St Peter’s is an exceptional school. Our vision is to be an even better school than we are today and remain strong for decades to come.
Welcome to St Peter’s Jeremy Walker - Head Master At St Peter’s we offer the very best example of independent education. This is delivered through our unrivalled combination of high academic performance, opportunities outside of the classroom, the highest sport participation rates in the country alongside national success, and outstanding pastoral care. All set on a stunning 50 acre campus just minutes away from the centre of York and the railway station.
We celebrate the uniqueness of every member of our community. Our personalised educational journey from Nursery to Upper Sixth ensures that every Peterite leaves with outstanding academic results and the skills that form the bedrock of successful lives. They are confident and engaging, possess deep values and a wide range of interests. Peterites are ready to lead with purpose in an ever-changing world. We call this ‘The Keys for Life’. St Peter’s is an exceptional school with a 1400 year long tradition of innovation. Our vision is to be an even better school than we are today and remain strong for decades to come. We look forward to welcoming you to St Peter’s, where you will have the opportunity to experience for yourself the unique, sparky atmosphere of our thriving school. We hope it will become your school too.
Keys for Life Our aim is to develop confident, rounded young people who make the most of their abilities in preparation for a successful, fulfilled life. We do this through our Keys for Life, which are the foundation for everything we do at St Peter’s.
Qualifications In addition to excellent results achieved in academic examinations, we offer extra qualifications in music, drama and other subjects in our super curricular programme.
Skills Peterites enjoy a huge co-curricular programme to develop their skills and where high performance stems from wide participation.
Interests We nurture passions, individual interests and curiosity of pupils through the academic curriculum and co-curricular programme.
Values
The values developed at St Peter’s enable our pupils to make complex moral decisions and give them the courage to carry them out.
1400 years of education As the fourth oldest school in the world, we have been enriching children’s minds since AD627. In AD627 St Paulinus came to York and founded what has become today St Peter’s and York Minster. Over the next century, the school evolved to incorporate a highly esteemed library, which would attract visitors from across Europe, an appeal strengthened by the appointment of York’s renowned scholar, Alcuin, as Head Master in AD778. Alcuin was appointed by Charlemagne to establish ‘the York model’ across the Holy Roman Empire. Pupils studied a varied and well-rounded curriculum that continues to this day and gives St Peter’s a place in the history of education globally. Throughout the years our pupils have become internationally regarded musicians, sportspeople, poets, politicians, academics and actors, as well as becoming significant contributors to the wider York community. St Peter’s took up its current site on the banks of the Ouse in 1838. In our 1400th year, we are excited to be executing another important transition for the school; moving to two parts with one coherent learning journey - St Peter’s Senior School and Junior School. We will also welcome the new Sixth Form Centre and The Rise Nursery. In making this change we will ensure that we retain all that makes St Peter’s special, and that we hold on to our spirit through our most important traditions whilst improving the school to future generations.
A Brief History of St Peter’s 1068
AD627 St Peter’s School is founded alongside York Minster.
866
The Vikings capture York
776
Alcuin becomes Head Master and St Peter’s becomes a major centre of learning.
1575 Guy Fawkes, our most infamous pupil, attends St Peter’s School.
The City of York is sacked and the school 1539 flourishes Dissolution under the new of the Archbishop of York. monasteries 1298
Edward I makes York the Capital
1557 St Peter’s moves outside the city walls and is given a Royal Charter.
1642-51
The English Civil War
1844 1839
The first train leaves York Station
1664 The school buildings are destroyed in the Siege of York.
St Peter’s moves to its current location and joins with York Proprietary School. 1859
Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution
What makes us different Small class sizes & Tutor groups
Nutritious, home-made food included in the school fee
New State of the art Health & Wellbeing Centre
A seamless journey from Nursery to Sixth Form
Fourth oldest school in the world, founded in AD627
50 acres of land in the city
80+ Co-curricular clubs and activities
1901 St Peter’s acquires St Olave’s Prep School. 1914-18
The First World War
1939-45
The Rise is bombed in the Baedecker Raid.
1927 St Peter’s played rugby against King’s School Canterbury for the title of oldest school in England. St Peter’s won.
1994
1977
1942
The Second World War
Engaged alumni community
1976
1984
The fire at The first girls The Minster are admitted to Sixth Form.
