• All Steinway School – Piano Academy.
• Football Academy – Boys and Girls.
• Table Tennis Academy.

Ackworth School was founded in 1779 by John Fothergill on behalf of The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and the School Committee (or Board of Governors) is still accountable to this body.

Periods of reflective silence form part of each day, during Morning Meeting and before meals for example, and each Thursday there is a short silent Meeting for Worship for the whole School. The importance of respect for others and honesty at all times emphasised by the Quaker ethos helps to produce a calm, friendly atmosphere which is supportive and reassuring for young people.

The majority of pupils are from non-Quaker families and about 10% come from other countries. Indeed, the international nature of the School, especially in the Sixth Form, is one of its distinctive features.

As in any such community there has to be a clear disciplinary framework and our expectations are high. Ackworth pupils respond well to this and to the opportunities provided for assuming responsibilities, for example within the boarding houses and on the School Council.

Located in the rural town of Ackworth in West Yorkshire. We have close transport links to three major cities: Leeds, Sheffield and York. Manchester airport is 1 hour and 30 minutes away from Ackworth School. There is a nearby train station which can transport you to London in less than 2 hours.

Our facilities include: 70 acre campus accessible to all staff and students, Indoor heated Swimming Pool, Olympic sized Sports Hall, Tennis Courts, Cricket Pitch, Football Fields, 240 seated Lecture Theatre, Autism Resource Centre, Dedicated Music Centre and Performance Space, Squash Courts, Outdoor Forest School, Table Tennis Academy Hall.

GCSE Results: 9–4 (A* - C) – 96%. A Level Results: A* - C – 83.3%.

The Ackworth admissions process is designed to ensure that the young person concerned would benefit from the opportunities of an Ackworth education. Prospective pupils are required to sit an entrance assessment, provide academic reports and attend an interview with a member of the Admissions team.

An offer of a place at Ackworth depends on there being a vacancy in the relevant year group, the completion of the School’s own entrance examinations and a reference from the pupil’s previous school.

In the case of entry into the Sixth Form, conditional offers are made on the basis of a reference from the pupil’s current school and the achievement of appropriate grades at GCSE or equivalent.

Since its foundation in 1779, Ackworth has always been a mixed boarding school and currently about one third of the Senior School boards. There are separate boarding houses for boys and girls, each with comprehensive care, guidance and support appropriate to the age of the pupils.

Ackworth has developed a flexible approach to boarding in response to parental and student needs. Some students only go home for the three main holidays, others go home most weekends. Some board for the whole of their time at Ackworth, others board for perhaps one or two years. About half of the boarders are from overseas, the rest come from many different parts of the UK.

Most boarders share a bedroom with one or two other students. There are common rooms for playing table tennis, watching television and other such activities, or for simply having a chat over a cup of coffee and a piece of toast. Resident teaching staff are available at all times and other staff, including the Head and Deputy Head, live on site. We cannot replace parents but we do everything we can to make boarders feel at home.

Ackworth prides itself on the wide range of sports accessible to the students in both Junior and Senior School. Sport can expose a student to self-discipline, practice and preparation, teamwork, goal setting, success and failure, and resilience. Ackworth School is fortunate to have excellent sporting facilities.

There is a football academy offering a two year elite football development programme for boys and girls in conjunction with 3 A-Level subjects. It is be run by Jamie Fullarton an ex English Premier League footballer, and qualified UEFA Pro license coach. More sporting opportunities are offered by the school’s Table Tennis Academy and Squash Academy.