Ashville News

Spring term

A Chilly Start to the Term

Ashville fully opens in the snow as pupils return

Pupil Spotlight

Meet two Sixth Form pupils, Will T and Alice S

Hitting the Slopes!

Year 9 and Sixth Form pupils took to the slopes of Italy at the beginning of the Christmas holiday

Out and About

Since November, pupils have explored the local landscape and sites through many trips and excursions

Staff Spotlight

Mrs Caroline Jennings talks about her role and discusses the benefits of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme

Sunday Times Places Ashville Top of the Class for A Level Results

Ashville boasts best A Level results in Harrogate during 2024 following flagship research study of schools’ performance across UK

Preparing for the Future in Year 11

Year 11 pupils look ahead to their plans for Sixth Form

Future Ready and Careers Update

As Future Ready is now in its third year at Ashville, Mrs Judith Grazier discusses how Ashville is preparing Senior School and Sixth Form pupils for life beyond school

Sixth Form Speaker

Two pupils review Sixth Form Speaker Alex Hibbert, Polar Explorer

The Future of Education and AI

Mr Owen Hillier, Deputy Head (Academic), explores the impact AI might have on education

Sports Update

Find out about recent successes of school sports teams and individual pupils What’s On at

A CHILLY START TO THE TERM

It was a team effort across the entire school when heavy snow fell at the start of term.

Senior staff keenly watched the weather forecast and the Maintenance team was poised and ready as the snow hit just before school opened for the new term.

Thanks to careful planning – and the diligence and effort of the Estates team –school was up and running and the vast

majority of staff and pupils were able to return and they paid special attention to advice about parking, drop off zones, and the extra care needed around the grounds.

Ashville was one of the few schools in the district that opened during this period, and it’s a testament to the dedication of staff that pupils could resume their studies and enjoy school life – albeit in a wintry landscape. Thanks to all involved.

PUPIL SPOTLIGHT:

This month, we bring to you a rare occurance: two pupil spotlights, from two of our Sixth Form pupils, who tell us about what it is like to study at Ashville Sixth Form.

MEET WILLIAM T, LOWER SIXTH

William T in Lower Sixth, studies A Level Business, Politics and Law.

Will is an avid Rugby player and this year, he is involved in LEAP, part of the Future Ready Programme that teaches entrepeneurial skills through real-world experiences.

We recently spoke to Will about what he likes about Ashville.

What are your plans after A Levels?

I’m definitely thinking about university applications, and I’m also looking at career opportunities in the British Army and what options that might give me.

What do you do out of school?

I’m a Rugby fan and play Rugby for Ashville and also for Harrogate. I also have a part time job in the town which keeps me busy at weekends.

When did you join Ashville? I came here in Year 9.

What’s the best thing about Ashville?

There’s a really strong sense of community, and everyone is made to feel so welcome. It’s really friendly and people generally walk about with a smile on their face and greet you. There’s a really strong focus on academic success, but it’s not the only thing. There is a focus on you as a whole and your interests, which is very positive.

Describe life in the Sixth Form Centre?

For a start, the café is really good and you can get a well-priced snack if you just need to grab something quick. It’s a good social space to meet up with friends and catch up.

There are loads of study areas and big bright classrooms, and the good thing is that there are always staff around if you want help with something or you want to ask something. But the nice thing is that, while we are encouraged to be part of the whole school, we can have our own space at the same time.

MEET ALICE P, LOWER SIXTH

Alice P, Lower Sixth, studies A Level English Language, History, Politics, and EPQ.

Despite not being at Ashville long, she has already made an impact and has plenty to say about Ashville and her studies.

What are your plans post A Levels?

I’m hoping to go to university, possibly to do Law or Journalism.

What do you do in your spare time (when you’re not studying)?

I used to be a gymnast and now I help to coach younger children in the sport. I help out as much as I can at Harrogate Gymnastics Club.

How long have you been at Ashville?

