Aysgarth School in North Yorkshire is pleased to announce that from September 2024, Aysgarth Prep School will be co-educational and accept girl pupils for Years 4–8, marking a new chapter in the school’s legacy of educational excellence.
THE PROGRESSION TO CO-EDUCATION
Aysgarth Prep School, a beacon of academic excellence for boys for nearly 150 years, is delighted to announce its transformative decision to introduce co-education in Years 4–8 from September 2024.
The Governors’ decision to expand the co-educational model follows more than 30 years of Successful co-education at Aysgarth’s Pre-Prep school, which teaches boys and girls from Nursery to Year 3.
Headmaster Jonathon Anderson, and his wife Hester, have huge experience in private education and lead an exceptionally talented team at Aysgarth, which enjoys a 50:50 male-to-female staff ratio compared to 15:85 in the UK primary sector. The Andersons emphasise that the Governors’ decision was made following feedback from an in-depth 2023 parent survey, which indicated a strong desire for this change within the existing Aysgarth community.
Headmaster Jonathon Anderson says: “This decision is about making our best even better. Aysgarth has a longstanding tradition of preparing boys for success at leading senior schools and beyond. With this expansion, we aim to provide the same exemplary educational experience for girls, ensuring they receive the finest opportunities, ambitious teaching, and celebrated pastoral care.”
Co-education will not affect Aysgarth’s fundamental principles and ethos: a commitment to providing equal opportunities for collaboration and competition, and to fostering an environment where students learn to communicate effectively, disagree respectfully, and develop a broader perspective on diverse views.
Aysgarth has earned several accolades, from award-winning pastoral care to excellent academic results, and its strength lies in the long list of trends it has no plans to pursue. Its Prep school is predominantly a boarding school, with Saturday lessons and a daily chapel service, and it sends pupils to more than 20 notable senior schools every year. The school is looking forward to its new chapter and the opportunities it brings, continuing a tradition of providing quality education and preparing pupils for future success.
Categories: Aysgarth School School News
