News
Easter Chicks raise funds for Young Carers
30th March 2010
They come in all shapes and sizes – complete with their best bows, bonnets and school uniforms. But the dozens of knitted Easter chicks at Belmont Grosvenor School, on the outskirts of Harrogate, all have the same thing in common – they are helping raise money for young carers across the Harrogate district. Children at the independent prep school, based at Swarcliffe Hall, Birstwith, are being asked to buy one of the colourful Easter chicks, which come complete with a Cadbury’s Crème Egg inside, to raise money for Harrogate-based charity Carers’ Resouce . Read moreTimetravelling children from Belmont grosvenor go back to the workhouse!
30th March 2010
Pupils at Belmont Grosvenor School on the outskirts of Harrogate have turned the clocks back more than 100 years to discover what life was like for children living in Victorian Britain. Year 6 students at the independent prep school, based at Swarcliffe Hall, Birstwith, have been collecting and researching information from a range of sources to understand the changes that took place to children’s lives in Victorian times. Read moreWorld book day at BGS
30th March 2010
Youngsters from Belmont Grosvenor School donned topical costumes to celebrate World Book Day. With Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland just opened at the cinema, many of the pupils at the independent prep school on the outskirts of Harrogate transformed themselves into characters from Lewis Carol’s famous story. There were Mad Hatters, White Rabbits, Alices and Tweedledums and Tweedledees – as well as a wide array of different characters from many of the pupils favourite books. Read moreThe Lady with the lamp visits Belmont Grosvenor
6th March 2010
Pupils from two North Yorkshire primary schools will be travelling back in time to the days of the Crimean War when the ‘Lady with the Lamp’ pays them a visit! Youngsters from Belmont Grosvenor School, an independent prep school on the outskirts of Harrogate, and Meadowside County Primary School, in Knaresborough, will be having a history lesson with a difference when Florence Nightingale drops by. Read moreNew Prep Library opens at BGS
6th March 2010
Children at a leading independent school on the outskirts of Harrogate snuggled up beside the fire with their teddy bears to hear tales from Yorkshire author and storyteller Penny Dolan. To celebrate the opening of the new pre-prep library at Belmont Grosvenor School, based at Swarcliffe Hall, Birstwith, pupils from pre-reception to Year 2 enjoyed stories and activities by the fireside. And to make their storytime session even more special, the youngsters were allowed to put on their dressing gowns and bring their teddy bears! Penny Dolan, who lives in Harrogate, spent the morning at school running storytelling sessions and activities before officially opening the newly-refurbished pre-prep library at Belmont Grosvenor School. Read moreBGS join in the RSPB birdwatch
6th March 2010
Youngsters at a leading independent school on the outskirts of Harrogate combined breakfast and birdwatching when they joined in the RPSB’s Big School Bird Watch. Pupils at Belmont Grosvenor School arrived at school extra-early to record the number, and variety, of birds at the bird table for the RSPB. It is the fourth year pupils at Belmont Grosvenor, based at Swarcliffe Hall, Birstwith, have taken part in the world’s biggest bird survey, organised by the RSPB, which aims to provide a vital snapshot of the UK’s birds each winter. Read moreDistinguished company as budding star aged nine lands role in opera
21st September 2009
SHE will be going on tour with some of the world\'s top opera stars – joining a cast thrilling high-brow audiences from London to Belfast in a new version of a tragic love story sung entirely in French. But away from the spotlight North Yorkshire schoolgirl Flora Grafton will be just like any other nine-year-old enjoying a bit of a break from her normal full-time studies. Flora, a pupil at Belmont Grosvenor School, Harrogate, is one of the child characters in Opera North\'s Werther, by Jules Massenet which opens at Leeds\'s Grand Theatre at the weekend. Read moreThe Chill Zone - Fab fundraising from Belmont Grosvenor
17th September 2009
Youngsters at a leading North Yorkshire prep school have been enjoying the taste of summer – and helping raise money for a good cause too! Ice cream has been top of the menu at Belmont Grosvenor School each Friday afternoon when the Chill Zone has opened up in the grounds. Pupils at the co-educational school have been buying delicious ice-cream cornets at the Friday Chill Zone each week – with proceeds split between Harrogate charity The Carers’ Resouce and the school’s Parent Teacher Association. Read moreCHILDREN GIVEN RUGBY MASTERCLASS BY ENGLAND COACH
