On Wednesday 5 July Olivia, William, Alfred, and Tamar took a visit to ReFood, a company who specialise in the Bio Energy transformation of waste food! The Anaerobic Digestion plant in Doncaster processes 160,000 tonnes of waste a year which produces renewable energy for around 60,000 homes.
Ackworth School have been in partnership with the catering company Thomas Franks since 2017 and we are proud to be a client of ReFood who convert waste food into energy. Not only do ReFood specialise in this, but as a result of the renewable gas which is extracted, a bioproduct is then sold back to farmers for fertiliser, fully minimising waste.
The Doncaster branch is almost carbon neutral and is planning on switching to electric vehicles and upping their processing capacity from 160,000 tonnes to 250,000 in their future vision.
As a Quaker school, sustainability sits importantly within our ethos. Taking pupils to see this site was an eye opening (or watering) and educational experience.
“It was an amazing experience to see where schools waste went and to learn about the process that takes place. It was very interesting to learn about how to convert food waste into energy”
Will H, Second Form
“Coming into the waste food trip, I had no idea what to expect, certainly not a smell as bad as I can still recall! But upon entering the building the staff were so lovely, I learnt so much about our food waste and was proud to come back and inform my peers we are indeed a school that can pride ourselves on our recycling and sustainability. I am so thankful for the opportunity and it was an incredible and informing trip. Will definitely be one to remember!”
Olivia W, Lower Sixth
Thank you to Maria, Regional Sales Manager, at ReFood UK for facilitating this trip.
Ackworth School and Coram House have been shortlisted in the Independent School Parent Magazine ‘Independent Schools of the Year 2023’ awards. Senior School has been shortlisted for ‘Independent Boarding School of the Year‘ and Coram House for ‘Independent Prep School of the Year‘.
Dr. Helen Wright, Chair of Independent Schools of the Year 2023 said ‘It has been truly wonderful to receive nominations which showcase transformative and innovative projects that are underway across the country, and it is with great pleasure that I am able to tell you that Ackworth School and Ackworth School – Coram House has been shortlisted for Independent Boarding School of the Year and Independent Prep School of the Year‘.
Anton Maree, Head said ‘Following our recent Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rating of ‘Excellent’ earlier this year it is now wonderful to have our school shortlisted for these two awards. Our staff work tirelessly to provide an outstanding educational and pastoral experience for our pupils so it is great to see this recognised in this way. We look forward to the next stage of the awards later this year‘.
A list of Finalists will be published on 6 September and the winners, chosen by the Independent Schools of the Year judging panel will be announced at an awards ceremony in October.
The AOS 2025 Easter Gathering will take place in School from lunchtime on Friday 18th until breakfast on Tuesday 22nd April. All bookings must be made by 31st March 2025 using Easter 2025 booking form. For any queries, please contact Sal Wright at aosaeaster@yahoo.co.uk or alumni@ackworthschool.com.
Ackworth School is pleased to announce the appointment of Martyn Beer as the new Head, effective April 2024. Martyn, who is currently Senior Deputy Head at Bootham School in York, will succeed Anton Maree as Head, bringing with him a wealth of experience in education and a passion for nurturing the potential of each student.
Martyn joins Ackworth School with an impressive background in leadership and a deep understanding of the educational landscape. He brings a range of senior leadership experience from the independent and state sectors across the areas of pastoral, academic, boarding, and enrichment. This has been supplemented by national leadership work in ethical leadership and Quaker values in education.
As the incoming Head, Martyn expressed his excitement about joining Ackworth School, saying, “I am honoured and delighted to have been chosen as the new Head of Ackworth School. I am passionate about the lifelong, transformative potential of education and look to foster an educational approach which nurtures open-minded, thoughtful, compassionate, socially responsible young people who are ready, willing, and able to make the world a better place and celebrate its diversity. I am excited to see these values at the heart of Ackworth’s Quaker heritage and ethos and am looking forward to joining such a vibrant and diverse school community.”
David Bunney, Clerk to the School Committee at Ackworth School, shared his confidence in the appointment of Martyn Beer, stating, “The School Committee is thrilled to welcome Martyn Beer as the incoming Head of Ackworth School. His passion for education, proven leadership skills, a deep understanding of our shared Quaker values, and the importance of individualised pupil development make him the ideal candidate to lead Ackworth into the future. We look forward to working with him as we continue to provide an exceptional learning environment for our students.“
Ackworth School would like to extend its sincere gratitude and thanks to Anton Maree, the outgoing Head, for his dedicated service over the past ten years. Under his leadership, Ackworth School has flourished and maintained its position as a leading institution in the field of education, despite unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic crisis. Anton’s commitment to the students, staff, and community has left an indelible mark on the school, and his contributions will be remembered fondly as Ackworth School enters this exciting new chapter.
Martyn’s tenure as the Head of Ackworth School will commence in April 2024. Ackworth School is eagerly looking forward to the new era under Martyn’s leadership and anticipates further growth and accomplishments as the institution continues to provide an outstanding educational experience to its students.
About Ackworth School: Established in 1779, Ackworth School is a leading independent Quaker day and boarding school situated in the picturesque surroundings of Ackworth, West Yorkshire, UK. Ackworth provides an exceptional education for students aged 2.5 to 20, focusing on academic excellence, character development, and the cultivation of a global perspective, underpinned by Quaker values. The school’s commitment to holistic education and its unwavering dedication to the success of each student have earned it a distinguished reputation both locally and internationally.
