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Welcome to Ashdown Lodge and Brontë House.
Welcome to Asdown Lodge and Brontë House, the Early Years Department and Junior School of Woodhouse Grove. We are one school with three parts thus providing the opportunity for continuity of learning from the formative years of nursery and reception through to junior and senior school until the threshold of university and career.
We aim to encourage every pupil to develop his or her full potential by participating in a variety of activities. We offer children a broad, balanced and stimulating education, providing opportunities for all-round development and personal achievement. Our pupils prepare for the next stage of their education and life within a happy and secure environment. With such experience, grounding and support, pupils from Brontë House can progress to the Grove confident in their future.
Visitors often comment on our friendly and purposeful atmosphere and pupils are encouraged to be honest, caring and conscientious in their development as individuals and as valued members of the school community. We value that and hope you will too.
CBF Hall
Headmaster, Ashdown Lodge and Brontë House
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The Ideal Location
Ashdown Lodge and Brontë House are positioned in the perfect location, situated in a lovely semi-rural campus, set in spacious grounds with attractive gardens for safe play which belie its convenient urban situation. Less than 5 miles from the centres of Leeds and Bradford, with the dales and moors just a few miles away, cultural visits, trips and sports fixtures are easily accessible. Close to the main A658, our extensive grounds are screened by trees and woodland making it a challenging yet safe environment in which young people can grow up with space and opportunities all around them.
Brontë House was founded in 1934 as the junior department of Woodhouse Grove School and is rooted in Christian traditions that have stood the test of time. Built as an impressive country house and standing in the grounds of the house where Charlotte Brontë was one time governess, Brontë House and its early years department Ashdown Lodge, is a bustling and busy junior school catering for boys and girls from age 2½ to 11 years when they progress to senior school. |
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Ashdown Lodge
Ashdown Lodge is the Early Years Department of Woodhouse Grove and we welcome children in to the pre-nursery during the term in which they turn three.
During their time at Ashdown Lodge, we aim to develop a child's ability and self-confidence, encouraging good-behaviour and consideration for others within a challenging yet safe environment that encourages creativity and stimulates curiosity and learning.
We have an enviable reputation for giving youngsters a superb start to their education providing a stimulating programme of learning and play within a calm atmosphere, providing a framework for every individual to fulfil their potential ready for the next stage of their education.
- Full day or part-time morning or afternoon sessions or a combination to suit your requirements.
- Open all year round, closing only during the Christmas period.
- After school care up to 6.00 pm with tea provided at 4.15 pm.
- Holiday play scheme from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm.
We would be delighted to welcome you and your child for a visit to Ashdown Lodge. Come and spend some time with us and experience what we have to offer your child.
Mrs C J Robinson
Head of Ashdown Lodge.
Ashdown Lodge has an exciting, purpose built adventure playground as well as a carefully equipped indoor facility, thus enabling our youngest children to develop physically whatever the weather. Emphasis is placed on play, activities and games that stimulate young and inquisitive minds.
The extended day gives children the opportunity to take part in supervised play activities before and after school. There is a well-stocked library, a hall for indoor sports, drama and music as well as a dedicated play area and extensive grounds to extend the classroom learning within imaginative, constructive play.
A Great Beginning
Working in partnership with parents is a key factor in developing each child's potential. With an experienced team of qualified teachers, nursery nurses and teaching assistants, children settle well. Their happiness is important to us and means each child will enjoy achieving his or her best.
Ashdown Lodge makes full use of the parkland environment to add a new dimension to experiencing the wonders of learning. Lessons come alive through the use of what is literally a "living classroom".
Our classrooms are bright and spacious providing the ideal environment for both play and learning. They are large enough to allow for class activities but small enough to ensure all children feel at home.
We provide a varied pre-school education as a sound basis for future full-time education, allowing each child to reach their full potential. Imagination and social skills are developed in a happy and caring environment and pupils come to enjoy and respect learning.
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The Foundation Stage Curriculum is followed beginning in the Nursery and lasting for two years. Language and literacy, mathematics, knowledge and understanding of the world, physical and creative development is promoted in preparation for the commencement of the National Curriculum. The record of progress (the profile) is completed by the end of the reception class.
Once the children are five, they can transfer to Brontë House to continue their education within the same caring and supportive environment.