17th September 2009
Youngsters at a leading independent prep school on the outskirts of Harrogate were treated to a masterclass in rugby ahead of the forthcoming season when England coach Jon Callard dropped by. Children at Belmont Grosvenor School, based at Swarcliffe Hall, Birstwith, were put through their paces by the former England rugby union fullback, who is now a coach at the Rugby Football Union’s National Academy. Read moreSCHOOL TEAM QUALIFIES FOR POP LACROSSE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
22nd June 2009
Pupils at Belmont Grosvenor School, Harrogate, are celebrating after qualifing for the Pop Lacrosse National Championships taking place later this month (June). A team of eight children, four boys and four girls, will travel down to the University of Hertfordshire on June 14 to compete in the national finals against 19 other teams from schools across the country. It is the fourth time the pop lacrosse team from Belmont Grosvenor School has qualified for the national finals of the sport – and PE teacher Gillian Furniss is hoping the U11 team will perform well. Read moreNORTH YORKSHIRE SCHOOL AWARDED £3000 GRANT TO DEVELOP OUTDOOR MUSICAL CLASSROOM
6th June 2009
There’s music in the air at a North Yorkshire independent prep school now the Early Years Department has been awarded almost £3000 to develop its outdoor provision. Youngsters at Belmont Grosvenor School and the Magic Tree Day Nursery, are already enjoying the new outdoor musical classroom, which includes a colourful xylophone, blackboards, musical wind chimes, junkyard percussion and drums. Read moreScuba takes off at BGS
3rd June 2009
Children at a leading North Yorkshire prep school are at the forefront of a new drive to teach youngsters to scuba dive. A group of pupils at Belmont Grosvenor School on the outskirts of Harrogate are taking to the pool once a week to gain their scuba diving qualifications. They are the youngest group of children PADI instructor Andy Johnston has taught – and he is hoping they will encourage more youngsters to take up the sport. Read moreEvie follows in her big brothers\' footsteps and plays rugby for BGS
1st June 2009
Little Evie Barnard has decided that if you can’t beat them, you might as well join them! The eight-year-old is following in her older brothers rugby playing footsteps and has been called up for her school rugby team for the first time. In one of the final matches of the season, Evie, a pupil at Belmont Grosvenor School, Harrogate, was called up to the school’s Under 9 tag rugby team against another Harrogate prep school – and helped power her team to victory. Read moreCHILDRENS AUTHOR OPENS NEW £30000 LIBRARY AT BELMONT GROSVENOR SCHOOL
28th April 2009
Best-selling children’s author Nicholas Allan gave pupils at a leading North Yorkshire prep school an insight into some of his best-selling books – and officially opened its new £30,000 library. The award-winning writer of The Queen’s Knickers, Cinderella’s Bum and Jesus’ Christmas Party spent the day at Belmont Grosvenor School, on the outskirts of Harrogate, running a series of workshops with pupils of all ages, from nursery and reception to Year 6. Read morePolar class of 2009
9th March 2009
It might have been cold outside during recent weeks, but for pupils at a Nidderdale school their classroom has been even chillier! Year 3 children at Belmont Grosvenor School, based at Swarcliffe Hall, Birstwith, are studying the Polar Regions as part of a wider project on the world’s climate. Their classroom has been transformed into the world’s coldest regions during their study of the Arctic and Antarctic, which includes looking at the weather, animal life and human habitation. Read moreSCHOOLBOY SHORTLISTED FOR HONOUR IN STORY-WRITING COMPETITON
9th March 2009
North Yorkshire schoolboy Ben Foggitt hopes to follow in the footsteps of Oscar-winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy after being shortlisted in a story-writing competition named after him. Ben, 11, headboy at Belmont Grosvenor School, Harrogate, is one of four youngsters hoping to take the top award in the Year 5 and 6 category of the annual Simon Beaufoy Short Story contest. Belmont Grosvenor School, based at Swarcliffe Hall, Birstwith, has a history of producing excellent story-writers – last year’s winner of the competition was pupil Eric Bainbridge, and former pupil Francesca Bexon has also taken the title. Read moreSCHOOL ANNOUNCES MAJOR INVESTMENT IN NEW LIBRARY
20th February 2009
