Situated in Airedale on northern outskirts of Bradford and Leeds, two miles from the Airport. Normal entry for day children is at ages 7 or 8 in September via Entrance Tests held in previous February (academic, arts and music scholarships may be awarded), but individual assessment for entry at other times is possible. Traditional academic course based on National Curriculum plus European Studies course in French, German, and Spanish. Special emphasis is placed on Music with 75% of children receiving specialist tuition on an instrument. All children sit Woodhouse Grove Entrance Exam at 11+ with majority transferring there. Dyslexia Unit run by fully trained staff for a maximum of 20 children of above-average IQ.
Particular care and consideration given to boarders by resident team of staff who take full boarders on outings at weekends and who will escort children to and from airports if required. Generous fees allowance given to children of Service families.
Sport features strongly in curriculum: swimming (all year round), rugby, football, netball and cross country during winter terms, cricket and athletics during summer. Comprehensive fixture list for all these sports. Other activities include choir and orchestra (four concerts/productions each year), art/craft/pottery and needlework, ballet/dance, computer/electronics/model railway. Well over half of the day children stay on until 5.00 pm, participating in extra-curricular activity, and some remain for prep and tea.
Regular field-trips and expeditions in the locality. Easter holiday ski-ing in the Alps and Summer holiday visit to France.
Ashdown Lodge, the pre-preparatory school, purposely built in 1993, houses 125 day children between the ages of 3 and 6. Many also make use of the extended day programme which provides activity and care until 6.00 pm.
National Curriculum Test results, 1996: 100% pass (Key Stage 1, level 2); 93% pass (Key Stage 2, level 4).
