Independent boarding school in Yorkshire Dales begins multi-million pound development

Yorkshire’s Giggleswick School has begun a multi-million pound investment in its boarding houses and classroom facilities with the first stage of development to be completed in September.

The redevelopment project at the independent Yorkshire Dales school will see an overhaul of the boarding houses to create contemporary architecturally designed, home from home accommodation for its pupils.

The project aims to bring a new model of family-friendly boarding to Giggleswick and to its sector with open plan living, kitchen, social and study areas for everyone, including day pupils and boarders, as well as new single and double accommodation.

Work has now started over the summer holidays with the refurbishment of Nowell House, one of the school’s seven boarding houses and should be completed over the summer, ready for pupils starting back at school in September.

The programme will continue to roll through other boarding houses in subsequent years. Each house is said to be soon transformed with modern living spaces on the inside whilst retaining the architectural heritage of the building externally.

Headteacher, Mark Turnbull, said: “Boarding is central to life and learning at Giggleswick and our new facilities are a statement of the ambition for the school.

“Boarding must adapt to modern demands and we have reviewed our provision to ensure the highest standards of facilities that provides the best family-friendly experience for the children.”

Also in the planning is a dedicated new build upper sixth form house, designed to provide bespoke facilities for more independent living and working, preparing each student for life beyond Giggleswick.

Mr Turnbull added: “It is an exciting time for the school and as well as investing in our facilities we are committed to making Giggleswick accessible and affordable for as many young people as we can.

“Our broad, values-based education focused upon the needs of each individual is more important today than it has ever been.

“What these developments show is what sets Giggleswick apart: we endeavour to put the needs and happiness of each child at the heart of what we do, so that boarding, just like all learning, can be great fun.”