Woodhouse Grove was founded in 1812 and is situated in the heart of Yorkshire. A co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged from 2 to 18 years. Boarding pupils are taken from the age of 11 years.
Our hard work has been recognised by the latest Independent Schools Inspectorate inspection which rated Woodhouse Grove as Excellent. The inspectors came away with very clear evidence of the Grovian Values that we seek to promote. They recognised our outstanding academic and co-curricular programme and our aim to ensure that all our pupils reach their full potential.
At Woodhouse Grove, we appreciate that every child is a unique individual and this is at the heart of everything we do. We aim to motivate pupils academically and beyond the classroom and to provide an educational environment designed to allow students to fully participate in school life.
We offer a rich, challenging and dynamic curriculum and want our students to ask questions of the world around them with an open mind; to have the character to listen to others, but also to stand up for their beliefs. We encourage our pupils to ‘give back’ to their community and we believe that this well-rounded, diverse approach is the key to building academic and personal confidence. Ultimately, our objective is to provide our students with the drive and aspiration to become the very best version of themselves that they can be.
Set in idyllic grounds near Leeds, the school is opposite Apperley Bridge train station and within four miles of Leeds Bradford Airport. We have high standards and an all-encompassing approach to education and our outstanding facilities reflect this. A recording studio, 220-seat theatre, sports halls, swimming pool and climbing wall are all within our 70-acre campus.
Numbers. There are 782 pupils in the Senior School including 64 boarders and a Sixth Form of 223 students. Brontë House (age 2–11 years) has 308 pupils.
Buildings. Our facilities include a purpose-built sports centre with a multi-functional sports hall, a fully-refurbished fitness suite, a dance studio, a 25m competition swimming pool, squash courts, floodlit and covered outdoor courts, floodlit all-weather pitch, performing arts centre and climbing wall. We have fully equipped science laboratories, a state-of-the-art DT and Art centre, a spacious music and drama block, language suite and fully-equipped IT rooms. We have a modern spacious Sixth Form block with a brand new corporate style study centre and refurbished boarding houses which provide a separate sixth form annexe for boys.
Sport. We have approximately 40 acres of playing fields including grounds for Cricket, Rugby, Football and Athletics as well as indoor Squash, Basketball and Swimming facilities. There are several all-weather Tennis Courts, newly installed outdoor cricket nets, a floodlit, covered outdoor court for Netball and Tennis and a floodlit all-weather pitch.
Music. A high percentage of pupils have instrumental or vocal tuition and pupils can perform in a wide variety of music, drama and dance groups. Accredited exams offered include ABRSM & Trinity Guildhall Speech and Drama. There are a number of high-profile annual performances taking advantage of the dedicated theatre and recording studio. Music tours take place every two years. Sixth form courses are available in Music and Music Technology.
Curriculum. Boys and girls can enter the Senior School at any age but mainly at the age of 11, 13 and 16 and the curriculum is arranged to provide a seamless transition through from Brontë House and upwards through the Sixth Form to University entrance. A wide range of GCSE (and IGCSE) courses are offered and currently we are offering 24 subjects at A Level plus additional BTEC options and the opportunity to gain work experience within local business partners as part of the sixth form experience. Specialist support is offered to meet EAL, dyslexia and other learning needs. All students get the chance to study French, Spanish and German. The campus is served by full-site Wi-Fi.
Sixth Form Entry. Places are available for students who want to come into the School at the Sixth Form stage subject to entry requirements.
Scholarships and Bursaries. Scholarships can be applied for directly from the headmaster for academic, all-rounder, art, sport and music. In addition, bursaries can be awarded following the offer of a place, in cases of financial need (plus allowances for children of ministers and of service personnel). Extras include excursions and extra tuition, such as music.
Admission. Places are offered subject to availability and based on our own entrance exam, in-school interview and previous school report. Pupils are usually accepted in September, although arrangements can be made for entry throughout the school year.
Brontë House is our Preparatory School and takes boys and girls from the age of two years old. Fees include wrap-around care from 7.30am until 6.00pm. Ashdown Lodge Nursery takes pupils, on a day or part-day basis, with a choice of term time only or, a 51-week contract.
Fees per term (2023-2024). Main School: £11,765–£11,830 (full boarders), £5,430–£5,500 (day). Brontë House: £3,900–£4,650 (day). Ashdown Lodge Nursery and Reception: £3,640–£3,900 (day). Fees include all meals, books, stationery, examination fees and careers tests.
Extra Subjects. There are a wide range of extra subjects available including individual music lessons, singing, speech and drama, extra sports coaching, debating, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, photography and fencing.
Charitable status. Woodhouse Grove School is part of the Methodist Independent Schools Trust, which is a Registered Charity, number 1142794.