I started in September when I joined Sixth Form. I felt it was the right thing to do and it was a decision I have never regretted. It was the best thing I ever did, and I have been made so very welcome here.

What do you enjoy about Ashville now that you have been here a while?

I absolutely love my lessons – you’re really treated as an adult here. Previously, I was used to a traditional teacher/pupil relationship, but this seems to be a much more positive environment where you get involved and make a contribution. It’s a lot easier to participate in the lessons because it’s so friendly.

And the best thing about being in the Sixth Form?

The social space where you can have a coffee and a chat is really good, but there are also good places to work, especially upstairs.

Tell us something interesting about yourself?

My family and I all went on a driving holiday to Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands; we took our Chihuahua who is called Edna!

HITTING THE SLOPES!

The end of the Autumn term was lively, and many events and festivities swept the halls of Ashville.

For two groups – one of Year 9 pupils and another of Sixth Form pupils – the end of the term did not mean the end of the fun. Both ending up in Italy for a week of skiing, the Year 9 group took off to Folgarida while the Sixth Form group found themselves in Passo Tonale. From absolute beginners to masters of skiing, a large group of Year 9 pupils took to the slopes.

An initial training session was followed by many trips down the slopes with the guidance of instructors and representatives from Maxski. There was plenty of pizza, pasta, falls, and laughs from all involved.

Meanwhile in Passo Tonale, the Sixth Form

Year 9 ski trip

Year 9 pupils in the ski lift

group took daily ski lessons, enjoyed some delicious food, and made great use of the hotel facilities. On an evening, the pupils came together for fun activities and entertainment including a fancy dress competition, quiz night, a festive visit to a karaoke bar, and a pizza night with awards presentations from the ski school and Ashville staff.

Adventures like this are a highlight of the year for Year 9 and Sixth Form. They are not just about fun, but teach vital skills in teamwork and resilience, and help pupils form lasting memories and bonds.

Sixth Form skiiers warming up

Year 9 on the slopes

Sixth Form fancy dress competition

Sixth Formers ready to go!

Sixth Form skiiers

OUT AND ABOUT

Our pupils have the opportunity to attend trips and excursions both local and further afield throughout the year, which enhance in-classroom learning with fun, hands-on, real-world experiences.

Since our last trips update in the November issue of Ashville news, our pupils have travelled across the local landscape, exploring an enchanted forest, learning about Science, trekking the Yorkshire Dales, and much, much more!

Year 1 trip to Stockeld

Pupils in Year 1 travelled to Stockeld Park where they walked through the Enchanted Forest, keeping an eye out for the Wicked Witch; used superheroes as inspiration to create exciting stories; and ended on a high with some fun-filled playtime in The Hive.

Meanwhile, pupils in Year 2 stepped back in time during an exciting visit to Ripon Workhouse Museum. They experienced life as Victorian children, practicing handwriting with slate and chalk in a classroom, baking bread in the original workhouse kitchen, and trying their hand at rag rugging, gardening, and bird-scaring. In the afternoon, they played with Victorian toys, helped with household chores, and even polished brass.

Year 4 pupils visited Eureka where they were in awe of all the scientific facts they learned in correlation with their Science topic on digestion. They had fun interacting with the exhibits and activities, and ex-

perienced a specially tailored and hands -on workshop during which they explored digestion in further detail.

Year 6 visited St Mark’s Church on Leeds Road, touring the building and learning about the activities of the church community.

In Senior School, Year 9 and Sixth Form Performing Arts pupils saw a production of ‘&Juliet’ in Leeds. They enjoyed a meal out at The Light before watching the performance, which showcased the performers’ talent for singing, acting, and dancing throughout the story line of female empowerment and alternative endings, all on a beautiful, vibrant set.

Yet another theatre trip saw Sixth Form pupils studying A Level Literature or the Cambridge Technical in Performing Arts enjoy a hard-hitting production of George Orwell’s ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’ in Liverpool. The pupils enjoyed the performances of the actors and the set design, which communicated the emotion, themes, and horror of the story incredibly well.

