind Ackworth's elegant Georgian facade, the School's excellent modern facilities include sports, technology and music centres as well as special sixth form facilities and comfortable bedrooms for boarders. The School's fundamental purpose is to create a happy and secure environment in which its pupils realise their own unique abilities in an atmosphere that is very much like that of an extended family. Because of its supportive environment, the School regularly achieves an impressive record of academic qualifications. Pupils also gain distinction in a wide variety of other fields such as sports, the arts and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. In fact it is often noted that the School produces results in these areas that are out of proportion to the size of the roll!

More than just Friends!

Ackworth School was founded by Quakers and the traditions of The Society of Friends are strong in the school today. All visitors to the school campus comment on the quiet dignity of the students which many attribute to the silences that are part of each day.

Since the first scholars, a brother and sister from Dorset, arrived in October 1779 the School has educated many thousands of boys and girls both Quaker and non-Quaker.There is a very active Old Scholars' Society which meets at the School every Easter.

Information Technology is seen as an important tool throughout the School and every student who passes through our curriculum will be computer literate. Some of our students are using their IT skills on a project for Equafor.