Giggleswick School
Giggleswick School is a co-ed boarding and day school in North, Yorkshire, educating pupils aged 2 - 18 and founded in 1512. Boarding fees are £9,670 - £16,195 per term. Our advice on this school is independent and free.
- Type
- Co-ed boarding & day
- Boarders from
- 8 - 18
- Ethos
- Church of England
- Guardian required
- Yes
About Giggleswick
The story, ethos and character of Giggleswick.
- Setting
- Village
- Ethos
- Church of England
- Head
- Mr Sam Hart
Giggleswick School is one of the UK's leading co-educational boarding schools, located in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales National Park, just over an hour away from Manchester and Leeds airports. Founded in 1512, the school has a long and successful history.
Alongside 500 years of heritage, the school offers some impressive modern facilities including its own chapel, a 250-seat theatre, Glover Art Studio, swimming pool, golf course and mountain bike trail. Over £15m has been spent in recent years on new and upgraded facilities, including university-style boarding houses introduced in September 2018.
Academic standards are high with over 70% of final year students gaining Russell Group University offers and many achieving Oxbridge interviews.
International students of 19 different nationalities make up 20% of the student body. They are fully integrated into school life through the the boarding houses, where care is taken not to students from the same country together, and in lessons.
Transport to and from Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds/Bradford airports is arranged by the school, none of which are more than 90 minutes from Giggleswick. What the school is known for? The school is best known for: English village setting in beautiful Yorkshire Dales countryside Academic excellence and personal development Strong in science, mathematics, drama, art and design English as a Foreign Language (EAL) teachers provide expert for all international pupils to ensure they access all areas of the curriculum We welcome international pupils, expatriates, and Forces families With approximate 20% international pupils, we maintain a good balance of British and international students in each class and boarding house 64% of our pupils board Full school day on Saturdays for everyone, including day pupils, so international pupils have friends around them even at weekends A structured programme of activities for boarders on Sundays, including trips and visit to explore British culture Amazing co-curricular and enrichment programme - over 70 clubs every week Impressive outdoor pursuits and sports on our doorstep Combined Cadet Force for all Year 10s which can be continued to Year 13 'Ambition, Respect and Participation' are at the heart of the Giggleswick Diploma.
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Academics at Giggleswick
What pupils study at Giggleswick — and where it takes them.
This section provides information on: The curriculum, performing and creative arts, English as an additional , and special educational needs (SEN). About the curriculum At Giggleswick, our academic standards are high across a broad curriculum and pupils are stretched without being stressed to achieve their personal best.
Nurturing enquiring minds is at the heart of life and learning and pupils are encouraged to be questioning, curious and creative in their thinking. We provide the normal path to GCSE/IGCSE in Year 11 and A level, BTEC and EPQ qualifications in the sixth form.
Programmes offered
Subjects offered
Where our leavers go
2025 Destinations Mathematics at Durham University Business Management at Lancaster and Newcastle Universities Law with European Study at the University of Exeter Chemical Engineering at Newcastle University Social Anthropology and Politics at The University of Edinburgh Bioveterinary Science at the University of Liverpool Social Policy and Politics at the University of Bristol Physiotherapy at Manchester Metropolitan University Multimedia Journalism at Manchester Metropolitan University Bespoke Tailoring at the University of the Arts London Degree Apprenticeship with Rolls-Royce Degree Apprenticeship with Jaguar Land Rover Degree Apprenticeship with KPMGTEFL course leading to teaching English in Barcelona and Thailand
Figures are indicative — contact us for the latest results.
Boarding at Giggleswick
Day-to-day boarding life and pastoral care at Giggleswick.
- Boarding houses
- Girls 2, Boys 3, Mixed 1
- Exeat weekends
- Yes
- Guardian required
- Yes
- Saturday lessons
- Yes
and take pride in it. Our Sixth Formers also help lead house events, end-of-year celebrations and charity initiatives. We want families to feel part of life here too, from supporting weekend matches to attending performances in the Richard Whiteley Theatre, you're always welcome.