2020
St Peter’s purchases Clifton School and Nursery.
The School celebrates its 1350th anniversary.
1987 St Peter’s & St Olave’s become co-ed throughout.
St Peter’s becomes the Choir School for York Minster.
2001 St Olave’s moves to the Queen Anne site.
2026
St Peter’s restructures to St Peter’s Junior and Senior School.
Qualifications Our classrooms nurture curiosity, critical thinking, and a love of learning through high-quality teaching. We give personalised support and foster a culture of ambition, integrity, and continuous improvement. The St Peter’s experience is characterised by spark and engagement and we constantly strive to remain at the forefront of educational theory.
Flow of Education
Sixth Form
Our academic approach is tailored to the age of the children, to inspire them with a lifelong love of learning. Thematic learning is used for the youngest children to link subjects seamlessly and encourage them to learn through challenge, creativity and exploration. This might be in the classroom, the playground, at Forest School, on trips or on the sports field, allowing them to learn at their own pace and in a style which suits them, whilst having fun.
Our wide-ranging Sixth Form programme comprises the very best ALevel courses for Higher Education. Pupils study A-Level only subjects in the dedicated Sixth Form Centre which also provides space for independent study.
As children progress through the school, they will have the opportunity to learn though enquiry and project learning. Teachers work as a team to encourage children to bring their own initiative to solve problems and bring fresh perspectives to their work. With access to specialist facilities, the eco garden, the library, playgrounds and sports pitches, the learning environment is varied, giving plenty of space for children to be children. Pupils are very well prepared for GCSEs and A-Levels. The curriculum is enhanced with in-depth studies, trips, competitions and activities.
In Sixth Form, pupils have access to our unique Super-Curriculum Programme where they are able to choose to study courses such as Astronomy, Personal Finance, Athlete Pathway Support Provision or Professional Presentation alongside their A-Level Courses. The many options available ensure a truly personalised experience.
Academic Extension Our extensive Academic Extension programme allows pupils to get the very best out of themselves and the learning environment. From academic clubs and societies to national competitions, we offer plenty of opportunities for pupils to enhance their knowledge and discover academic pursuits beyond the curriculum.
University and Careers Our dedicated Careers and Higher Education Department offers personalised guidance to help pupils discover their strengths, broaden their horizons and take confident steps towards the next chapter of their lives. From one-to-one consultations to informative events such as our Futures Fair, we ensure pupils explore a wide range of pathways - whether that’s applying to universities in the UK or abroad, pursuing apprenticeships, or entering the world of work in areas such as banking or law, or obtaining a commercial pilot’s licence. Pupils benefit from access to expert advice on applications, personal statements, interview preparation and tailored resources, including work experience placements, careers information and links with professional networks and alumni.
“Sixth Form gives you a chance to explore areas you are interested in, especially in the humanities with so much choice in subjects and staff expertise” Sixth Form Pupil Learn more
Junior School
Senior School
Exam Results
University and Careers
Skills We keep a close eye on the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs report skills list to ensure that pupils leave us well equipped for higher education and careers. They develop a wide range of practical skills from an early age inside and outside the classroom.
Music
Art
If a pupil has a talent or love of an instrument, singing or production, they can find the place to express it at St Peter’s. Whether it’s taking part in Young Voices with thousands of others in the Sheffield Arena or singing with the Chapel Choir at St Paul’s and St George’s Chapel Windsor; taking their first instrument lessons in Year 1 or performing to crowds in the Senior School; participation at all levels is encouraged and talent is nurtured.
Our pupils enjoy a wide variety of opportunities in Art and Design. Art forms part of the curriculum from Nursery, with after-school art clubs available from Year 1. The Senior Art Department is open to pupils on weekdays, and most Sundays.
Drama Through drama, pupils can learn emotional intelligence, leadership and social influence amongst other skills. Dramatic performances take place at all ages in the school and pupils are inspired by theatre visits, festivals and visiting performers. Annual whole school performances are not to be missed with casts and crews of hundreds, and children participate in large-scale productions from as early as Year 3.
Pupils can take advantage of the outstanding facilities, including large studios, printmaking facilities, photographic darkroom, ceramics studio, life drawing lessons, an extensive art library and computer suite, and our own exhibition space, The Whitestone Gallery.
