Ashville College, Harrogate

Year 6 had an amazing residential in Barcelona - a week of fun and culture with a visit to the Nou Camp thrown in as well. The pupils saw inside the mind of the architect Gaudi, visiting the Sagrada Familia Basilica, followed by his most famous house – Casa Batllo, then Park Guell and an incredible 4D Gaudi movie experience. They also managed to fit in Barcelona Aquarium, Montjuic, the beach, La Rambla, the Camp Nou Experience, Poble Espanyol and a day in a theme park in a busy week - and not forgetting using their Spanish to purchase delicacies in La Bouqueria market, including octopus tentacles for some of the more adventurous! Travelling on foot, tram, metro, coach and plane we filled every second of each day and ended the trip with a fabulous salsa class on the hotel’s roof top terrace as we watched the sun set over the Barcelona skyline.

Last week two of our talented Year 9 pupils proudly represented Ashville at the Rotary Young Chef of the Year Award, hosted at Harrogate Grammar School. Competitors were tasked to, within two hours, prepare and serve a two-course healthy and nutritious meal, comprising a main course and a dessert for two people and costing no more than £18.00

The competition brought finalists from different schools across the Harrogate area. Rosie and Stanley rose to the challenge brilliantly, both impressing the judges with their creativity, organisational skills, and their calm and professional approach when cooking under pressure, not to mention the final presentation of their dishes.

A huge congratulations goes to Rosie on a thoroughly deserved victory; she was crowned first place with her main course of beetroot cappelletti with goat's cheese filling served with a beet green pistachio pesto and a dessert of rhubarb and star anise sorbet complemented with a honeycomb tuile.

Head Chef from Rudding Park, Callum Bowmer and retired Food and Nutrition teacher Clare Walsh, who judged the competition, presented our pupils with certificates to recognise their hard work and success, with Rosie also winning an ice-cream making machine.

It was a fantastic evening which we all enjoyed, and Rosie and Stanley should feel immensely proud of their achievements, they were both fantastic ambassadors for Ashville and we would like to thank them both for their dedication, passion and the determination they have shown throughout their preparation and during the competition itself.

A special thank you also goes to Ann Percival president of the Rotary Club of Harrogate who organised the event and Jade Williams, Food and Nutrition teacher who hosted the event at Harrogate Grammar School.

We celebrated World Ocean Day with a fantastic day of learning and fun. The children came to school dressed in sustainable, recycled, homemade costumes, showcasing their creativity with outfits ranging from crabs and jellyfish to marine biologists, divers, and mermaids.

Throughout the day, the children took part in assemblies and activities focused on the importance of protecting our oceans and marine life. They enjoyed a fun-filled timetable with exciting off-timetable lessons and themed activities, all designed to raise awareness of environmental conservation.

The day carried an important message: our oceans are wonderful, vital ecosystems that need to be protected for future generations. We were incredibly proud of the children's enthusiasm, creativity, and commitment to helping care for our planet.

HMC Prep Tennis competition today. A fabulous day of tennis from our prep squad with special mentions to Ralph and Kieton for coming away as Bowl winners !!!! 🎾🎾🎾

We were delighted to welcome Year 5 pupils from the Prep School to the Senior School Science Department for a morning of exciting hands-on scientific investigation.

The pupils took part in three different 50-minute practical sessions, giving them the opportunity to experience Biology, Chemistry and Physics in our specialist laboratories.

In Chemistry, pupils created their own red cabbage indicator solution before using it to test a range of household substances and explore the science of acids and alkalis. In Biology, they prepared microscope slides using onion skin tissue and were thrilled to observe individual plant cells under the microscope. Meanwhile, in Physics, pupils investigated how heat is transferred through solids, liquids and gases through a series of engaging practical activities.

Throughout the morning, the pupils impressed Senior School teachers with their excellent scientific knowledge, enthusiasm and willingness to ask thoughtful questions. They approached each challenge with curiosity and confidence, demonstrating many of the skills that are so important in science.

Most importantly, the pupils had great fun carrying out experiments and experiencing science through hands-on practical work. It was wonderful to see their excitement and enthusiasm as they explored new concepts and developed their investigative skills.

We look forward to welcoming many of these enthusiastic young scientists to the Senior School in Year 7 and seeing their passion for science continue to grow.