Staff and pupils at a leading independent prep school are set to benefit from a £30,000 investment to create a new library. Plans to redevelop and refurbish the existing library at Belmont Grosvenor School have been unveiled, with work on the scheme to begin in April. Proposals for the project include a major investment in new books, the creation of new solid ash shelving units, the installation of a new six-station computer facility and the provision of floor storage book boxes. Read morePTA Music Recital at Belmont Grosvenor School
11th February 2009
Parents, staff and friends from Belmont Grosvenor School, including guests from Birstwith village gathered at St James’s Church on Wednesday evening for a Music Recital organised by the school’s PTA committee. Following at champagne reception at Swarcliffe Hall, the audience were treated to some very special music performed and played by the school’s Director of Music, Emma Stretch and six the peripatetic music staff. Read moreThe Dog\'s Trust visit BGS
4th February 2009
Pupils at Belmont Grosvenor School will be given a lesson in pet care when two Jack Russell terriers visit next week. Dennis and Maisy will be spending time at the co-educational independent preparatory school, along with owner Donna Sayce, to explain the work of the animal welfare charity The Dog’s Trust. National charity The Dog’s Trust has launched a new campaign to raise awareness about responsible dog ownership – and Belmont Grosvenor is the first school in the Harrogate district to be visited by the Trust’s Education Officer Donna Sayce “As Education Officer for the Dog’s Trust, my work is to educate children aged seven to 11 about responsible dog ownership. Read morePUPILS AT BELMONT GROSVENOR SCHOOL JOIN IN RSPB’S BIG SCHOOL’S BIRDWATCH
30th January 2009
Youngsters at Belmont Grosvenor School got out their binoculars and birdfeed this week to join in the RPSB’s Big School Bird Watch. Children at the independent co-educational preparatory school, set in more than 20 acres of countryside on the outskirts of Harrogate, arrived at school extra-early to record the number, and variety, of birds at the bird table for the RSPB. It is the third year pupils at Belmont Grosvenor, based at Swarcliffe Hall, Birstwith, have taken part in the world’s biggest bird survey, organised by the RSPB, which aims to provide a vital snapshot of the UK’s birds each winter. Read moreIts a kind of Magic - Article in Yorkshire Life
14th January 2009
A kind of magic Jo Haywood visits a North Yorkshire school that encourages you imaginations to roam free. It’s not every school that has a magic tree. But then Belmont Grosvenor is not your common or garden kind of school. It makes the most of its location at historic Swarcliffe Hall and the 20 acres of stunning countryside it occupies overlooking the Nidd valley. Read moreNEW APPOINTMENT AT NORTH YORKSHIRE PREPARATORY SCHOOL
12th January 2009
A North Yorkshire school has appointed a new deputy headteacher – and Rebecca Riddell can’t wait to start her new role. Rebecca, who lives in Ripon, starts work at Belmont Grosvenor School, on the outskirts of Harrogate, at the beginning of the new term in January. Her younger sister is a former pupil and Rebecca is looking forward to beginning her role at the independent prep school, based at Swarcliffe Hall, Birstwith. Read moreEmma Stretch - Profile in Times Educational Supplement
15th December 2008
Day in the Life – Emma Stretch Taken from the Times Education Supplement - Photo by Richard Hanson Emma Stretch is director of music at Belmont Grosvenor School in Harrogate This is my busiest time of year. The wall planner is bearing down on me and there’s no space left to write on it. Every spare moment, I’m rehearsing nativity plays and getting the choir and orchestra ready for the carol service. Read moreMusic maestro raises £2,500 for Carer's Resource
28th November 2008
Christian Dutton, BGS's Music Scholar, sang in a performance of Handel's 'Messiah' on Sunday in Pateley Bridge, wearing his school uniform, helping to raise over £2500 for the charity 'Carers Resource'. He really enjoyed the experience and, of course, was pleased to be able to help raise such a large amount for the charity. Christian is also a member of the Harrogate Intermediate Symphony Orchestra (ISO) which meets every Saturday morning at Harrogate High School. Christian will be performing at the ISO's Christmas Concert at Ashville College on Sunday 7 December. Read moreDiving and Equine success stories
24th November 2008
Well done to Kieran Dowler who came 6th at the National Skills Championships held in Dublin. Kieran had a personal best score and his brother Kylan finished 12th. Congratulations also to Emily Belcher 1H who has passed the British Riding Schools Test A in Equitation and also Test A in Stable Management. A great achievement. Well done Emily! Read moreBag Packing raises £400 for Children's Charities
