Secondary school education in Quaker institutions helps children develop into thoughtful, responsible, passionate young people. Our secondary students learn more than what’s on the national curriculum and benefit from a wide range of extracurricular activities.
All Quaker schools promote the benefits of outdoor learning, sports, art, music and drama. Students are engaged in team activities and spend time developing themselves as an individual, not simply their academic talents in our independent secondary schools.
Take a look at some of the great institutions providing secondary school education in England and Ireland:
Ackworth School
Pontefract, West Yorkshire
Based in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, Ackworth School allows young people to develop themselves and become passionate and knowledgeable young people. Most of their pupils study for 9 GCSEs, including English, mathematics and science in addition to the subjects they choose. Art plays an important role in Ackworth’s curriculum to stimulate students’ creativity and imagination and to develop transferrable, cross-curricular skills.
More infoBootham School
York, North Yorkshire
Bootham School is based in York and teaches students up to the age of 18. Their secondary school encourages students to have the confidence to ask questions and contribute ideas of their own in lessons and there is a respectful learning relationship between student and teacher. Students typically take 10 GCSEs, which can be tailored to the individual’s abilities and interests, with extra support available for those who need it.
More infoBreckenbrough School
Nr. Thirsk, North Yorkshire
Breckenbrough School is a specialist school for boys, with tailored support for students with complex needs, including Autistic spectrum disorder, Asperger syndrome, Pathological Demand Avoidance, Tourette syndrome and Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Students are able to learn in a supportive and peaceful environment with a personal mentor and key worker to encourage their personal, academic and social progression. The school is based in Sand Hutton, near Thirsk, in North Yorkshire.
More infoFriends’ School Lisburn
Lisburn, Northern Ireland
Based in Northern Ireland, the Friends’ School Lisburn offers education to students starting in Year 8. They make the transition into the school smooth and easy for all their students and know how scary it can be starting in a new school. Students in Years 8 and 9 are un-streamed, divided into their classes alphabetically to give all ability students the chance to learn and develop together. The school is continually developing to benefit the students, with recent improvements including new accommodation, greenhouse construction, and refurbishments to the technology, sport and IT facilities.
More infoLeighton Park School
Reading, Berkshire
At Leighton Park School, teachers aim to give students a broad range of knowledge across a wide variety of subjects to give them the best chance of uncovering their interests. In Years 7 and 8, students gain foundation knowledge in all the subjects the school offers, before getting more specialised as they move on to their GCSEs in 9 or 10 different subjects. Students can sign up to lots of different trips and extra-curricular classes to help them develop their interests and talents both academically and personally. The school is based in Reading, Berkshire.
More infoThe Mount School
York, North Yorkshire
The Mount School in York is a day and boarding school for girls. They offer bespoke education to their students, helping them to become compassionate and confident young women. All student voices are heard within the school, and the students learn to stand up for what they believe, with the passion and intelligence to put forward an argument without arrogance. As well as the national curriculum, the students can take part in extra-curricular activities including debating, robotics and movie making.
More infoNewtown School
Waterford, Ireland
Newtown School give their students the opportunity to develop academically, personally, socially and spiritually in a friendly and open teaching environment. Class sizes remain small to allow students one-to-one time with their teachers to support their learning, and a wide range of extra-curricular activities and pastoral care are available to all students. As well as their national curriculum education, students can develop skills in journalism, photography and orienteering, to name just a few. The school is in Waterford, Ireland, and teaching hours are between 9am and 4pm.
More infoSibford School
Banbury, Oxfordshire
Sibford School, based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, encourages all their students to live adventurously and take part in all the opportunities on offer. As well as their academic study, students at Sibford are able to develop interests and hobbies outside of the classroom, including music, art, drama, sport, the Discovery Award, fundraising, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Sibford School take a creative approach to study and have many resources available for painting, textiles, ceramics and sculpture, music rooms, technical studios, ensemble room and drama studio.
More infoSidcot School
Winscombe, Somerset
In Winscombe, Somerset (near Bristol), you’ll find Sidcot School. Students at Sidcot study a broad range of subjects in Years 7, 8 and 9 to help them develop a wide range of experiences and knowledge to inform their option choices when they come to GCSE study. A minimum of 9 GCSEs are undertaken by Sidcot students. These cover a wide range of subjects that are taught by specialist teachers. The school’s rural location allows them to provide excellent facilities for sport, arts and environmental studies, as well as connections to local community groups, charities and businesses which the students are encouraged to engage with.
More infoBenefits of secondary school education with us
Our independent secondary schools aren’t obsessed with our positions in league tables. We know that our students will all perform to the best of their ability when it comes to assessment. Our students are actively interested and engaged with their lessons. In developing students who are interested in their subjects, we know that their enjoyment and self-motivation mean they’ll achieve their academic potential.
Secondary school education involves an enriching mixture of subjects in our schools. Of course, we teach English, maths, science, history, geography, religious education, physical education, and modern foreign languages. But, our schools also promote the importance of more creative subjects too. The arts, drama and music are fully supported in our schools. We give our students every opportunity to be creative.
Sport-based activity is incredibly important to a Quaker education. Students are encouraged to try a wide range of different physical activities during their time at school. Many of our schools host regular matches against other local schools. We encourage friendly competition and teamwork. If a student shows a particular love and skill at a sport, we can offer them the support they need to progress. Some of our students go on to compete at a professional level.
Outdoor learning forms a vital part of studying at a Quaker school. We know how important it is to instil a passion and understanding for the natural world in our students. Classroom learning is often supported by activities and lessons outside. We know this makes learning more memorable and enjoyable.
We offer many different opportunities for trips and volunteering throughout a student’s time in a Quaker secondary school. Exploring the world and offering support to local and global projects helps develop our students’ personal abilities. It also encourages their passion for helping others and making positive changes to the world around them.
Boarding
Our independent secondary schools offer a combination of full-board, flexi-board or daytime learning. Education with us can fit comfortably around your family lifestyle. Find out more about what each school offers in terms of boarding opportunities and extra schooling sessions.
Secondary school students can board full-time (7 nights a week) at their school. They receive a safe and comfortable environment where they can concentrate on their studies and grow as an individual. Young adults experience their first taste of independence in a secure location. Resident staff are on hand to support them at any time. They get plenty of time to socialise with their friends and can take full advantage of all the extra-curricular activities provided by the school.
Flexi-boarding can be a great solution for students who want to divide their time between their school and their home. They get allocated a living space that they can make their own while they’re residing at the school. But, they still get to spend lots of time at home with the family. Flexi-boarding is different at each school. Some schools offer a weekly boarding option with students returning home at the weekends. Others provide the opportunity to board between 2 and 4 nights of the school week.
Day students arrive at the school in the morning in time for their lessons and return home at the end of the day. They’re still able to stay on after official school hours have ended though. They can attend after-school clubs and enjoy additional study and social with their friends. Once these are done, these students return the family home. Lots of our schools offer options for sleepovers too. These allow day students to spend a few nights of the term with their friends. Visit the school’s website or contact them directly to find out more about flexible boarding and sleepover allowances.
Is secondary school education in one of our progressive, independent schools is right for your family? Register your interest today.
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