Back to reality, Lower Sixth pupils interested in taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award travelled to Kettlewell in

Wharfedale for a taster expedition. In two groups, they walked towards the top of Great Whernside and a few flurries of snow added to the excitement, but it remained fairly dry, if a little cold. After reaching the summit, one group walked a more direct path back down to Kettlewell while the other group took a longer route.

The group reconvened in January, where they first met at school to discuss the re-

Year 2 trip to Ripon Workhouse

‘&Juliet’

Year 6 trip to St Mark’s Church

Year 4 trip to Eureka

quirements for the expedition, followed by activities covering dealing with hazards, what to do in an emergency, suitable kit, appropriate expedition food and cooking safety, and practised putting up tents.

In the afternoon, the group set out from school to practise their map and navigation skills, heading South towards Brackenthwaite and The Warren. The groups showed great proficiency in map reading and enjoyed testing out the gas stoves.

The groups will return for their final expedition training session later this term to cover first aid procedures and route planning before setting out for their practise expedition in the Yorkshire Dales at Easter. Alongside the expedition, the pupils are also busy completing activities for their volunteering, skills and physical sections of the award.

Most recently, a group of Lower Sixth A Level PE and BTEC Sport pupils visited the Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett

University for a Sport Course Taster Day.

The day consisted of three workshops, each themed around a different sport-related degree.

They took part in a sports coaching lesson, sharing ideas about how to coach; attended a health and fitness session, looking at why it’s important for all people to participate in some form of physical activity and how that effects your physical and mental health; and participated in an engaging workshop about sports management, taking part in heated debates about equal prize money for males and females and why professional footballers get paid so much.

While there, the pupils also went on a tour of the campus and its impressive facilities, and were able to attend a lecture about each degree programme they run at the university and what careers they could lead to.

Lower Sixth trip to Carnegie School of Sport

Gold DofE Taster Day

STAFF SPOTLIGHT:

MRS CAROLINE JENNINGS,

SECOND IN DEPARTMENT (MATHS) AND DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S

AWARD MANAGER

We recently spoke to Mrs Caroline Jennings, who leads the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme at Ashville.

Describe your role at Ashville. I teach Mathematics in Senior School and I am Second in Department, supporting Mr Brookes with our Sixth Form pupils and courses. I am proud of the fact that we are able to offer A Level Mathematics

and Further Mathematics, as well as Core Maths, giving pupils of all abilities the option to study the subject beyond GCSE.

My other role is the Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award Manager. I have been involved with DofE since my first year at Ashville when I was asked to help with Gold DofE expeditions. I soon took over coordinating the Gold Award and then became

DofE Manager around two years ago. This involves overseeing the programme at both Bronze and Gold levels, including publicising the award, enrolling pupils, supporting pupils with their activities, organising expeditions, issuing certificates and leading our amazing team of staff. Our Bronze DofE Coordinator, Mrs Caroline McHugh, works alongside me with a focus on getting our Year 10 pupils through their Bronze Awards. The DofE Award is a fantastic scheme for young people, allowing them to try new activities and develop key skills. The expeditions are the most fun part of the award for many pupils, although walking for two days at Bronze or four days at Gold whilst carrying camping kit is definitely a challenge. Our pupils get involved in a wide variety of activities for their volunteering, skills and physical sections, and it’s great to hear what they’ve been up to.

How long have you worked here?

I started working at Ashville in September 2011 after moving to Yorkshire from Hampshire with my husband. The great outdoors was the main reason for our move up north and we still enjoy having the Yorkshire Dales on our doorstep and the Lake District within easy reach.

