What? Where?

Rishworth is an all-through, non-selective co-ed boarding and day school set in a whopping 140 acres of parkland in the beautiful Ryburn Valley. There may be rolling hills as far as the eye can see, but it’s far from isolated, perched next to the main road through the village, 20 minutes from Halifax and only five minutes from the M62. It has a long history, established almost 300 years ago so big celebrations (and possibly investment) are being planned. It retains an outlook based on broadly traditional Christian values, but welcomes those of all faiths or none to its stone 19th century mansion with assorted modern add-ons.

Its junior school, Heathfield, sits on a separate site just across the road next to the river and the Sixth Form Centre is housed at the senior site, offering a continuous education for children from age 3 to 18.

With 423 pupils (118 in Prep, 305 in the Senior School), class sizes are small here with between 15 and 20 in upper school and three classes per year group, so pupils get plenty of academic and pastoral attention. Most day pupils come from the surrounding area of West Yorkshire (about half from the Pennine villages and half from greater Manchester), while boarders are a mix of Brits and international students.

FACILITIES

/SPORTS

Sixth form students at Rishworth running towards camera with rugby ball

No surprise for such an outdoorsy school – sport is nurtured, encouraged and celebrated at Rishworth. Apart from a shiny new strength and conditioning gym (there are two), facilities are fairly standard with two sports halls, two tennis and two squash courts and grass pitches galore (no astro as yet, but hopes are high for the future), including the much-loved ‘Top Pitch’ with its stone pavilion and dramatic views across the Pennines. With a strong reputation for sport – particularly rugby, cricket and, unusually, badminton – the school makes good use of the facilities it has. There’s also 25 metre indoor swimming pool (over the road on the Heathfield site), with all pupils joining weekly lessons from age three – a boon for parents who want to avoid sweltering it out on a Saturday morning at the local leisure centre.

An impressive 10 per cent of pupils compete at county, professional club or national level and an influx of 16-year-olds join at Sixth Form on sport scholarships. Rugby is a particular strength, with former professional rugby players on the PE staff and excellent professional links thanks to alumni on the England rugby team (including Dan Kelly and George Ford). The school made it to the 4^th Round of the U18 national vase and the current rugby captain also plays professionally in the first team for Huddersfield Giants. Students benefit from dedicated rugby, cricket and badminton academies (there’s a football academy – for both boys and girls – launching in September), with an elite athlete pathway with a personalised programme delivered by professionals. It’s certainly had some success, with one ex-student now a professional cricketer in Australia and alumni representing England in both badminton and rugby. There will be a girls team playing competitive football from September and they also play netball and hockey competitively.

/CREATIVE ARTS

Rishworth pupils and teachers playing musical instruments

Whilst sport flexes its muscles across the school, the arts are not forgotten, with facilities including a dedicated drama studio, a cavernous art studio (where’s there’s stacks of space for Sixth Formers to have their own personal cubby area for the duration of their studies) and a music block with two grand pianos and eight practice rooms (functional rather than swish). At the Prep school, well over two thirds of pupils play a musical instrument, which is above average at this age, and while this drops off in the upper school, musical kids are still well catered for with rock bands (Rock the Quad is a festival-style highlight for the upper school each summer), orchestra, jazz funk and two choirs. The school has close links with Halifax Minster and offers choral scholarships and music tours.

The prep school benefits from Rishworth’s specialist staff, with the musical director, art and drama staff working with nursery right up to Sixth Form. When I visited, there was great excitement around the upcoming performance of High School Musical. Year 7 couldn’t wait to tell me their roles and responsibilities. As well as the big annual production, senior school get the chance to perform in a Christmas concert, concerts for the community and pop-up plays. Junior pupils enjoy a nativity play (or Christmas concert as they get older), the Young Voices Choir and every year group puts on its own show.

Boy school pupil drawing an eagle in pencil during art lesson at Rishworth school

ACADEMICS

Teacher and pupils look at flames in science lessons at Rishworth school

Like many non-selective schools, the emphasis for pupil success is judged not just on the chase for A*s (though the school has respectable grades, see below) but the value it offers kids with its broad, all-rounder education and the massive choice of extra-curricular clubs and emphasis on community spirit.