Brontë House
As your child moves from Ashdown Lodge to Brontë House, we continue to nurture their all-round development within a happy and supportive learning environment, encouraging a child's intellectual, creative, sporting and personal development.
Like our senior school, Woodhouse Grove, at Brontë House we aim to get the best from our children in the classroom, on the games field, in music, drama and in all other activities. The national tests, SATs, taken at ages 7 and 11, regularly confirm that Brontë House is one of the top junior schools in the region and the automatic transfer to our senior school is attractive to many.
As children progress through the school, many are given a role of responsibility but for all pupils there is a traditional framework of discipline, built on friendship and trust. Emphasis is placed upon courtesy, etiquette, good manners, tolerance and consideration for others.
At Brontë House, all the foundation subjects are taught, with special emphasis placed on the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science. High priority is given to the teaching of reading. The size of the classes ensures a high level of attainment in reading, writing, mathematics and science.
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Whilst the emphasis is on core subjects, our broad curriculum covers a wide range of subjects including foreign languages. There are specialist rooms for teaching Science, Art, Design Technology and Music. Information Technology is taught at all levels in a dedicated ICT Suite.
Broadening Horizons
We aim to provide a balanced and integrated programme of academic study, sport, music and extra-curricular activity. There are many after-school clubs available for your child to enjoy, which provide scope for hobbies to be developed and new interests encouraged.
From chess, art, computer and dance through to choirs and orchestras, we even have a club for railway enthusiasts; there is plenty to harness your child's imagination and interest.
There are opportunities to take part in a variety of excursions, both in the immediate locality and abroad. Whether it is a visit to the theatre, a sporting tour, a field trip, a skiing holiday or participation in the Adventure Service Challenge Scheme, pupils benefit from the chance to further their development as "well-rounded" individuals.
It is our firm belief that expanded opportunities and success and enjoyment outside the classroom are vital to developing confidence and self-esteem.
Sporting Opportunities
Sport Plays an increasingly significant role in the life of children as they progress through the junior school and there are plenty of opportunities for pupils to be involved in team games and individual sports which encourages not only physical achievement but also a healthy outlook for enjoying life to the full.
From an early age, all pupils follow an extensive physical education programme for gymnastics and swimming and from Year 3 onwards, the winter sports of netball and rugby, soccer and cross country and the summer sports of cricket, rounders and athletics are actively pursued. We have a comprehensive fixture list in all these sports with other schools in the area. Our multi-purpose indoor gymnasium also gives children the opportunity to participate in many indoor sports such as tennis and dance but also allows for year round participation in physical education.
Our aims are to achieve both involvement and excellence. All children have the opportunity to play for the school and our teams have achieved notable success regionally and nationally.
Music and The Performing Arts
Music and drama play an important part in life at Brontë House. All children are encouraged to learn an instrument and take Associated Board Examinations where appropriate. The music curriculum is a mixture of traditional and modern with opportunities for composing and performing. There are many choirs and ensembles and the children are encouraged to take part in concerts and festivals.
All children are involved in a Christmas performance and many other opportunities arise throughout the academic year to take part in drama productions, either acting or behind the scenes, creating dramatic scenery and costumes.
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The multi-purpose gymnasium and hall provides an excellent facility for producing plays, concerts and recitals and broader experience of the arts is gained with regular visits to theatres, concerts, and art exhibitions both locally and nationally.
Home from Home
Although now mainly a day school, the Grove's boarding community keeps the school alive seven days a week. The Junior Boarding house provides close family style community boarding arrangements for boys and girls from the age of 7 to 13. Under the watchful eye of house-parents, pupils benefit from being in a caring, friendly environment with plenty of opportunity for enjoyment and fun.
A purpose built annexe was completed in1998 to link formerly separate houses together. Children share study bedrooms (2 to 4 per room) and enjoy access to several lounges, a games room, kitchen and quiet room and plenty of outdoor play areas.
There is a full programme of activities organised to keep children occupied and entertained on an evening and over the weekends and which contribute to the fun and enjoyment of boarding school life.
Boarding arrangements are flexible with facilities for occasional, weekly and full boarding. Our day pupils benefit from the wide range of activities available as a boarding school and the flexibility of occasionally staying overnight or coming in early for breakfast and staying for tea and making use of the extended day which is a natural feature of a boarding school. The broader social, national and international mix provided by boarding enriches the whole school. |
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