Tell me about your typical working day. I work part time now to fit around the busy lives of our two children, so each day of the fortnight is slightly different. I try to get to assemblies when I can as I love the sense of community and singing hymns together. My teaching this year ranges from a Year 8 class to Upper Sixth, so there is lots of variety in what I teach. I’ve been enjoying relearning Decision Maths this year to teach to our Lower Sixth Further Maths group and I’m always looking at ways to make our Core Maths course appeal to more pupils, as I believe that being able to use mathematics in real world contexts is such an important skill.

Most days, I also spend some time keeping up with DofE admin. This can involve checking that pupils have chosen appropriate activities for their sections and approving their evidence and assessor reports once they have reached the minimum timescales. Organising expeditions and the relevant training is also an ongoing task.

I always make time for lunch and enjoy eating in the dining hall with other members of staff. The food is great and sometimes a quick conversation can lead to unexpected solutions to problems!

What have been the highlights and the milestones you have reached over the years?

My involvement with DofE has led to many highlights over the years. Once I became Gold DofE Coordinator, I quickly booked on to a Mountain Leader (ML) training course which involved spending several days in

“The DofE Award is a fantastic scheme for young people, allowing them to try new activities and develop key skills.”

the Lake District and doing a three day/ two night expedition. At the time, I had never been wild camping and I certainly hadn’t navigated around the mountains at night. I spent the next year developing my skills and gaining experience in the Lake District, North Wales, and Scotland before successfully completing my ML assessment in July 2014.

Since gaining my ML award, I have led many successful DofE expeditions and helped many of our pupils through the challenges of the expeditions. Some pupils have never been walking in the countryside before starting their DofE award and many have never camped. It really is a privilege to be able to give our pupils these opportunities, and I hope that they go on to spend more time in the outdoors once their DofE journey has finished.

What are the top skills young people need to acquire today?

I’ve already mentioned how important I think it is that our pupils can use their mathematical skills in real world situations. We have a big focus on problem solving in the Mathematics department too, and being able to apply knowledge in new or different contexts. It goes without saying that the DofE award is a great way to develop key skills outside of the classroom, with teamwork, leadership, and resilience being key components of the expeditions.

What makes an inspirational teacher?

I think an inspirational teacher has to be passionate about their subject and enjoy sharing their knowledge with pupils. I don’t think that lessons should always be ‘fun’ but enjoyment plays a big role in pupils en-

gaging with their studies and wanting to learn more. In Maths, the ability to make pupils feel confident is hugely important as a willingness to have a go is fundamental to mathematical success.

How do you relax in the school holidays and at weekends?

I love getting outdoors and like to spend time walking with my family or rock climbing. We spent six weeks last Summer travelling around Europe and most of that involved walking, climbing, and swimming.

I also enjoy reading and watching films. The genre really depends on what mood I’m in and can range from crime thrillers, to historical dramas, to rom coms. I also like baking but try not to do this too often as I struggle not to eat it all!

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself that we don’t know!

I’m a keen linguist. My degree was a BSc in Mathematics and French, so I can speak French fairly well. I also studied German and Latin at GCSE. Last year, I learned some Italian on Duolingo before going on the Year 9 ski trip to Folgarida, and now I am trying to learn some Spanish!

SUNDAY TIMES PLACES ASHVILLE TOP OF THE CLASS FOR A LEVEL RESULTS

A flagship research study of schools’ performance across the UK has confirmed that Ashville achieved Harrogate’s best A Level results in 2024.

Compiled independently of both reports from Ofsted and the Independent Schools Inspectorate, the 32nd Sunday Times Parent Power league tables have just been revealed.

Widely recognised as the most compre-

hensive assessment of academic achievement nationally, the latest Parent Power annual results confirm Ashville in top spot for A Level results in Harrogate.

Two-thirds of Ashville’s pupils achieved A Levels between Grades A* to B this Summer. Every pupil in the class of 2024 who opted to continue in higher education was offered a place at a university of their choosing – no fewer than 82% heading to their first choice to pursue the full A to Z of

undergraduate degrees, ranging from Archaeology to Zoology.