The last set of results saw more than 80 per cent of A-level grades at A* to C, with 42 per cent of students getting an A* or A (that’s six per cent higher than the national average). In BTEC and vocational qualifications, everyone passed and 93 per cent achieved the top grades in Sport, Food Science and Nutrition, and Drama – the school’s best vocational results ever. Alongside those three vocational courses, students can also study BTEC Travel and Tourism.

At GCSE, almost 90 per cent passed with grades 4-9 and nearly a quarter were awarded the top grades of 7-9. In science (traditionally a strength at the school) results were more than 30 per cent higher than the national average.

Students study in Rishworth school library

PASTORAL CARE

Smiling teacher and pupils with arms around each other at Heathfield Prep School

The form tutor is the linchpin of the pastoral system here – unlike many schools, they spend meaningful periods with their pupils every day (kicking the day off with 30 minutes as a form together) so they get to know pupils well. The school uses software to help track children pastorally – from a PASS survey two or three times a year (the acronym stands for Pupil Attitudes to Self and School) which helps identify learners who may be held back by a range of reasons, from lack of confidence, motivation, or connection to school. They also run a Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ) every 12 weeks for those that need it to identify and support students with mental health issues, and collate an overall wellbeing picture of each student on iSAMS software.

Beyond that, pupils have a wider network of trusted adults that support them, including Head Matron (a trained counsellor), House Parents for boarders, a pastoral manager and independent listeners (adults independent to the school that pupils can use as a sounding board, to ask advice and raise complaints if needed). There’s also access to a Halifax counselling service and all staff get regular mental health first aid and pastoral training.

Just having a bad day? The Hub is the place to head for help. Set up post-covid pupils will find a place to work in a supportive environment, talk through issues or simply chill out – and there’s always at least one member of staff for every three pupils. For those struggling with self-worth and motivation, the school has recently partnered with local company Invictus Wellbeing to provide workshops and support.

LITTLIES

Four children sat in nwellies laughing at Heathfield Forest School

A fan of the fresh air ethos? You’ll love junior school, Heathfield, which makes the most of its rural setting (not many schools can boast their own river, bridge and waterfall!), turfing pupils outside as often as possible for Forest School.

The Foundation Stage unit is self-contained with large outdoor learning areas that are used all year round to explore the whole curriculum. New additions include an outdoor music area, a sensory garden, a trim trail and an eco-classroom. From burning models of old London Town to find out more about the Great Fire, writing poetry inspired by the autumn trees or the mathematics of natural shapes, there are stacks of opportunities to approach problems in a way which is not possible in a classroom setting. Class sizes are small too, with an average 15. And, although pupils sit an assessment in Year 7 before going up to Rishworth, admission isn’t dependent on results.

BOARDING

Lilac painted girls boarding house bedroom at Rishworth School with desk chair and bed

Up until 60 years ago every child at Rishworth boarded. Today there are 30 full time borders – roughly a 50/50 split between British and International boarders. There’s a girls’ boarding house and a separate boys’ boarding house. Pupils can board from Year 5 in a shared room (private rooms can be requested if they prefer) and unusually, all boarders, from Year 9 upwards, get their own private bedroom (unless they particularly want to share). There are also a couple of rooms with multiple beds for sleepover-style occasional boarding. Both weekly and flexi-boarding are becoming more popular.

Common rooms are large and the girls’ room (pictured) in particular has a very homely lounge-like feel. The décor is regularly refreshed and the boarders themselves get a say in the design (which might explain the intense colour scheme in the boys’ common room!).

Girls’ boarding is set up family-style, with all ages mixed together replicating a supportive, family home. Boys are grouped into age groups, where there’s often an influx of Year 12 boarders due to Rishworth’s sporting reputation.

Boys play table tennis in common room at Rishworth School

SIXTH FORM

Sixth formers look at laptop together at Rishworth school

Sixth formers get plenty of one-to-one attention as class sizes average about eight. Boys slightly outnumber girls (64 per cent of pupils are boys) and the lure of the school’s sports academies and links means there tends to be a bit of an influx at Sixth Form. Of the current cohort of 65, 15 are sports scholars.

Those taking STEM subjects and in particular, wannabe medics, seem to shine here. Rishworth’s Medical Society arms pupils with talks from amazing speakers, work experience and opportunities designed to help med school applications stand out. It seems to work -100 per cent of students applying to study medicine at university in the last five years were accepted and achieved their place. STEM subjects are popular and (45 per cent of boys and an impressive 43 per cent of girls study two or more STEM subjects). A-level choices are pretty traditional and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is encouraged here and pupils do well with it – nearly two-thirds getting the top grade and all receiving A*-C.

