Bootham School

Since 2023, Deneal Smith. Educated at Arnold School, Blackpool then degree in maths from Cambridge followed by a PhD in astrophysics during which he taught undergraduates, giving him a taste for teaching.

He taught physics and was a housemaster

Junior school pupils have automatic entry to the senior school. For external applicants there is an interview with the headmaster plus written assessments in maths and English. For entrants into year 9 there is an additional written assessment in a

About 25 per cent leave post-16 for more vocational courses at local sixth form colleges. Nearly all to university, almost 50 per cent to Russell Group. Newcastle, Durham, Manchester and Cambridge popular. In 2025, four to Oxbridge and eight to

In 2025, 59 per cent 7-9 at I/GCSE; 45 per cent A*/A at A level (71 per cent A*-B).

Lower, middle and upper school rooms (years 7, 8 and 9) follow a traditional broad curriculum. There is a rich languages offer here and pupils spoke very positively about the fact there is a native speaker for each language making the development of

Bootham is increasingly popular for pupils with SEN and has 20 per cent on the SEN register (compared to the York average of just under 13 per cent). The main areas of SEN are autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia. No one-to-one support

Bootham is proud of its arts offer. One pupil said, ‘If you are creative Bootham really helps you to explore different types of art and drama and we get to go on trips to see Harry Potter on Broadway or to Radio City and other venues.’ There is a

Indoor sports facilities include modern sports hall and decent all-weather tennis courts. There is a nice 25 metre swimming pool and swimming is a very popular sport. Basketball and football for boys, netball and football for girls. No rugby or

One boarder told us, ‘I love it, it’s a community, everyone has a dynamic. I’m really happy to live with them, it’s not that I have to but that I want to.’ There are two boarding houses one boys and one girls and with a few beds unfilled at the time

Parents and pupils praise the year based pastoral care system with its strong focus on mental health and well being as well, of course, as the Quaker values. Pupils feel well looked after and there are lots of opportunities to take on

While many pupils have been through Bootham from the nursery to senior school we met several who had joined from other state and independent schools in the area. They all spoke of the relaxed, kind atmosphere, the ease with which they fitted in and

A limited number of means-tested bursaries available for families with an income of less than £60,000 and assets worth less than £350,000

A calm, purposeful and well resourced school with a strong heart and family feel. Quaker values drive everything and parents love the lack of hot housing and the independence Bootham encourages. Pupils succeed academically but not at the expense of