Governors & Staff:
Governors:
Mr C Allen, LLB
Mr M Best, ACA
Mr S Burnhill, BSc
Mr R S Drake, LLB Hons, ACIArb
Rt Revd C P Edmondson
Mrs P M Essler, BSc
Mrs S Huby BA
Dr K Johal, PhD, BSc
Prof M Manogue, BDS, MDSc, PhD
Mr S Morris, MA, PGCE, NPHQ
Mr M Pearman, MA
Ms M Phillips, MBA, Registered Nurse
Mrs B Proctor, BA, CIPD
Revd K Tankard, BA, MA
Mr A Wintersgill, FCA (Chair)
Mr A Wood, BA, ACA
Staff:
Headmaster: Mr J A Lockwood, MA
Deputy Head: Mrs E Nulty, BA
Deputy Head (Academic): Mr E J Wright, BSc
Deputy Head (Pastoral): Mr A M Cadman, BSc
Assistant Head (Boarding and Compliance): Mr D King, MA
Assistant Head (Curriculum): Mrs C Nott, MA
Assistant Head (Organisation): Mr K D Eaglestone, BSc
Assistant Head (Staff Development): Mrs V Limbert, BA
Assistant Head (Sixth Form and Futures): Mr C Softley, BA
Chaplain: Revd R Drost
Operations Director: Mrs V Bates, ACA
Director of Marketing and Commerce: Mrs S Cadman, BA
* Head of Department
† Head of House
Mr J Allison, BA (*Design Technology)
Ms M Barnes (Modern Languages)
Mr N Barr, BA (Assistant Director of Sport, PE and Games, Mathematics)
Miss A Barron, BA (French, German)
Mr E Bean, BSc (*Co-Head of Science, Physics)
Mr J Bedford (Head of Rugby)
Mr J Birkett (Design and Technology)
Ms G Bond (Modern Languages)
Mr D Bradburne (Director of Sport, Health and Fitness)
Mrs N Bradburne (Head of Girls' Boarding, Sports coach)
Mr A Cadman, BSc (PE)
Ms B Carey (German)
Mrs P N Charlton, MA (Art & Design)
Mrs K Curtis, BSc (*Academic PE, Games)
Mr T Davis, BA (Director of Academic Systems, Chemistry)
Mr M Dawson, BA (History)
Mrs S Dawson, BA (Mathematics)
Mr M Dobson, BSc (Head of Boys' Boarding, PE and Games)
Revd R Drost (School Chaplain, PSHE)
Ms L Dudley (PE and Games, Psychology)
Mr K Eaglestone, BSc (Mathematics)
Mrs J L Edger, BSc (Physics)
Miss E Emmott, BA (Art)
Miss K England, BSc (Chemistry)
Miss L Evers, MA (English, Media Studies, Drama)
Mr T Exeter (Science, †Head of Vinter House)
Mr I Fernandez (Drama, Spanish)
Mr R Firbank (*History)
Mrs H Fisher, BSc (*Psychology)
Mr C Garbutt, BSc (Biology, Chemistry)
Mr M Gill, BSc (Computing)
Mrs K L Goodwin-Bates, MA (English)
Ms S Habergham (English, Drama)
Miss S Harder, BSc (Science, †Head of Findlay House)
Mr T Hicks (Sports Coach)
Mr D Higgins (Maths, Computing)
Mrs E Hodson, BA (Modern Foreign Languages)
Miss L Holloway, BA (*RS, †Head of Atkinson House)
Miss L Hughes, BA (English)
Dr A Ingham, BSc (Biology)
Mr C Jackson, (Games, PSHE, †Head of Stephenson House)
Miss C D Jemmett, BA (English)
Mr A Jennings, BA (Religious Studies)
Mrs K Jennings, BEd (PE)
Mr M Keegan, BA (English)
Mrs A Kerr, BSc (*Mathematics)
Mrs V Limbert, BA (English)
Mr O Mantle, BA (Business Studies)
Mr L McNeil (Economics)
Mrs H Mitchell, BA (*Modern Foreign Languages)
Mr P J Moffat, BA (Geography)
Miss B Monk, BA (*EAL, English, *Learning Support)
Mr M F Munday, BA (Geography)
Mr C Norris (Maths, Science)
Mrs C Nott, MA (Mathematics)
Mrs E Nulty, BA (Business Studies)
Miss L Oakley, BA (*English)
Miss C Pearce, BA (PE and Games, Geography)
Mr G Randhawa (Head of Cricket)
Mrs L Richardson, BSc (*Co Head of Science, Biology)
Mr J B Robb, BA (RS, Philosophy)
Mr J Shah (Chemistry)
Mrs R Sharpe, BA (English)
Mrs D L Shoesmith-Evans, MA (History, Politics)
Mrs K Simpson (*Art)
Mrs D Smith, BA (Design and Technology)
Mrs L Smith, BA (Modern Languages)
Mr C Softley, BA (PE & Games)
Mrs C Spencer, LLM (Business Studies, Economics, †Head of Towlson House)
Miss H Spiller, BA (Art)
Ms V Strachen (English, EAL)
Mr D Sugden, BSc (Mathematics)
Mr J P A Tedd, MA (*Performing Arts, Music)
Miss G Thompson BA (PE and Games, Head of Netball)
Mrs R Vernon, BSc (PE and Games, PSHE)
Mr T Walker (Maths)
Mrs R Warner, BA (Politics, History)
Mrs L Watmough BA (*Business Studies, †Head of Southerns House)
Mrs P L Watson, MA (Business Studies, Economics)
Mrs R Wickens, BA (*Geography)
Mr B Wilson (Music)
Mr E Wright, BSc (Mathematics)
Mr M Yam (Science)
Headmaster’s Secretary: Ms K Fleming
Admissions Manager: Mrs J Amos
Brontë House
Head of School: Mrs S Chatterton, BEd
Deputy Head (Pastoral): Mrs F Pearson, BA
Deputy Head (Academic): Mrs H J Simpson, BA
Assistant Head (Operations): Mr J Gallucci
Head of Early Years: Mrs H Foster