Academic
Our broad and challenging curriculum promotes curiosity, encourages resilience, and inspires a lifelong love of learning, helping our pupils to blossom into confident, independent learners. The curriculum equips children with a strong academic foundation, a growth mindset, and the skills they need to succeed as both children and adults.
We take pride in maintaining intimate class sizes, averaging 16 pupils per class. This ensures an optimal learning environment, where each individual has the opportunity to thrive and excel and provides vast opportunities for adaptive teaching.
Specialist teachers with an extensive background in their subjects, deliver informative and engaging lessons across Art, Design Technology, Languages, Performing Arts, Science and Sport. Teaching takes place in dedicated facilities, including a Science and Design Technology lab, Art Studio and Performing Arts classroom, alongside access to 10 acres of grounds featuring a range of sports pitches and courts.
We truly believe our bespoke offering provides something for every child and will help them to uncover their interests and pursue their passions.
Results
We pride ourselves on preparing our pupils for the next stage in their education.
We have excellent academic credentials, supported by our yearly assessments that utilise computer adaptive testing from the Cambridge University Centre for Evaluating and Monitoring. Pupils are assessed right from their first year at school which provides us with an in-depth insight into their progress across a variety of metrics.
Families choose a range of senior school options after their time at Richmond House, including independent, selective grammar, and non-selective state schools. We ensure that all pupils are thoroughly prepared for entrance exams and transition processes taking place in Year 6. Our focus is on helping each child gain access to the school that best suits their strengths and ambitions, with many securing places at leading schools. A significant number of pupils also receive scholarships each year.
Specialist teachers and facilities
Specialist teachers with an extensive background in their subjects, deliver informative and engaging lessons across Art, Design Technology, Languages, Performing Arts, Science and Sport. Teaching takes place in dedicated facilities, including a Science and Design Technology lab, Art Studio and Performing Arts classroom, alongside access to 10 acres of grounds featuring a range of sports pitches and courts.
We have so much to offer but our unique strengths lie in performing arts and sport.
Performing arts
Performing Arts at Richmond House School is thriving, and our extensive provision provides children with a wealth of opportunities to expand their imagination, express themselves, and shine. All pupils are taught Drama, and Music as part of the curriculum by specialist teachers.
Children participate in a variety of concerts and productions in professional spaces which are a highlight of the school calendar and create memories that they, and their parents, will cherish forever.
Outside of the curriculum, the school offers several extracurricular clubs and activities. Individual instrumental music lessons are also available and are delivered by a highly experienced, dedicated, and inspiring team of Visiting Music Teachers.
Sport
Sport plays an integral role in the education and wellbeing of our pupils. All children are afforded the opportunity to participate in an array of competitive and non-competitive sporting pursuits, as part of an extensive and varied programme.
Pupils hone their skills and deepen their game understanding, across our expansive 10-acre sports fields and courts. They are guided by a team of talented and dedicated coaches who create an environment that instils confidence, promotes teamwork, nurtures leadership, and brings the best out of each child.
In Years 3 to 6, children relish competing against other schools in a range of sports which include: cricket, cross-country, football, hockey, netball, rugby, and swimming. Our pupils represent Richmond House with pride and do so whilst supporting and encouraging their teammates. We consistently achieve outstanding results, excelling at both regional and national levels, while celebrating the individual successes of our pupils and staff. Our coaching team includes remarkable talents, such as a former GB rugby player, a former academy footballer, and a junior Wimbledon competitor.
The school proudly boasts alumni such as Olympic triathletes Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, Sale Sharks’ rugby player Obi Ene, former European Junior Champion swimmer Leah Schlosshan, and English badminton international Sian Kelly.
Outside of the curriculum, the school offers several extracurricular clubs and activities in a range of sports, including external sports coaching.
Sport is at the heart of life at Richmond House, helping children build confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills.
Trips and residentials
We hold the belief that expanding our pupils’ horizons and enriching their curriculum studies beyond the classroom is of utmost importance. Each term wide-ranging trips provide practical, real-world experiences that complement classroom learning.
Pupils in Years 3 to 6 have the opportunity to take part in exciting, action-packed residential trips each year, culminating in a five-day adventure in Year 6 exploring the French capital, Paris.
In addition to offering trips and residentials, we invite visitors from different faiths, professions, and organisations to Richmond House to run workshops and hold assemblies to enthuse and inspire.
Pastoral Care
At the heart of all our endeavours lies the wellbeing of our pupils. We recognise the profound importance of pastoral care in nurturing happy, confident, and resilient individuals. We take pride in our safe and supportive environment that enables children to thrive, explore, and expand their understanding of themselves and the world around them.
At Richmond House, children are encouraged to treat each other with empathy, respect, and compassion. We believe that fostering a culture of kindness not only leads to harmonious relationships but also supports the emotional wellbeing of our pupils.
All pupils from Reception to Year 6 belong to one of the school’s four Houses which celebrate Yorkshire’s rivers: Aire, Nidd, Swale and Wharfe. The House system gives our children a sense of belonging to something bigger than their year group but smaller than the whole school.
Our School Council is an incredibly important part of a whole-school commitment to listening to the views and wishes of all our children. The representatives, voted in by their peers, are from Years 3-6. However, we have a designated form time when children from all age groups can put forward ideas that are aimed to make Richmond House an even happier place to be.
In Year 6, pupils are given valuable leadership responsibilities that rotate each term, ensuring every child has the opportunity to take on a role. These positions allow them to lead and support younger pupils, fostering confidence, responsibility, and a sense of community within the school.
Children leave Richmond House happy, confident, and well-prepared for the next stage in their education, and life.
Healthy eating
Delicious, well-balanced lunches are freshly prepared daily in the school kitchen by the magnificent Mrs Dean, our School Catering Manager, and her brilliant team. Alongside the main meals, pupils can enjoy a choice of pasta or jacket potato dishes, cold meats, a salad bar, fresh fruit, and yoghurt. We cater for all allergies and dietary requirements.
Wraparound care
We understand that busy parents require the upmost flexibility, and we know that many require different care arrangements every week, if not every day. We offer exceptional wraparound care from 7:30am until 6:00pm. Unlike many settings, here at Richmond House, parents can book care on a termly, weekly, or daily basis.
Pre Care runs from 7.30am and a breakfast is provided.
We finish the school day at 3:40pm. We have a wide range of extra-curricular activities which take place after school each day until 4:30pm. These are pre-booked at the start of each term and are free, unless run by an external organisation. There is also a Homework Club, which is a free of charge session running until 4:30pm, where pupils can do their homework, with help available from our teaching staff.
Following the extra-curricular activity or homework club, After Care can be booked until 5:00pm or 6:00pm. A light tea is served at 4.45 pm and afterwards there will be more relaxed activities to enjoy and an opportunity to finish off homework.
Holiday Club
Our in-house Holiday Club is open all year round. During all school holidays, except the week of Christmas, we run an exciting and activity-filled Holiday Club. Run by our school staff, parents can be safe in the knowledge that their children will be well looked after alongside their school friends, whilst having lots of fun! Core hours: 9am – 4pm, extended hours: 8am – 6pm.