24th November 2008
Congratulations to the members of the BGS Award, who went to Morrisons bag packing on Friday after school. They raised £400 to be shared between Children in Need and the Young Carers Resource. They were also complimented on 'being fun to work with' by those on the check outs 'being extremely polite and helpful' 'their excellent packing skills' 'their enthusiasm for packing' 'their ability to work together' and 'their ability to enjoy a meal together without fuss' No wonder we enjoyed our evening! Many thanks to Mrs Beeley and Mrs Crossman for all their help. Read moreNorth Yorkshire Police visit BGS
9th November 2008
Children from Magic Tree through to Y2 enjoyed a visit from local officers Sgt Turner and PC Tetley yesterday. This was part of North Yorkshire Police’s Safer Schools initiative and aims to build links between the community. The aim of the visit was to get children used to the Police and give them a basic understanding of their job. The children enjoyed looking at the van but especially enjoyed the flashing lights and siren! Read moreSkiing practice begins
9th November 2008
Children from Y6, who are going on the school ski trip to Tignes at Christmas were getting in some early practice this week with a visit to Xscape with Miss Stretch and Mr Dight. Mr Dight allegedly entertained the children with some kamikaze style skiing! Read moreYoung carers in Harrogate given a break thanks to a £7,500 cash boost from a North Yorkshire school
3rd October 2008
Young carers in Harrogate are being given the chance to put the strains of everyday life on hold for a while thanks to the fund-raising efforts of a local school. While most children are free to play with their friends, join in after-school clubs and enjoy trips out, hundreds of youngsters from across the Harrogate district are at home caring for parents or siblings. They have responsibilities far beyond their years –cooking, cleaning and providing emotional support for family members who are ill, have a disability or experience mental health, drug or alcohol issues. Read moreNorth Yorkshire schoolgirl wins coveted Blue Peter badge
3rd October 2008
Little Hattie Beckett is a big Blue Peter fan. In fact the 11-year-old, who has been hooked on the twice-weekly BBC TV programme for the past five years, has ambitions to become one of the show’s future presenters. And she’s certainly got the credentials! Two years ago, Hattie, who lives in Franklin Square, Harrogate, won her first Blue Peter badge. And now the Head Girl at Belmont Grosvenor School, an independent prep school on the outskirts of Harrogate, has just been awarded her Silver Blue Peter Badge – an honour handed out to just a small number of the hundreds of thousands of hopefuls who write and email the programme each year. Read moreOlympic golden boy returns to visit his Yorkshire school
3rd October 2008
Olympic gold medallist Andrew Hodge returned to his former school yesterday to meet pupils and staff and open a £33,000 extension to its facilities. The rower who won his medal in the coxless fours at the Beijing Olympic Games, took time out of his already hectic schedule to visit Belmont Grosvenor School at Swarcliffe Hall, near Harrogate. At the school, which celebrates its centenary this year, he opened a new adventure trail, outdoor classroom and ampitheatre in the grounds - paid for by money raised by members of the parent teacher association. Read moreNorth Yorkshire School Wins Kitemark for Excellence
10th June 2008
A leading independent North Yorkshire preparatory school has been recognised for its commitment to providing all-round excellence in education. Belmont Grosvenor School has joined an elite group of just 600 schools across the world to be awarded a quality kitemark by the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS). The school has undergone rigorous inspections to win accreditation to the IAPS, a professional association dedicated to ensuring a high standard of teaching and learning, a high degree of specialism in many areas and generous resources, not least in the school\'s adult to child ratio. Read moreBelmont Grosvenor Pupil Flies the Flag for her School
10th June 2008
The flag is flying at a leading North Yorkshire independent preparatory school - thanks to the hard work of one of its pupils. Ten-year old Alex Duxbury decided to make a flag for her school - Belmont Grosvenor - after discovering that the old one was no longer in existence. The youngster, with the help of her mum Judi, spent hours designing and creating a new flag for the school as part of a project for the Belmont Grosvenor Award. Read more