For media inquiries, please contact: James Busson Director of Marketing, Admissions and Communications Ackworth School Phone: +44 1977 233620 Email: james.busson@ackworthschool.com
Ackworth School took 42 students to Milan on a Football Tour with Inspiresport and Inter Milan. The students took part in 4 training sessions at Inter Milan’s Youth Development Centre delivered by the academy coaches. U12, U14 & U16 all played a fixture against local opposition and all teams showed excellent sporting behaviour and conduct in their respective fixtures. The students were given a tour of the iconic San Siro Stadium where players were able to sit in the dressing room used by some of the most well-known footballers, past and present. A tour of Milan; visiting the impressive Duomo di Milano along with visiting the Inter Milan trophy cabinet were also a highlight of the tour. The students behaviour throughout the trip was outstanding. I would like to thank all players, parents and staff for their support with the trip.
Dan Wiseman, Head of Boys’ PE and Trip Leader.
The Milan football tour was jam packed and full of fun, The coaching was at a very good level keeping everyone excited for the next session. The teachers were great and never failed to keep us entertained all the expectations were met and more with everyone always having a smile on their face.
Harry, Year 10
Milan was a very enjoyable trip, with every day filled with activities. We had four action packed training sessions which i think everyone benefited from. We visited the city of Milan and there was loads of architectural buildings with lovely views. There was many laughs along the way as well as some songs. We had a stadium tour of the San Siro its was massive and very colourful. We played some very thrilling games and watched some too, these were very entertaining. Overall the trip was wonderful!
Verity, Year 8
On Friday the 24th of March 2023 me and 41 others went on a tour to Milan Italy to be trained by Milan coaches and more. Personally i think that this trip was the best trip i have been on by far because of everything we did and the people we did it with, my my favourite bit of the trip was training with a Milan coach and spending time with my friends during the whole thing. Overall i think it was a great trip and if another one came up i would definitely go on it.
Ackworth School has achieved an outstanding result in the recent Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) inspection. The school received the highest possible rating of “excellent” in all areas, which include pupils’ achievements, as well as their academic and personal development.
The ISI inspection is a rigorous process that evaluates all aspects of a school’s performance. Inspectors examine the school’s curriculum, teaching standards, extracurricular activities, pastoral care, and overall management to determine its effectiveness in delivering a high-quality education.
The “excellent” rating is the highest possible grade awarded by the ISI, and it reflects the school’s commitment to providing outstanding educational opportunities for its students. Ackworth School has demonstrated exceptional teaching, excellent support for student wellbeing, and strong leadership at all levels.
The inspectors were impressed with how pupils progress across our nursery, Coram House, and Senior School, as well as within our dedicated Autism Resource. They also commented on the wide range of community and volunteering activity that Ackworth School delivers within our local area.
In response to the inspection Ackworth School’s Head Anton Maree said, “We are delighted to have received an ‘excellent’ rating in all areas from the ISI. This inspection confirms what we have all known since our last full inspection, that Ackworth is an excellent small school that produces thoughtful and mature students who go on to do well beyond school. This is the result of the hard work and dedication of our staff, students, and parents, who have all played a vital role in our success. We are committed to providing our students with the best possible education, and we will continue to work tirelessly to maintain these high standards.”
The school’s governors (the School Committee) expressed their delight at the outcome of the inspection: “We are heartened by this public recognition of the quality of life at Ackworth School for all our students and staff. The ‘excellent’ rating is a deserved tribute to the hard work and dedication shown by so many in the school community over a number of years. We commit ourselves to building on this success by ensuring that Ackworth School continues to provide an outstanding environment for learning and teaching and well-being as we approach our 250th anniversary.”
Ackworth School is particularly pleased that the comments and feedback within the ISI report aligns with the school’s vision for education and reflects our Quaker ethos.
The ISI commented that:
The quality of the pupils’ academic and other achievements is excellent. All pupils, including those with SEND and EAL, make rapid progress in their learning throughout the school.
Pupils throughout the school demonstrate excellent self-discipline and resilience in all aspects of their school lives. The spirituality awareness of the pupils is highly developed.
Pupils make excellent contributions to the lives of others in the school, particularly within the boarding community and to society more broadly.
Pupils deeply respect and show strong appreciation of the diverse nature of the school community, this is especially embedded in the boarding environment.
If you are interested in applying for a place at Ackworth School, please contact the admissions team on 01977 233621 or admissions@ackworthschool.com
For more information, please contact James Busson, Director of Marketing, Admissions and Communications on 01977 233620 or james.busson@ackworthschool.com.
About Ackworth School
Ackworth School is a co-educational independent school located in the village of Ackworth, West Yorkshire, England. The school was founded in 1779 by the Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, and it remains a Quaker school to this day.
Ackworth School has a long history of providing a high-quality education for its students, and it is known for its emphasis on academic excellence, personal development, and social responsibility. The school offers both day and boarding options for students aged 2.5 – 18, and it is known for its inclusive and supportive community.
The school’s curriculum includes a wide range of subjects, including the sciences, humanities, arts, and languages. Students are also encouraged to take part in extracurricular activities such as sports, music, drama, and community service.
Ackworth School places a strong emphasis on Quaker values, which include simplicity, equality, truth, and peace. These values are reflected in the school’s culture and ethos, and they are an essential part of the school’s identity.
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