Yorkshire is blessed with some of Britain’s best schools. Here are few that help to set the standard

Great British Life: Giggleswick students celebrate their exam resultsGiggleswick students celebrate their exam results (Image: BPM Harris Photography)

Giggleswick School

Nurturing enquiring minds is at the heart of life and learning at Giggleswick. Classes are small and attention is individual. Every pupil is encouraged to explore their individual talents and skills and helped to develop their own particular strengths. Academic standards are high across a broad curriculum and the school embraces a breadth of ability, supporting each child to achieve their personal best.

At Gigglesick, success is not just about grades and academic skills. There is equal emphasis on personal development, helping young people to build confidence, resilience and independence, and to take responsibility and initiative. Children are encouraged to savour everything education provides, from the physics lab to the art room and sports fields. All of this happens across 200 acres of stunning Yorkshire countryside, 500 years of school heritage, exceptional modern facilities and a happy, welcoming community.

Giggleswick School, Settle, North Yorkshire BD24 0DE 01729 893180 giggleswick.org.uk

Great British Life: Young pupils at The Leeds Grammar School play togetherYoung pupils at The Leeds Grammar School play together (Image: (C)2012 Roger V Moody, all rights reserved)

The Grammar School at Leeds

At The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL), a leading independent school in north Leeds, boys and girls can take an educational journey of up to 15 years at the same school. Three-year-olds enter nursery at Rose Court, GSAL’s nursery and pre-prep department in Headingley, and progress through the Junior and Senior Schools, at the Alwoodley Gates campus. Pupils move confidently to each new learning phase, thanks to carefully planned transition activities and familiarity with their friendship group and the wider school community.

The school welcomes applications for children to join in any year group up to year 10, and for sixth form. Students arriving from other schools settle quickly in the friendly atmosphere, with small tutor groups and buddy system. Senior School students are taught under the ‘diamond model’ in which they learn in single sex classes until GCSEs, while sharing form time and extracurricular activities.

The Grammar School at Leeds, Alwoodley Gates, Harrogate Road, Leeds LS17 8GS 0113 229 1552 gsal.org.uk

Pocklington School

Young people flourish in the supportive environment of Pocklington School, where specialist and innovative teaching from the ages of three-18 years helps each individual achieve their full potential. The school is renowned for its emphasis on pastoral care and providing the sort of all-round education that produces confident, capable adults ready to make a success of their lives.

Boarding, flexi-boarding and day pupils are welcome at the school, which lies 12 miles east of York on a 65-acre campus. Superb facilities include a 300-seat theatre, indoor sports hall and swimming pool, 21 acres of grass sports pitches and two full-sized synthetic pitches. Find out more during Open Morning, Saturday October 7th, 9am-12noon; Sixth Form Open Morning Saturday 18th November, 9am-12noon

Pocklington School, West Green, Pocklington, YO42 4NJ 01759 321200 pocklingtonschool.com

Great British Life: Bootham School is housed in some of Yorks finest buildingsBootham School is housed in some of Yorks finest buildings (Image: supplied)

Bootham School

Bootham School is housed in some of York’s finest buildings. The main site has 10 listed Georgian mansions and nine acres of green fields. The junior school is housed in purpose-built classrooms with outdoor playing fields, an open-air amphitheatre and even a small allotment. But while the surroundings are wonderful, Bootham believes ‘what’s inside matters most’. As a Quaker school, students are encouraged to look past the impressive buildings to the world beyond and to live adventurous lives that will serve to create a better world.

To discover what Bootham School has to offer, visit the Senior School Open Morning on November 11th and the Junior School Open Afternoon on November 15th.

Bootham School, Bootham, York, YO30 7BU 01904 623261 boothamschool.com

Great British Life: Queen Ethelburga's Collegiate is set in a 220-acre estateQueen Ethelburga's Collegiate is set in a 220-acre estate (Image: supplied)

Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate

Queen Ethelburga’s is an independent, day and boarding school at Thorpe Underwood near York. It is set in a 220-acre estate and surrounded by beautiful North Yorkshire countryside. But what makes Queen Ethelburga’s unique is the scale of everything.

Its facilities have to be seen to be believed and without a doubt the school has something to encourage, educate and entertain every single child that comes through the gates. Discover what makes the school so special - visit qe.org for details of the next open day.

Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate. Thorpe Underwood Hall, Ouseburn, York, YO26 9SS 01423 333300 qe.org

Great British Life: The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu opens The Minster School's new Early Years buildingThe Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu opens The Minster School's new Early Years building (Image: supplied)

The Minster School, York

Situated at the very heart of York, next to York Minster, the school campus enjoys a unique, city centre location. Academic and musical excellence are hallmarks of the school, but with the addition of new sports facilities, technology embedded within the curriculum and a new weekly programme of Woodland Classroom activities, the emphasis is on a broad curriculum aimed at helping pupils to become rounded individuals.

Exploratory learning starts with our very youngest pupils and, to mark the start of the academic year, the school has opened a new Early Years building within Pre-Prep department. Meet the headmaster and find out more about this very special place.

The Minster School, Deangate, York, YO1 7JA 01904 557230 minsterschoolyork.co.uk

Great British Life: Aysgarth School has a thriving communityAysgarth School has a thriving community (Image: supplied)

Aysgarth School

Aysgarth has a Preparatory school for boys (8-13 years) and a Pre-Prep and Nursery which is coeducational. The Prep School is one of the only all-boys boarding prep schools in the north of England. It is a thriving community that provides boys with a homely environment in which to develop their potential.

The school acts as ‘parents’ to the boys, with the support of a caring and dedicated team. The school could be described as a boys’ paradise on a summer’s Sunday afternoon when boys are playing all sorts of games in beautiful grounds. Boys are prepared for the country’s leading independent boarding schools such as Eton and Harrow.

Aysgarth School Newton-le-Willows, Bedale North Yorkshire, DL8 1TF Prep School 01677 450240; Pre Prep School 01677 450359 aysgarthschool.com