THE HEAD

Headmaster at Rishworth School — Dr Anthony Wilkins, headteacher at Rishworth

Anthony Wilkins has been head of Rishworth since 2020 but spent the previous 13 years as prep and pre-prep head at Heathfield. Quietly-spoken and polite, he has overseen the development of Heathfield’s outdoor ethos – he’s now on a mission to make sure Rishworth pupils similarly make the most of the outdoor facilities, and is particularly proud of the school’s huge extra-curricular offering (a dazzling 120 extra-curricular clubs offering everything from retro gaming to skiing).

QUIRKS

Teacher crouches by river pointing with pupils

Rishworth is passionate about its army of alumni, the most starry of whom is Ed Sheeran who went to the junior school for 18 months!

One of Rishworth’s past chemistry teachers is thought to have been the inspiration for the real James Bond. Patrick Dalzel-Job (‘an unusual officer who possessed no fear of danger’) worked for Ian Fleming and it’s widely acknowledged that his character, courage and charisma inspired the decades-long blockbuster series.

Rishworthians get competitive! The school has four houses (named after local reservoirs) which have fiercely contested inter-team competitions that include ginger beer pong, Just Dance, Uno and every sport under the sun.

Oh and foodies will be happy. The catering manager previously worked at ITV in Leeds, has catered for the Queen and worked alongside Michelin Star Chef John Benson Smith. Forget classic school canteen food, it’s restaurant standard. I stayed for lunch and can vouch for it!

SEND

The 87 SEND students in the prep and senior school (28.5 per cent of the school roll) are well looked after here too. Students are supported in class – the small class sizes help with this – although they’ll be taken out of lessons if they need extra help with a particular problem.

WRAP AROUND CARE

Parents can drop children off from 8am in the mornings and most extra-curricular clubs end at 4.30pm when buses arrive but some continue and day pupils can also go to the library until 6pm if they wish, allowing parents a brilliant buffer if they can’t quite make it on time. Flexi-boarding is a fantastic option if a child has to stay late for activities or if work commitments or a social engagement crop up.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

Student mobiles must be switched off during the academic day at Rishworth. At Heathfield children aren’t allowed to bring mobiles to school at all. In the Boarding House, in the interests of a good night’s sleep, mobile use at bedtime is limited, depending on age.

FEES

Fees are reasonable for the area. Per term day fees are: Reception-Year 2 £2,450, Year 3- 6 £3,520, Year 7-8 £4,320, Year 9-13 £4,700. Full boarding for Year 9-13 costs £11,100 a term and £9,900 for weekly boarding. Discretionary bursaries help support higher ability pupils from lower income families.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Importantly, it’s seen as cool to be good at stuff here. Whether that’s sport, creative arts, helping others or academics – achievements are celebrated and praise is enjoyed. Parents love the small class sizes, strong community spirit and say that the school turns out well-rounded students. They talk about it as ‘nurturing’ and say form tutors really do seem to know and care about the children in their form and are all over it with any issues. The kids I spoke to were confident, game for anything and spoke with pride about their school community. With a focus on self-reliance, community spirit and cooperation, the school’s motto of ‘deeds not words’ runs deep. The Yorkshire ‘get stuck in’ spirit thrives here.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Children who are happy to roll their sleeves up, try lots of different things and get stuck in. Heaven for sporty kids in particular – especially if rugby or cricket is their thing.

Not for: Indoor types. Making the most of the vast grounds and easily accessible countryside of the Penines is high on Rishworth’s agenda. And if you’re looking for swish, modern facilities and slick styling, you’re probably in the wrong place. Rishworth is a very old school and, yup, that means old buildings, big heavy doors and quirky layouts. Much of the school is functional and probably in need of a little interiors love, but it’s all very Rishworth – no frills, roll your sleeves up, get on with it.

Dare to disagree? Be by guest! Book a visit here, or visit during the open morning for Heathfield (3-11) on 22 April. Book your place here.

Rishworth School, Sowerby Bridge, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX6 4QA

Rishworth School, West Yorkshire

You may also like