Welcome to the award winning Ilkley Chat!
Ghyll Royd's own Back in Time for School! Head pupils Archie and Juliet experiencing the school's 130 year history with Headteacher Mr Martin
The oldest photograph of headteacher Mr Godby, his family and the first pupils of Ghyll Royd School
A year of celebrations! Three anniversaries for Ghyll Royd School
There is a lot to celebrate this year at Ghyll Royd School and Pre-School! It is a year of anniversaries at the Burley-in-Wharfedale school with November marking 130 years since Ghyll Royd School opened its doors; two decades since the move from Ilkley and 10 years since the first girl started. In 1889, headmaster Augustus Wooldridge Godby founded the school “To prepare the sons of gentlemen for entrance to the Royal Navy and public schools.” Mr Godby initially rented before purchasing the house on Grove Road, now known as Hollingwood Rise, and remained headteacher for 33 years until his untimely death in 1922.
The school remained in Ilkley until 1999. This year marks 20 years since the school’s move from Ilkley to Greystone Manor in Burley-in-Wharfedale. The move was overseen by headteacher Mrs Jennifer Bonner who lead the school until her retirement in 2003. Greystone Manor became the perfect spot for Ghyll Royd pupils who enjoy lessons, sports and play in over seven acres of outdoor space.
Ghyll Royd has grown from a small, boys boarding school into a thriving co-educational nursery and preparatory school which provides ‘a foundation for life’. Additions to the curriculum overseen by headteacher David Martin has transformed the school into a place where every child is nurtured to reach their full potential across the core subjects, music, art, drama, languages, sport and forestry.
Headteacher David Martin said: “For 130 years, Ghyll Royd School has provided an excellent education and precious memories for the thousands of pupils that have walked through its doors. This year the school celebrated more success in the annual SATs and secondary school entrance exams and was the only Prep School in the North of England shortlisted in the Independent School of the Year awards. We are so very proud of the work of our teachers and pupils and the continued support from our parents and the local community who make Ghyll Royd a wonderful place to be. Our doors are always open for families to visit or for our alumni to take a walk down memory lane.”
He added: “We have lots to celebrate this year and will be sharing our plans for the whole community to get involved.”
To find out more about Ghyll Royd’s history and its anniversary events, visit www.ghyllroydschool.co.uk