Well done to all our talented Year 8 and Year 9 chefs who took part in this year’s House MasterChef competition which centred around an exciting dessert theme.

Given the exceptionally high standard, the judges’ decision was a difficult one, but the results were as follows:

1st Place – Riverdale: Chocolate brownie served with creamy vanilla ice cream, honeycomb, and raspberry coulis.

2nd Place – Duckworth: Zesty lemon flan served with mixed berries and raspberry coulis.

3rd Place – Ellis: Chocolate molten lava cake served with creamy raspberry ice cream and a honeycomb tuile.

4th Place – Windermere: Japanese vanilla milk cake served with a spun sugar dome and maple syrup ice cream.

Judges praised the pupils for their originality, technical skills, and professional-level presentation.

A huge well done to all pupils who took part and represented their houses with such enthusiasm and commitment. The competition showcased an impressive range of skill, imagination, and attention to detail, with every dish reflecting the effort and passion of our young chefs. It was a thoroughly enjoyable event and a fantastic celebration of culinary talent across both year groups.

Special thanks to Mr Stansfield, Mrs Ellis and Ms Jones for giving their time to judge the competition and for offering such positive encouragement to all the pupils throughout the event.

At the end of May, seven Old Ashvillians and current Upper Sixth pupil Monty were invited to the annual Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award celebrations at Buckingham Palace, recognising their outstanding achievement in completing the prestigious Gold Award.

Guests enjoyed an afternoon in the Palace gardens, hearing inspiring speeches from The Duke of Edinburgh, Dame Kelly Holmes and other special guests, before celebrating with afternoon tea and delicious cupcakes served in commemorative reusable cups.

This year’s event was particularly significant as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme celebrates its 70th anniversary.

Representing Ashville was DofE Lead Mrs Caroline Jennings, while DofE Gold Award Lead Mr Gilmour Coad also attended the event as a parent.

Reflecting on the occasion, Mrs Jennings said:

“It was wonderful to be part of such a special event celebrating the achievements of our pupils. Mr Coad has been looking through our archives and discovered that Ashville has been offering the DofE Award for at least 65 years. It remains every bit as challenging and rewarding today as it was when it began in 1956. The commitment, resilience and determination required to complete the Gold Award are immense, and we are incredibly proud of all our Gold Award holders.”

Congratulations to all our award recipients on this remarkable achievement!

Our latest edition of Ashville News is now available to read.

In this edition you can read all about Sally Bolton OBE, Chief Executive at Wimbledon, the All England Lawn Tennis Club, and an Old Ashvillian, who came into school to talk to our pupils about her journey from Ashville to Wimbledon.

Ashville News is also packed with highlights and achievements from across the school community and all the wonderful things are pupils have been involved in.

We invite families and friends of the school to take a moment to read and enjoy.

https://bit.ly/3UmGsJ4

Year 2 had the best time on their very first school sleepover! The excitement began as the children created their own dream catchers and eye masks, getting ready for a night at school.

Afterwards, we headed outside for a fast-paced game of rounders, where their fantastic sporting attitudes really shone through. As the evening went on, everyone enjoyed pizza for dinner, followed by a very special treat—an ice-cream van visiting us right in the playground!

Snuggled into their pyjamas, the children settled down for a movie, and our teachers were very impressed that everyone managed to get at least some sleep. The next morning, we enjoyed a gentle explore around the school grounds before sitting down together for a delicious breakfast.

What an unforgettable experience—we wish we could sleep in school every day!

Before half term Year 5 had an exciting trip to Beamish, an open-air museum in County Durham which brings history to life. The children looked amazing in their costumes as they travelled back in time to experience a lesson in a Victorian classroom. It was challenging to use the quill pens without spilling blobs of ink or smudging their work. The twelve times table was learnt by rote, and the children listened to the story of Grace Darling’s brave effort to rescue shipwrecked sailors during a violent storm, whilst sketching a lighthouse using chalks.

They also explored the different cottages in the pit village and learnt about the cramped living conditions experienced by many families, as well as the harsh realities of losing their homes when men became ill or injured.

In contrast, they also visited the palatial homes of the wealthy dentist, bank manager and solicitor. Although they were not too sure about visiting a dentist during the Victorian era, as they discovered that it was generally too expensive to pay for a filling and most people opted to have the tooth removed - without any pain relief - ouch!