Of the 100%, two-in-three Ashvillians headed off to the prestigious Russell group of universities.

Head Rhiannon Wilkinson said the Ashville Parent Power performance was a ringing endorsement of the pupils’ achievements, the staff’s performance, and the school’s overall ethos of continuous improvement –the percentage of A*-B grades increased by 6% compared to 2023.

“Our A Level results this year filled both pupils and staff with great pride,” she said.

“However, they also provide the school with a strong launchpad for delivering our ambitious masterplan to transform and reimagine our 70-acre campus in the months and years to come, thanks to unparalleled levels of reinvestment.”

Ashville confirmed a move away from boarding earlier in 2024 as it further strengthens and consolidates its offering as a school exclusively for day pupils aged between 2 and 18, who currently make up 95% of its growing co-educational community. The residential option will be phased out by next summer.

Projects completed already include a new reception area for the Prep School and new social and learning hubs designed specifically for pupils in Years 10 and 11.

The next phase of investment will focus on the refurbishment of the school’s dedicated Sixth Form Centre to modernise and enhance the ground floor area for pupils, as well as the creation of a new Lower School learning hub.

The school also boasts an Outdoor Learning Area, a Health and Wellness Centre, IT

suites, arts and drama spaces and a sports centre which has benefited from a £3.8m refurbishment.

Mrs Wilkinson added: “We’re determined to continue to invest in our facilities to meet the evolving needs of both modern teaching and learning, and our pupils’ personal growth in this rapidly-changing world.

“Front and central to this is our custom-made Future Ready programme which prepares pupils for life beyond the classroom, equipping them with the skills required for higher education and the workplace and the exciting journey that lies ahead of them.

“We are investing our resources from the closing of boarding into a major redesign of academic and sporting facilities spanning the whole school campus. This unparalleled amount of planned investment underlines our commitment to ensuring we remain the school of first choice across the Harrogate area.’’

She added: “This year’s A Levels results were excellent, yet a contemporary school isn’t just about academic, sporting and arts achievements. It’s also a place which hones the skills, talents, ideas and capacities of its young people as they develop to face the challenges and opportunities of the 21st Century.”

Both the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission (NEASC) also praised Ashville’s holistic approach to education following visits, which included interviews with over 200 parents, pupils and staff.

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE IN YEAR 11

It may feel like the middle of the school year, with the end far out of sight, but for our pupils in Year 11, their views are now firmly set on their Summer examinations and the two years that will follow not long after.

It is a key time for these pupils to figure out which subjects they wish to study in Sixth

Form and where. With exciting plans to expand our Sixth Form Centre, we held a successful Taster Day for pupils aspiring to join Ashville Sixth Form in September 2025.

The attendees included both current Year 11 pupils and prospective pupils from other schools.

The day was a great opportunity to explore our diverse range of A Level, BTEC, and Cambridge Technical qualifications, as well as experience life in the Sixth Form Centre, complete with a cuppa at our very popular Sixth Form Café.

This annual event gives pupils the opportunity to have a genuine taste of life in the Sixth Form Centre and make well informed decisions about the next steps of their education and career progression.

This week also hailed the beginning of what Ashville deems the ‘Sanhedrin’ process for Year 11 pupils. This is an opportunity for the pupils to meet with the Head to discuss their plans for Sixth Form and map out their next steps so that they can begin Lower Sixth as confidently and with as much preparation as possible.

This is not the only year group that is looking forward. Eager Year 7 applicants took part in the Year 7 Assessment Day on 20 January, which also marked the beginning of a week of Scholarship assessments for those same children. Year 6 children from both Ashville and other schools joined us for a day of entrance exams, a delicious lunch, and a teambuilding session, giving them the opportunity to not only show where their academic skills lie, but get to know their potential peers a little more closely.

With an Open Doors event taking place this week, which invites prospective families and current families alike to discover the ‘new’ Ashville, and our upcoming Open Morning in March, we are all looking towards our next steps at Ashville.