Design and Technology Our DT department has an incredible programme to develop the skills of future product designers and engineers. Pupils use critical thinking and complex problem solving to design and produce excellent work at a very early age. Using equipment such as 3D printers, lathes, sewing machines and robotics, opportunities are endless. The department also has an impressive record for successful Arkwright scholars.
Sport The aim of the St Peter's Sports Programme is to promote a healthy and active lifestyle for the enjoyment and wellbeing of all, from enthusiastic beginners to top athletes. Everyone is encouraged to enjoy physical exercise and do their best, and we have the highest participation rate of any school in the country. Whether pupils are practicing at at an elite level or having fun, they are all developing essential skills in leadership, resilience and teamwork. Our youngest children have access to weekly PE lessons and clubs where they have early exposure to key sports and start to build their athletic skills. From Reception children have weekly swimming lessons at our on-site swimming pool. The school has a long history of producing high performing teams and individual athletes. We regularly compete in national competitions with our home-grown talent. In recent years, our pupils have won trophies at a national level in rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis and netball.
“Sports at school is brilliant, because there are so many things to try, and my coaches always make me feel like I can be really good at them” Year 6 pupil Learn more
Junior School Co-Curricular
Senior School Co-Curricular
Interests The interests developed at St Peter’s stay with our pupils for life. We know that interesting people enrich workplaces, friendships and communities.
Activities for Everyone
Junior Dukes and Mini Dukes
Interests are an incredible opportunity to further develop pupils’ skills and qualifications.
Junior Dukes and Mini Dukes are programmes run for younger children, who can receive recognition for developing and mastering new passions, interests or talents. In recent years we have seen awards for a wide range of activities, including sewing, litter picking and first aid, beginning in Year 1 as a school club.
Pupils can get creative in film making, drama or art; hone their leadership skills running radio stations, magazines or debates; or develop resilience through the CCF or Duke of Edinburgh programmes. With over 80 activities to choose from, there is something for everyone. From an early age, pupils are encouraged to find their passion through their lessons, and getting involved in our full extracurricular programme, which expands as they move through the school. We have clubs to engage every growing mind, giving different personalities a space to thrive during or after school. Examples range from Book Club to Yoga, and more are added every term.
Duke of Edinburgh Working towards a DofE Award can be a life-changing experience. Pupils discover new interests and talents, have fun, and develop essential skills for life, such as problem solving and initiative.
CCF The Combined Cadet Force, available in the Senior School, is an educational partnership between the school and the Ministry of Defence, which provides pupils with the opportunity to develop personal responsibility, initiative, teamwork and leadership through a broad range of challenging and exciting military-style activities.
Social Action Volunteering is an important part of life at St Peter’s. Pupils volunteer their time in many different ways to support the local community. From the younger years visiting care homes, charity committees across the school and older pupils volunteering their time with external organisations, the importance of giving back is ingrained within the school.
Trips and Excursions Pupils from Nursery to Sixth Form take trips out of the school campus to complement their learning and broaden their horizons. As the children progress through the school these trips grow from day trips and local residentials to experiences of other countries and cultures. Each year we organise a wide range of exciting optional excursions that are eagerly booked up by our pupils, including ski trips, sports tours and cultural immersion trips with time spent volunteering in local communities.
“Coding is my favourite club. I love telling the robots what to do!” Year 2 pupil Learn more
Clubs and Activities
Recent News
Trips and Excursions
Values Throughout the school, as children grow, we create opportunities for expression and the exploration of differences. As a school, we live by the values outlined in our School Charter, summarised by the statement “Everyone is Welcome”.
The School Charter Our charter captures the spirit of what it means to be part of St Peter’s, placing our school culture and values at the heart of what we do. The Charter was devised by school council members from all three parts of the school who came together to acknowledge what they felt most accurately described the environment they loved and wanted to build upon at our school. It is a framework to help ensure that all feel welcome at St Peter's.
Pastoral Care We encourage self-reflection and allow all personalities to flourish within the warmth of a supportive community. We are proud of our strong pastoral teams – our chaplaincy, Mental Health Team, medical centre, matrons, teachers and House parents – who work to ensure that each child is seen, understood and given the opportunities they need to develop.
The House System Our House system, which operates across the school, encourages children to build their compassion, trust, and friendships across year groups as they represent their House in competitions, and take on leadership roles.
