Welcome to Ilkley Grammar School

Executive Headteacher and Headteacher's Message

Welcome to Ilkley Grammar School (IGS) and thank you for taking the time to visit our website.

Ilkley Grammar School is a remarkable school with a long-established tradition of academic excellence, sporting and cultural achievement, and service to our community. As an ‘Outstanding’ academy and one of the highest-performing comprehensive schools in the north of England, we are known for the quality of education, care and support we provide, and for the inclusive culture that enables every young person to flourish.

The success of our students reflects their hard work and commitment, the expertise of our staff and the strength of our school community. While we celebrate the exceptional academic outcomes achieved at IGS, we believe that education should be transformative in the broadest sense. Guided by our Personal Best Values of Respect, Kindness, Responsibility, Courage, Resilience and Pride, we are committed to developing confident, compassionate and well-rounded young people who are equipped to make a positive difference in the world.

We believe young people achieve their best when they are happy and feel a genuine sense of belonging. Alongside academic success, we place great value on personal development so that students “grow in wisdom and stature” in line with our original Latin motto. Through an extensive programme of enrichment, student leadership, sport, culture, creativity, adventure and service, students are encouraged to discover their strengths, broaden their horizons and develop the knowledge, skills and character needed to thrive.

Like the iconic Cow and Calf rocks that overlook our town, IGS is both distinctive and enduring. Rooted in a history spanning more than four centuries, we continue to evolve whilst remaining true to the values, ambition and sense of purpose that have defined the school for generations.

While we are proud of our history, we are equally ambitious for the future. As the founding school of Moorlands Learning Trust, we are part of a family of schools united by a shared commitment to ensuring all young people benefit from an exceptional education. We are also entering an exciting new chapter through the Department for Education’s School Rebuilding Programme, a transformational £52 million investment that will provide outstanding facilities for future generations while preserving the character and ethos that make IGS such a special place.

As Executive Headteacher and Headteacher, we see the opportunity to educate young people as both a privilege and a shared responsibility: a privilege to ensure every child feels a genuine sense of belonging and pride in being part of IGS; a privilege to create an environment in which everyone can achieve highly, both academically and personally; and a privilege to ensure every student benefits from the support, guidance and opportunities they need to flourish. Every day, we are inspired by the resilience, kindness and achievements of our students and by the dedication of staff who work tirelessly to create the conditions to help them succeed. What makes IGS truly special is not only what our students achieve, but who they become.

We hope our website and prospectus give you a flavour of life at Ilkley Grammar School. We warmly invite you to visit us and experience first-hand the ambition, opportunity and sense of belonging that define our school - a school where young people belong, achieve and thrive.

Carly Purnell and Gemma Claughton

Executive Headteacher and Headteacher