Sixth Form Taster Day

FUTURE READY AND CAREERS UPDATE

By Mrs Judith Grazier, Future Ready Co-Ordinator

Main career contact: Mrs Judith Grazier: j.grazier@ashville.co.uk

Pupils can request a Future Ready or Career chat with Mrs Grazier using the link here.

The Future Ready Roots are Growing Stronger Future Ready @ Ashville was introduced to the Sixth Form in September 2022 and the programme expanded into the Senior School during 2023-24. We are pleased to recognise that the programme is flourishing and becoming increasingly embedded into school life. Some elements of the programme are securely implanted in the core of our curriculum and others are starting to spread their roots.

This term, pupils in both Lower School and Upper School will take part in relatively new additions to the programme.

Lower School pupils are focusing on their Listening and Speaking skills through their established programme of presentations and form assemblies.

Relatively new elements of the Lower School programme include the Lower School Skill Passports used in form time and independently, the Year 8 Financial Awareness and Wellbeing half-termly workshops, and the new Year 8 Career Event. The latter is planned for the morning

of Wednesday 12 February. If any parent would like to take part and share stories about their work, we would welcome your input. Please email your support to Mrs Judith Grazier: j.grazier@ashville.co.uk

In Upper School, the form time Career Spotlight sessions on Microsoft Teams have continued and the GCSE Options and Future Ready Career Morning helped the pupils to look forward to their next steps and think about their aspirational futures. The Future Ready Careers Fair in March will be attended by Upper School pupils who will have an opportunity to explore in conversation the work of a wide range of employers and external organisations.

The Year 9 Financial Awareness and Wellbeing sessions have proved to be en-

lightening, and pupils have been exceptionally engaged. There is so much they want to know.

All Upper School pupils are encouraged to discuss their aspirations, to research careers and if appropriate to book a oneto-one conversation with Mrs Grazier to discuss GCSE or A Level choices or next steps. Year 10 look at the preparation of CVs and how to evidence their skills.

There is scope to introduce so many more elements to being Future Ready but our aim is to move at a pace that ensures each year our activities become fully embedded and form part of a secure curriculum before significant new activities are introduced.

SIXTH FORM SPEAKER

Part of the Future Ready Programme is the Sixth Form Speaker Slot, which brings inspirational people into school to speak to Sixth Form pupils, broadening their understanding and knowledge of careers and experiences that they might not otherwise think about.

Alex Hibbert, Polar Explorer

Written by Vicky K and Ruby T (Lower Sixth)

Alex Hibbert, a renowned Arctic explorer, shared with us the challenges and triumphs of polar exploration. Sharing insights from his record-breaking expeditions, Mr Hibbert delved into the extreme physical and mental resilience required to navigate some of the harshest environments on Earth.

In 2008, alongside teammate George Bullard, he crossed the Greenland icecap twice along a new route in 113 days. This expedition set the record for the longest unsupported journey in any polar region and still holds the Arctic record despite later attempts to beat it. Hibbert also attempted to break the speed record for crossing the Greenland icecap in 2011, but unpredicted weather conditions delayed one attempt, and another, though impressive, was completed just outside record pace in under twelve days due to crevasses and high winds. Alongside these accomplishments, he shared encounters with polar bears and the vital role of approximately 20 huskies as his loyal companions and important team members. He also recounted his time in the local villages, and how he familiarised himself with their culture, language and equipment.

Mr Hibbert’s stories of survival, preparation, and his bond with nature, left pupils in Year 11 and Sixth Form inspired by his spirit of determination.

At the beginning of the Spring term, the pupils heard from Mrs Judith Grazier, Future Ready Co-Ordinator, about skills and apprenticeships; Mr Gilmour Coad, Head of Lower Sixth, about Climate Change; and the pupils recently watched a BBC documentary on Rape Culture.