Boarding at Giggleswick is a shared experience, where strong relationships between pupils, staff, and families help build a -knit, caring community. Behind the scenes, your child is in safe hands. Housemasters and Housemistresses live in-house and are available 24/7.
A genuine home away from home
We have six Houses, including a Junior House (Catteral) for boys and girls in Years 4 to 8, two large girls' Houses (Carr and Style) and three smaller senior boys' Houses (Morrison, Nowell and Paley). Each House has a well-balanced mixture of day, flexi and full boarders.
Day pupils have their own desk and work space in the House alongside the boarders. Each House has a Housemaster or Housemistress who supervises all aspects of House life within a caring, disciplined framework, and a Matron responsible for the day-to-day welfare and health of the children.
We can arrange trusted UK guardianship for international families.
Giggleswick admissions
How children join Giggleswick, and how we make it simple.
Tell us about your child
Share their age, interests and what you're looking for. Our advice is completely free.
We shortlist & introduce
We match you to the right schools and make the introductions to their admissions teams.
Assessment, offer & enrolment
We guide you through entrance assessments and interviews, and handle visas and guardianship if needed.
What you'll typically need
- Recent school reports or transcript
- Passport copy
- English-language evidence (if applicable)
- Completed registration form
- A reference from the current school
At Giggleswick, we offer a tailored range of boarding options - from one-term experiences to full international boarding - ensuring every pupil finds the perfect fit for their educational journey. Our prestigious Summer Immersion Programme, held each June, invites pupils to step into the heart of school life, embracing new academic challenges while experiencing the richness of British culture in an authentic, inspiring environment.
Whether joining us for a single term, two terms, a full academic year, or as a full boarder, pupils become part of an exceptional community, where they build lasting friendships, broaden their horizons, and create memories that will shape them for life.
As your advisors we manage the application end-to-end at no cost.
Giggleswick fees & funding
What Giggleswick costs, what's included, and how we help with funding.
What termly boarding fees include
- Tuition
- Boarding accommodation
- All meals
- Pastoral & house care
- Most academic materials
Funding & scholarships
Registration deposits, EAL tuition, uniform and trips are usually charged separately. Many schools offer academic, sport, music and art scholarships plus means-tested bursaries — ask us and we'll send a full, current breakdown for Giggleswick.
Fees change year to year and by entry point. As your independent advisors we hold up-to-date figures and can compare Giggleswick against similar schools so you know exactly what to budget.
Figures shown are the latest we hold — we'll confirm current fees on enquiry.
Giggleswick location & travel
Where Giggleswick is, and how to get there.
Travel details Address Giggleswick, Settle, North Yorkshire, BD24 0DE, England Airport transfer Own minibuses & drivers from Manchester, Leeds/Bradford & Liverpool Telephone +44 (0)1729 893 000 Website https://www. giggleswick. org. uk/ +16 photos Most convenient airports Airport Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1.
Leeds Bradford 50 60 2. Manchester 65 75 3. Liverpool John Lennon 75 90 Most convenient train stations Station Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1. Settle 1 3 Local accommodation Harts Head Hotel (0.5 miles) The Rendezvous Hotel Skipton (17.7 miles) Herriots Hotel (16.2 miles) Mercure Bradford Bankfield Hotel (29.3 miles) Village Hotel Leeds North (39.4 miles) Local area & attractions Settle is a market town and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire.
Inside Giggleswick
Giggleswick — frequently asked questions
Where is Giggleswick?
How much are Giggleswick boarding fees?
What ages does Giggleswick take?
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Does Giggleswick require a UK guardian?
How many pupils study A-levels at Giggleswick?
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Does Giggleswick support SEN or EAL students?
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Are there compulsory exeat weekends at Giggleswick?
Does Giggleswick have Saturday lessons?
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Does Giggleswick accept international students?
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