, established = 1877 , type = Preparatory independent day and boarding school , trust = , religious_affiliation =

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...

, president = , head_label = , head = Rob Morse , r_head_label = , r_head = , chair_label = , chair = , founder = Reverend Clement Hales , medium = , address = , location = Newton-le-Willows

Bedale Bedale ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the district of Hambleton, North Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the North Riding of Yorkshire, it is north of Leeds, south-west of Middlesbrough and south-west of the county town of ...

, city = , district =

Richmondshire {{Infobox settlement , name = Richmondshire District , type = District , image_skyline = , imagesize = , image_caption = , image_blank_emblem= Richmondshire arms.png , blank_emblem_type = Coat ...

, postcode = DL8 1TF , county =

North Yorkshire North Yorkshire is the largest ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county (lieutenancy area) in England, covering an area of . Around 40% of the county is covered by National parks of the United Kingdom, national parks, including most of ...

, country = England , coordinates = , pushpin_map = North Yorkshire , pushpin_image = , pushpin_mapsize = , pushpin_map_alt = , pushpin_map_caption = Location within North Yorkshire , pushpin_label = , pushpin_label_position = left , local_authority = , dfeno = 815/6009 , urn = 121738 , ofsted = , staff = , capacity = 220 , enrolment = 203 (141 boarders) , gender = , lower_age = , upper_age = , houses = , colours = , publication = , free_label_1 = Former pupils , free_1 = Aysgarthians , free_label_2 = Admissions policy , free_2 = Non Selective , free_label_3 = , free_3 = , website = Aysgarth School is an independent day and boarding preparatory school near to the village of Newton-le-Willows,

, England. As the name suggests, it was originally opened in the village of

Aysgarth Aysgarth is a village and civil parish in Wensleydale, in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England. The village is in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, about south-west of Richmond and west of the county town of Northallerton. ...

but was moved to Newton-le-Willows in 1890.

History

The school was opened in 1877 by the Reverend Clement Hales to prepare boys for a secondary school education. In 1890, the school moved to newly built premises costing £20,000 in the village of Newton-le-Willows but retained the name of Aysgarth School. The chapel was a new building too, but contained items from elsewhere, such as the pulpit which was originally from

Easby Abbey Easby Abbey, or the Abbey of St Agatha, is a ruined Premonstratensian abbey on the eastern bank of the River Swale on the outskirts of Richmond in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England. The site is privately owned but maintained b ...

near

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...

. Whilst the chapel on site is a listed building, the rest of the buildings remain unlisted due to a significant fire on site in 1933 which destroyed much of the school. The school is a preparatory school for selection to a range of private and independent schools across the United Kingdom and offers places to boys between the ages of 8 and 13 and also runs a pre-prep (or preparatory nursery) open to boys and girls between the ages of 3 and 7. Its independent status means that it is assessed by the

Independent Schools Inspectorate The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) is approved by the Secretary of State for Education – under section 106 of the Education and Skills Act 2008 – to inspect independent schools in England. These schools are members of associations, w ...

for reporting purposes rather than

Ofsted The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is a Non-ministerial government department, non-ministerial department of Government of the United Kingdom, His Majesty's government, reporting to Parliament of the U ...

. The school has been described as one of the leading prep schools for boys and the only single-sex school of its kind north of

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

. Its admissions policy is non-selective and fosters a culture of allowing boys to be boys in a safe but calming environment. The school is one of many who allow pets into the class and Aysgarth School encourages Housemasters to allow their dogs into class. The school's ethos is based on Christian values and principles, and as such, boarders are expected to attend services in the chapel on site for church services. The school's motto is ''Ex quercu non ex salice'' (Latin for ''of oak, not of willow''), and former pupils are known as Aysgarthians.

Notable Aysgarthians

John Cracroft-Amcotts John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

, former

High Sheriff of Lincolnshire This is a list of High Sheriffs of Lincolnshire. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilitie ...

* Sir (Henry) Grattan Bushe, Lawyer and colonial governor *

George Butterworth George Sainton Kaye Butterworth, MC (12 July 18855 August 1916) was an English composer who was best known for the orchestral idyll '' The Banks of Green Willow'' and his song settings of A. E. Housman's poems from ''A Shropshire Lad''. Early ...

, Composer and folk-dancer * Basil Guy,

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

recipient * David Ince, RAF pilot who flew 150 missions over

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

and who was awarded the DFC *

James John Joicey James John Joicey FES (28 December 1870 – 10 March 1932) was an English amateur entomologist, who assembled an extensive collection of Lepidoptera in his private research museum, called the Hill Museum, in Witley, Surrey. Hi ...

, amateur

entomologist Entomology () is the scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term "insect" was less specific, and historically the definition of entomology would also include the study of animals in other arthropod groups, such as arach ...

who made significant contributions to the

Natural History Museum A natural history museum or museum of natural history is a scientific institution with natural history collections that include current and historical records of animals, plants, fungi, ecosystems, geology, paleontology, climatology, and more. ...

's collection of

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...

Richard Meinertzhagen Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen, CBE, DSO (3 March 1878 – 17 June 1967) was a British soldier, intelligence officer, and ornithologist. He had a decorated military career spanning Africa and the Middle East. He was credited with creating and ...

, Soldier and

ornithologist Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the "methodological study and consequent knowledge of birds with all that relates to them." Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and th ...

Matthew Pinsent Sir Matthew Clive Pinsent, (; born 10 October 1970) is an English rower and broadcaster. During his rowing career, he won 10 world championship gold medals and four consecutive Olympic gold medals. Since retiring, he has worked as a sports br ...

, Olympic rower * David Rogers, Anglican priest * Jonathan Ruffer, Philanthropist *

Robert Swan Robert Charles Swan, OBE, FRGS (born 28 July 1956) is the first person to walk to both poles. He is currently an advocate for the protection of Antarctica and renewable energy. Swan is also the founder of 2041, a company which is dedicated ...

, Polar explorer

References

External links

School website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aysgarth School Educational institutions established in 1877 Boarding schools in North Yorkshire Preparatory schools in North Yorkshire 1877 establishments in England