These sessions run throughout Sixth Form and pupils will have the opportunity to hear all about Modern/Toxic Masculinity from Ian Mahoney; Exams, Nutrition, Food, and Mood from Alice Jefferis; Protecting Your Mental Health/Preventing Problems from Dr Aric Sigman; and take self-defence lessons, alongside many more exciting sessions in the pipeline.

AI’S THIRST FOR POWER

Written by Mr Owen Hiller, Deputy Head (Academic)

In 1913 Thomas Edison declared: “Books will soon be obsolete in schools”.

He felt technological advances had overtaken the printed word which would be replaced by film within a decade and used for instruction across all schools, negating the need for textbooks or teachers.

Almost a century later in 2012, The Guardian reported the now defunct Apple iBooks would herald the end of book learning. Another decade later and the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in November 2022 prompted more wailing and gnashing of teeth in

the education sector.

The end of homework? The end of coursework? The end of the teacher?

Pre-trained generative AI such as ChatGPT could lead to significant long-term change, both to how we educate young people and how they go on to operate in the workplace.

But, in reality and despite the doomsayers, generative AI has been rapidly adopted by teachers and learners from the outset –often whether schools have liked it or not!

At Ashville, we embrace the opportunities new technology offers young people in the rapidly changing worlds of academia and, ultimately, work. While never losing sight of the fact that learning will always be built on human relationships, we believe AI will be a part of our future tech strategies.

We believe prohibition on its use would both hamper pupils’ future readiness and never be enforceable anyway. But, at the same time, AI-based, teacherless classrooms are very much not on our agenda.

Many of the current debates on AI in education focus on ethical questions but there is another aspect ripe for a discussion: Its almost insatiable appetite for electrical power.

The processing required to run generative AI software such as ChatGPT makes huge demands on electricity, not all of which can be produced renewably or in a carbon neutral way.

It’s estimated every query made to ChatGPT costs OpenAI $0.40 – up to a hundred times what it costs Google per search. The prime reason is the huge electricity demands made by gigantic banks of servers running millions, even billions, of calculations simultaneously.

Just after the new school year got underway in September, Microsoft - which owns a 49% stake in OpenAI - signed a 20-year deal with the owners of the Three Mile Island power plant to supply energy for a new generation of AI servers.

This strikes at the heart of an ethical debate which hovers under most people’s radar. At a time when all organisations and individuals are considering how to reduce energy consumption, the computing tools we are developing will hugely increase

how much we use.

At Ashville, we’ve invested time in examining how we can update thermostats and insulation to make our daily operation more energy efficient and therefore more environmentally friendly. While AI tools such as ChatGPT remain free to use, we need to question whether outsourcing huge energy production and consumption to sites thousands of miles away is morally responsible.

Could the development and use of such global energy capacity contribute negatively to climate change and lead to a shift away from environmentally beneficial energy production? Certainly, this is something we should consider as we move forward with our work with Ashville’s pupils on AI.

When pupils and teachers are choosing which application to use for their research or resource creation, energy consumption should be a factor. Ashville intends to look for opportunities to integrate the use of innovative technology into our curriculum but, at the same time, it’s both essential and ethical to be aware of how technology such as AI works - and the associated costs for us all.

SPORTS UPDATE

When the snow hit at the beginning of term, many Ashville sports teams were disappointed to see the cancellation of their matches.

However, they have now more than made up for it as many Hockey, Football, and Rugby matches have been played resulting in many impressive outcomes.

Hockey

The 1st XI boys’ Hockey team beat Silcoates 4-0 with goals coming from Fergus B (Upper Sixth) and Luke G (Lower Sixth) and two from Seb G-D (Year 11).

Later, the boys completed a clean sweep against Barnard Castle with all seven teams winning. The 1st team came away with a well-deserved 2-0 victory, with goals coming from Connor D and Joe S. On Wednesday, they played the best team in the north of England. The Yarm team contained three England players and although Ashville lost, it was good for the boys to stretch themselves.

