Longridge Towers School

Set in the stunning Northumberland countryside just outside Berwick upon Tweed, close to the Scottish Borders, Longridge Towers School is an independent school with a very special atmosphere. It is a place where pupils aspire and achieve academically, growing and finding fulfilment as individuals. The school is the only independent co-educational day and boarding school in Northumberland offering education for children from the age of 3 through to 18 in small class sizes.

Longridge Towers School is in many ways a unique independent school set in its own grounds. A perfect environment for boys and girls aged 3 – 18. We are a very open community, where focus on the individual pervades all we do.

The pupils are happy here – happy because there is a common sense of being involved, supported and successful. The happy child is likely to be the most fulfilled, and we want pupils above all to enjoy their time with us. Learning itself should be challenging and stimulating. We are unashamedly demanding in our academic standards; we simply expect to add value in all that we do. Our curriculum is planned from age 3 through to age 18 and is extremely flexible, thus allowing the typical pupil personal and academic breadth: to be able to study traditional subjects with more recent and credible additions.

Landscape and setting contribute significantly to the education of all children. The beautiful surroundings at Longridge Towers School extend to over eighty acres and contain the main school building, a magnificent Grade 2 listed Victorian mansion, and consist of woodland, lawns and playing fields. Facilities include a library, science laboratories, assembly hall, a specialist music room, a dedicated art studio, a design centre, a sports hall, rugby, hockey, cricket pitches, an athletics facility, and all-weather tennis courts. The recently upgraded computer network extends throughout the school. The Junior Department, with its own fully equipped playground, is housed next to the main school in two buildings, the latest of which was built in 2004. The Jerningham builiding, for our youngest pupils, has four classroom areas. Using inter-connecting doors, two very large teaching spaces can be created. The Stobo building incorporates six classrooms, changing facilities and a large Atrium.

We hope that all pupils will make outstanding progress at Longridge Towers School.  The School’s ambitions are underpinned by certain values and beliefs:

•  We have high expectations of achievement and behaviour; of openness, honesty, trust and mutual respect.  We believe that these attributes are essential for building successful and supportive relationships.
• We encourage everyone to be enthusiastic in all they do, to work with endeavour, and to learn from mistakes.  We believe that learning is enhanced through an active and positive involvement in the learning process, and an understanding of the importance of perseverance in achieving short and long-term goals.
• We thrive on a wide portfolio of experiences that encourage individuals to develop a high degree of self-efficacy and to make well-informed choices.  We believe that a supportive and informed partnership between school, families and community provides a strong influence on an individual’s development and learning.
• We value all individuals and their contributions both in school and in the wider community.  We believe that all extra-curricular involvement helps develop responsible and caring young people.
• We look for constant improvement in all we do and use the School motto Carpe Diem to encourage a healthy sense of purpose.  We believe that developing skills in self-management, communication and collaboration are essential to an individual’s success in a diverse society.
• We seek out opportunities to continually improve the School facilities and environment for the benefit of future generations.  We believe that individuals are responsible for their choices and actions to themselves, to society and to the environment.
• We encourage people to develop these values in every aspect of their life.  We believe that learning is a life-long activity.

Mission Statement
We will provide a holistic education where pupils are nurtured to become independent, confident, collaborative, innovative and life-long learners whilst fulfilling their potential; we will also purposefully engage individuals in a community where everyone feels happy, safe, valued and encouraged.

Aims
We aim to ensure that pupils:

• Are happy and safe within a collaborative and innovative learning environment
• Make progress and achieve their full potential academically, socially, physically and personally; and have the skills, knowledge and understanding to express themselves creatively, artistically, emotionally and spiritually as mature adults
• Foster effective relationships, open communication and engage in critical thinking; with each other, with their families, and with adults inside and outside of School
• Value learning as a lifelong experience that will continue into the world of work and of leisure
• Develop independence as well as a sense of citizenship with a direct responsibility to the community and to society as a whole.