Head of Academy

Skipton Girls' High School is a co-founder of Northern Star Academies Trust (NSAT). Northern Star Academies Trust is a thriving multi-academy trust in the north of England and comprising 9 schools: Skipton Girls’ High School, Harrogate High School, New Park Primary Academy, Hookstone Chase Primary School, Eastwood Community Primary School, Holycroft Primary School, Starbeck Primary School, Greatwood Community Primary School and Willow Tree Primary School. NSAT champions the learning of students, teachers, and all associate staff. We are highly committed to providing a high quality educational and learning experience for all. Our unique cross-phase partnershipworks to develop strong schools, able to serve their local community by providing high quality learning experiences and resources.

Skipton Girls’ High School is an 11-18 all girls’ grammar school of approx. 900 students, established in 1886. In April 2011, we gained Academy Status, an important step in securing the future of the school. We are selective on entry to Year 7 however operate a fully comprehensive Sixth Form (of whom 250+ are in the Sixth Form) comprising of students joining us from at least 15 local schools – this makes for an exciting and diverse Post 16 community.

We are regularly among the highest achieving schools in the country. In 2018 we were ranked second highest achieving state school in the North of England for combined GCSE and A level results in the Times Parent Power Poll.

Reported by Ofsted (March 2008) as an “Outstanding School”, we were delighted to have this judgement reaffirmed in April 2011. An outward facing school we continue to work as an SSAT Leading Edge and a DFE/NCTL National Support School. Our work with partner institutions has focussed on the personalisation of teaching and learning through the development of lesson study, assessment, and innovative technologies. All staff fully participate in research-engaged practice through our whole school professional development community. Teachers in a selective girls’ school are spared some challenges faced by colleagues in other areas, and the rewards of working with able students and their parents is exciting and interesting, and expectations of staff are extremely high. The staff team at Skipton Girls’ High School combine strong academic qualifications with a high level of commitment. We believe we provide a challenging, but highly supportive environment to work and grow as an educator.

The school has demonstrated a strong commitment to both teacher development and to supporting the wider school system. Northern Lights School Centred Teacher Training is based in Skipton Girls’ High School, working with a range of partner schools across the region. Through the NSAT Foundation, the school engages with a wide variety of local schools and organisations to support teacher development and leadership alongside a commitment to school improvement. The NSAT foundation leads on this work internally and externally, offering a unique range of opportunities to aspiring leaders and teachers. We promote the very best in professional practice to ensure that all students can access the very best education.