Football

The girls’ Senior Football team travelled to Worksop College and competed really well against a team who had five Academy standard players and never gave up working hard right to the end.

Playing against Harrogate Ladies’ College, the Year 7 girls won 9-0, the Year 8 pupils lost 8-3, and the mixed Year 9 and Year 10 team posted a double figure score, earning them a well-deserved win.

The U10 boys and girls teams travelled to Read School to play in a friendly Football fixture. The boys’ game was very compet-

itive, with Ashville losing 3-4. The girls put up a good contest and came away in second place.

Two mixed teams played against Moorlands school on Friday 17 January. Both games were played in a competitive and friendly spirit with one win and one loss for Ashville.

On Tuesday 21 January, Ashville hosted four U9 mixed Football matches against local rival, Highfield. It was great to see the pupils play in the mixed version of the game and how well they all played together. With Ashville winning four games, it was a very successful and enjoyable afternoon.

Rugby

The Senior boys played their first Rugby 7s tournament at Pocklington and they played excellently, winning one, drawing one, and losing two in back-to-back games. Outstanding performances were from Harrison G, Ben H and Olly L (Lower Sixth).

Swimming

A selection of pupils from the Prep Swim Squad travelled to the John Charles centre for Sport in Leeds to take part in the annual HMC (NE Independent Prep Schools) Swimming Gala. The competition was of a very high standard, with Ashville competing well in all the individual and relay races.

Stand out performances were from Tabitha who came fourth in the U11 girls’ butterfly; Oli who came fifth in the U11 breaststroke; Halle who came seventh in the U11 breaststroke; Charlotte who came seventh in the U10 girls’ freestyle; Justin who came fourth in the U11 boys’ freestyle; U9 girls who came seventh in the mixed relay

and freestyle relay; and U11 girls who came eighth in the freestyle relay.

Horse Riding

Sofia C (Year 8) competed at Northallerton representing the school, achieving three clear rounds.

Individual pupil achievements

Kate H (Year 7) finished eighth in the County Cross Country finals and will now run as part of the county team in the Northern

Area finals Competition in February.

Luke C (Year 8) has been selected for the U13 ISFA Yorkshire and North East team and is due to play at the National Football Festival.

James C (Year 7) was selected for the Harrogate and Craven District Schoolboys U12 Football squad. He was one of 70 boys who took part in the trials. James has also started playing with Leeds Utd.

James C

Luke C

WHAT’S ON AT ASHVILLE

‘What’s on at Ashville’ highlights all events that are coming up at Ashville.

OPEN DAY

Saturday 8 March 2025

Join us at our Open Day and discover why the ‘New’ Ashville is the place for your child.

Ashville is an all-through co-educational independent day school that caters for pupils aged 2 to 18, so whether you are looking for a place in our Early Years, Prep, and Senior School or looking to secure a spot in our Sixth Form (which was recently confirmed to have the best A Level results in Harrogate in 2024 by the Sunday Times), you are in good hands.

FIND OUT MORE AND REGISTER HERE

SAVE THE DATE: THE ADDAMS FAMILY PRODUCTION

Thursday 6 to Saturday 8 March 2025

Senior School and Sixth Form pupils will be performing in the Senior School production of The Addams Family, A New Musical Comedy.

Further information to follow.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A NEW MUSICAL. Book by MARSHALL BRICKMAN and RICK ELICE. Music and Lyrics by ANDREW LIPPA Based on Characters Created by Charles Addams Originally produced on Broadway by Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt, Five Cent Productions, Stephen Schuler, Decca Theatricals, Scott M. Delman, Stuart Ditsky, Terry Allen Kramer, Stephanie P. McClelland, James L. Nederlander, Eva Price, Jam Theatricals/Mary LuRoffe, Pittsburgh CLO/Gutterman-Swinsky, Vivek Tiwary/Gary Kaplan, The Weinstein Company/Clarence, LLC, Adam Zotovich/Tribe Theatricals. By Special Arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical