At Austin Friars, we are proud of our all-round education where music, drama, creative and physical activity are integral to the curriculum alongside the pursuit of academic excellence.

Our pupils are provided with every opportunity to develop their talents to the full and all pupils are encouraged to share their talents with and for others.

Both individual successes are celebrated and healthy competition encouraged.

Just one example of this is the School’s commitment to annual music festivals in both the junior and senior schools.

Pupils earn points for their House by performing in one of the many classes and both festivals are rounded off with a house singing competition, in which every single member of the school will take part.

Singing together as a house, and the hours of practice beforehand, strengthen the bonds and sense of belonging that the school consistently nurtures.

Not without its healthy competition, it is one of the highlights of the school year and we are always thrilled by how many parents and former pupils return year after year to support the events.

In the Junior Music Festival this year, adjudicator Mr Ed Taylor, named Aidan House as winners of both the singing competition, and the overall festival.

Adjudicating the Senior Music Festival this year was Mr Jordan English, former pupil and assistant organist at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. He named Stafford House as winners of the Singing Competition, and Lincoln House as winners of the overall festival.

There are videos of many of the Senior classes on the School’s YouTube Channel and photos of the Junior festival on the School Facebook page.

Music has a very strong presence in the School, and we are always keen to provide opportunities for others to join us in shared enjoyment. One of our favourite ventures is the primary schools singing day which takes place in October and annually sees over 130 pupils from local primary schools join us for the day to learn new songs, practice with a conductor and put on a concert for peers and parents. This year we were thrilled to welcome pupils from Kingmoor Juniors, Hunter Hall, Stoneraise, Rosley, Stanwix and St Bede’s.

This September marked the opening of the School’s new ‘Early Years Unit’ which saw the Pre-School facility move in to the Junior School building, providing a seamless and continuous extended provision for our youngest pupils.

We recognise that the first years in a child’s life are the most formative and aim to provide children with the best possible start by fostering a positive attitude to learning. From age three, music, drama, Spanish and French are taught by specialist teachers and Pre-School children can now seamlessly enjoy the purpose-built facilities of the junior school as they explore and learn, working closely with the Kindergarten class next door in a dynamic setting.

The move builds on the strong Early Years provision the School is known for. The last Independent School Inspectorate report found that, “the education programmes in the EYFS are excellent. They provide stimulating, enriching and challenging experiences” and “the personal development of the children in the EYFS is excellent…their behaviour is exemplary.”

The new secure access facility includes well-resourced classrooms, an amphitheatre, a canopied outdoor play area, as well as easier access to the facilities of the Junior School such as the Learning Resource Centre.

It is well documented that Adventure Learning makes a major contribution to physical and environmental education, leads to personal growth and develops skills for life, communication skills and initiative in pupils of all ages.

We also believe that there is a great deal of intrinsic enjoyment and satisfaction to be experienced from participation in outdoor activities as it provides valuable alternative avenues for achievement, as well as opportunities to develop independence and self-reliance.

At Austin Friars, pupils are engaged with outdoor education from an early age, with the first outdoor learning residential taking place in Year 4. From this point, pupils are continuingly involved with outdoor opportunities and residentials throughout their School life all the way up to the NCS and Duke of Edinburgh programmes in the VI Form, where roughly 95% of pupils have achieved at least Bronze level.

Amongst other opportunities for involvement, Climbing Club runs weekly trips to Eden Rock, Mountain Adventure Club holds regular weekend expeditions and bush craft skills days, Snow Sports Club offers termly trips to various Ski facilities and the October half-term saw the inaugural Adventure Learning Residential Experience. This was a bespoke developmental course in which pupils spent 3 days at Derwent Hill Outdoor Education Centre on the outskirts of Keswick working on a number of ‘challenge’ activities intended to encourage and boost mental toughness and resilience. The School’s track record in developing mental toughness was evidenced during a recent study by AQR International – a copy of their report on this is sent out with every prospectus.

It is well documented that Adventure Learning makes a major contribution to physical and environmental education, leads to personal growth and develops skills for life, communication skills and initiative in pupils of all ages.

We also believe that there is a great deal of intrinsic enjoyment and satisfaction to be experienced from participation in outdoor activities as it provides valuable alternative avenues for achievement, as well as opportunities to develop independence and self-reliance.

At Austin Friars, pupils are engaged with outdoor education from an early age, with the first outdoor learning residential taking place in Year 4. From this point, pupils are continuingly involved with outdoor opportunities and residentials throughout their School life all the way up to the NCS and Duke of Edinburgh programmes in the VI Form, where roughly 95% of pupils have achieved at least Bronze level.

Amongst other opportunities for involvement, Climbing Club runs weekly trips to Eden Rock, Mountain Adventure Club holds regular weekend expeditions and bush craft skills days, Snow Sports Club offers termly trips to various Ski facilities and the October half-term saw the inaugural Adventure Learning Residential Experience. This was a bespoke developmental course in which pupils spent 3 days at Derwent Hill Outdoor Education Centre on the outskirts of Keswick working on a number of ‘challenge’ activities intended to encourage and boost mental toughness and resilience. The School’s track record in developing mental toughness was evidenced during a recent study by AQR International – a copy of their report on this is sent out with every prospectus.