Enhancing teaching and learning

Ripon Grammar School has excellent facilities and resources to support and enhance teaching and learning across all subjects. In addition, sport, performing arts and our engineering specialism benefit from the latest in facilities and equipment.

Academic

Our students achieved 82.7% A*-B grades at A-level and 95.3% 9-4 grades at GCSE in 2023.

Subject-specific facilities include state-of-the-art science laboratories, engineering suites and art and drama studios.

"Teachers are really passionate about their subjects." Find out what else Molly loves about RGS here:

We have superb humanities and language  and sixth form blocks

Dedicated Sixth Form study areas support students’ academic excellence, be it in the laptop-equipped Learning Centre for silent work, the Study Room for a more sociable working environment or the Library, which provides the resources for all students to excel. Our dedicated Sixth Form Centre facilities are outstanding and you can read more about this in the Sixth Form section of the website.

ICT

There are three main computer suites in school, a dedicated sixth-form study suite and an engineering/technology suite. The network primarily consists of Windows 7 clients, laptop computers, whiteboards, projectors, printers and numerous other peripherals.

Student and staff work areas, learning resources and the management information system may be accessed remotely in and out of school. The school Intranet is managed by the School Council.

Video conferencing supports sixth formers who can have lectures delivered by distance learning.

The school system management team is constantly developing new resources, such as mini iPads for SEN and wireless technologies across the site.

They are always available to give help and advice to staff, parents and pupils upon any aspect of ICT and welcome any ideas or suggestions to enhance the facilities within the school.

Library

The main library is large and well resourced to support teaching and learning by providing information resources and delivering information.

Our well resourced careers library is open daily for students from 8.30am to 4.30pm during term time.

Outstanding support, guidance and encouragement is provided, especially as students move up the school and during the all-important period of university application. The school careers department offers information and advice on every possible route after leaving the sixth form and students are welcome to use the resources and arrange individual guidance appointments during free periods.

Please see the separate Library section to find out more.

For careers and higher education information, please visit our dedicated Careers section here (LINK to Careers under Academic)

Sport

Ripon Grammar School has built a regional reputation for sporting success, with girls’ hockey and netball teams recently winning national titles and rugby teams being crowned Yorkshire champions. The school's reputation for sporting excellence was given a further boost with a new £1m world-class, purpose-built floodlit pitch.

British Lions legend Sir Ian McGeechan cheered students on in a rugby game when he officially opened the third-generation artificial grass floodlit playing field, which is also benefiting the wider community of Ripon.

“A sports field doesn’t make character, it finds it and develops it. The more facilities there are like this, the more the pupils and general community will benefit,” said Sir Ian, a former rugby union player who was head coach of Scotland and the British and Irish Lions.

“The association of sport with the development of young people is so important. Sport in a school makes good pupils and good people and to have an incredible facility like this now is a tremendous asset to Ripon Grammar School and to the whole community,” said Sir Ian, who received an OBE in 1990.

This new addition to RGS’s first class sporting facilities is used for a wide variety of sports, including lacrosse, rounders and athletics training, as well as for girls’ and boys’ rugby and football and will also serve three local partner clubs.

The new development encompasses a full-size FIFA-compliant football pitch and three cross-width seven-a-side football pitches, all with markings and goals on wheels, in addition to the full-size World Rugby-compliant artificial pitch. A new high-quality changing block, with upgraded grass playing fields and running track, have also been installed.

Also, within its 23 acres, the school has very attractive and extensive playing fields with additional facilities which include:

Cricket square
Astroturf pitch
Four tennis courts
Indoor swimming pool

Indoor Sports Centre with six badminton court size sports hall

Indoor climbing wall

Dance studio

Fitness suite

Gymnasium

For more information on the sports on offer, please visit our PE page.

Music

The music block provides specialised rehearsal spaces for a variety of musical ensembles and a fully equipped recording studio. Using the latest technology and software, students can learn recording, arranging and composing skills. Investment in music recently was the addition of a dedicated suite of 15 Apple Macs.

The music department runs regular practices and supports a wide range of music groups catering for many styles and abilities, including choirs, ensembles, big band, orchestra, brass band and jazz group.

The school regularly hosts and enters local and national music competitions and festivals such as Harrogate Festival, National Festival of Music for Youth and The Battle of the Bands.