Ackworth School Easter Gathering is one of three key touchpoints for Old Scholars during the school year (along with Founders Day and Celebration Day (previously known as Open Day)). All Old Scholars, retired staff and families are welcome to stay in school for the long weekend, visit for a day or just a couple of hours.
Easter Gathering 2026 runs from lunchtime on Friday 3rd April to after breakfast on Tuesday 7th April.
Please use the booking form below to book your place by 31st March.
Photo credits: Elspeth Moore
Easter Gathering has been taking place in school for close to 150 years. It is a time to relax, meet up with old friends and make new ones. Old Scholars, partners, their children and grandchildren appreciate being back in school’s beautiful surroundings, take part in long-established events (including Quaker Meeting, Quiz, Pop, Music Concert, running the Badsworth), eat (very!) well and just hang out together. There are many families who return every year and others who return alone or with family a few or many years after leaving school.
It can be daunting coming back after a long time, but it is a really friendly atmosphere and a lot of those returning have been encouraged to do so for the first time because of a formal or informal reunion for their school year. This can be at any time, but is particularly encouraged for years ending in a zero or a five!
In 2026, we encourage those who left five or ten years ago to talk to their contemporaries and come back together. Contact Sal Wright, Easter Secretary (aosaeaster@yahoo.co.uk), or Rachel Belk, Development and Engagement Manager (alumni@ackworthschool.com), to discuss your questions or ideas.
Our AOS President this year, leading the weekend, is Trudy Seed (1970 – 1977). She took over as president at Easter 2025 from Jeffrey Swales, our previous Deputy Head, who retired to Wales just a couple of years ago.
You can download the booking form by clinking here or on the image below. Please complete the form and either post a hard copy or email a scan/photo to Sal. Bookings must be made by 31st March 2026.
Where will you be in 2029? Will you join us at Ackworth? Save the dates:
Easter Gathering 250
(30.03.29 – 03.04.29)
Celebration Day 250
(date to be confirmed)
Founder’s Day 250
(18.10.29)
Take a look at our Development page and please consider how you can help Ackworth thrive for the next generation, as it nurtured and shaped you.
We are deeply saddened to hear the news regarding Mount St Mary’s College and Barlborough Hall School. Our heartfelt thoughts are with all pupils, parents, and staff as they navigate this unsettling and uncertain time.
At Ackworth School, our priority is to provide warmth, care, and a sense of belonging for every child. We understand how challenging change can be — especially when it comes unexpectedly — and we are committed to making transitions as smooth as possible.
As a co-educational boarding and day school, we take pride in ensuring every pupil is known, nurtured, and encouraged to thrive. Many pupils who join Ackworth quickly come to think of our campus as their “happy place” — a safe, inspiring environment where they can flourish academically, socially, and personally.
We offer:
A nurturing, values-led community built on kindness and respect
Tailored academic support for pupils transitioning from other schools
Excellent boarding provision with flexible options for families
A rich co-curricular programme encouraging pupils to lead, create, and achieve
An inclusive co-educational environment where every child is encouraged to grow in confidence
If you are exploring the next chapter for your child, we are here to guide and support you. Please contact James Busson, Director of Marketing, Admissions and Communications via WhatsApp on 07874 452377 or email admissions@ackworthschool.com.
We are delighted to announce that the restoration of our West Wing Cupola is nearly complete. On Thursday 24 April, it will be lifted back into place above The Green, returning a much-loved feature to our historic School buildings.
To mark the occasion, we invite you to join us for this special moment. You can enjoy the event with a delicious buffet lunch for £20 per person, with surplus funds supporting repairs to the East Wing Cupola. Spectator-only tickets are also available. Book your tickets for both using this link https://buytickets.at/ackworthschool1/1658703.Please note that advance booking is essential, as capacity on the day will be limited. We kindly ask that all attendees sign up in advance to avoid disappointment.
We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to this repair project. Your generosity has made it possible for this integral piece of Ackworth’s architectural heritage to be restored and returned to its rightful place.
Please be aware that this event is weather-dependent, and we may need to reschedule if conditions are not suitable for the Cupola to be safely lifted.
We look forward to sharing this memorable moment with you.
Harrogate Town AFC and Ackworth School are excited to announce upcoming trials for prospective students to join our Sixth Form and U19 Football Academy starting from September 2024!
Partnered with Harrogate Town AFC, Ackworth School provides a unique opportunity for aspiring young football talents to combine elite U19 football training with a comprehensive 6th Form education offering A-Levels or BTEC Sport.
Under the expert guidance of John McDermott, a PFA Merit Award winner in 2009 and a UEFA A licensed coach, players can expect professional training at an elite level. Our partnership with Harrogate Town ensures participation in high-stakes fixtures against other professional academy and school teams.
Outstanding players identified during the trials will have the chance to be awarded full or partial scholarships, opening doors to a world-class football and academic experience.
Trials will be held at Ackworth School on Wednesday, 14 February 2024, 10:00am to 1:00pm.
More information can be found on the Football Academy page of our website. To secure your spot at the trials please contact admissions@ackworthschool.com or 01977 233621.
Don’t miss this chance to be a part of an exceptional football and educational journey! Harrogate Town AFC and Ackworth School are ready to discover the next generation of football stars. See you on the field!
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.
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We are deeply saddened to hear the news regarding Mount St Mary’s College and Barlborough Hall School. Our heartfelt thoughts are with all pupils, parents, and staff as they navigate this unsettling and uncertain time.
We are delighted to announce that the restoration of our West Wing Cupola is nearly complete. On Thursday 24 April, it will be lifted back into place above The Green, returning a much-loved feature to our historic School buildings.