Wellness In today’s fast-paced world, the importance of mental health and wellbeing cannot be overstated. Across the school there are dedicated age-appropriate spaces for mental health, where children can go to speak to someone, or find a moment of calm. These physical spaces are coupled with a culture that prioritises wellbeing, ensuring that St. Peter’s is not just preparing pupils for academic success, but for a busy and fulfilling life beyond school.
“Our House common room has a great atmosphere and I’ve made really good friends” Year 9 pupil Learn more
The Charter
Pastoral in Junior School
Pastoral in Senior School
Practical Information
Boarding at St Peter’s Boarding Fully immersed in the life of the school and supported by boarding specialists, boarders at St Peter’s grow quickly in independence, empathy and influence.
Boarding Life
International Boarding
All pupils at St Peter’s Senior School attend Saturday school, giving our boarders plenty of time to explore everything the school has to offer, as well as develop lifelong friendships with the whole school community.
Pupils join us from over 15 different countries within boarding, and we encourage diversity across the school. We welcome applications from all countries as long as English is spoken fluently.
We welcome boarders from Year 7. On top of dedicated Houseparents who are available 24/7 during term time, our boarders are cared for by chefs, matrons and cleaning staff, allowing them to concentrate fully on their academic and co-curricular passions.
Our Boarding Houses are all located close to the St Peter’s campus, providing easy access to the school and its fantastic facilities.
Boarding works differently for every family, and our House parents excel at getting to understand not only each child, but each family. Parents are always welcome to visit and have frequent communication. We offer many options to suit the needs of our families, including full-time, part-time, flexi, short-term stays (1-3 terms) and exam boarding.
Boarding Houses
Dronfield and Linton are the two Sixth Form Houses, Dronfield for girls and Linton for boys. The Manor is a co-educational House for Year 7 to Year 11. Each House accommodates between 30 to 40 pupils. They are small enough for every boarder to be known well but large enough Learn more to ensure a diverse and vibrant community.
Facilities With access to our gym, swimming pool, playing fields and other facilities, as well as all the cultural and social opportunities of the historic city of York, our boarders lead healthy, active, connected lives.
Activities Each House has its own special character and a family atmosphere, which is cherished. The Houses are equipped with games and spaces to relax and enjoy each other’s company, and in the summer months pupils enjoy the beautiful, peaceful and spacious gardens. There are organised weekend trips or more casual outings into town. Exeat weekends provide a welcome break for boarders and whenever we can, we provide relaxing in-school provision for those unable to travel home.
“The teachers are supportive, and I love spending a lot of time doing activities like rowing.” Year 11 boarder Learn more
Boarding Options
Boarding Houses
Boarding Life
Living in York York is internationally regarded as one of Europe’s most beautiful and attractive cities. Within the ancient city walls, culture, history and heritage are at every turn, but York is also modern and vibrant, with something to offer everyone.
Perfectly connected We are a ten-minute walk from the Railway Station.
Rail links carry you to York from: London Gatwick & Heathrow Airports (3 hours) Manchester Airport (1 hour 50 minutes) Newcastle Airport (1 hour 30 minutes)
Leeds International Airport is just a 40-minute taxi away.
Centrally situated The school is just an eight-minute walk from York’s historic city centre. York Minster Yorkshire Museum Jorvik Viking Centre York Dungeon The Shambles Bar Walls Clifford’s Tower York Castle Museum Tower Gardens
Cultural York York is a vibrant city with a sense of history around every corner. It is home to the magnificent York Minster, museums, theatres, art galleries and an exciting range of festivals and events throughout the year. Beyond York, our pupils have easy access to the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and the Yorkshire Coast for trips and weekend activities.
Learn more
Living in York
Getting here
Our Campus
Applying to St Peter’s Applying to St Peter’s Boarding We welcome enquiries at any stage, and applications should ideally be submitted a year in advance. Some year groups have bigger intakes which we call our Main Entry Points, but we do have spaces in other year groups too.
Visit Us
Entrance Assessments
Before applying, we’d love to welcome you to one of our open events or arrange a visit to explore our campus and discover what it means to be part of the St Peter’s School community. We encourage you to visit as much as you like so you can get to know us and be confident in your decision.
Assessments vary depending on the entry year group. Please see our website for more details.
Applying If you are ready to apply, please complete our online application form. Upon receipt of your application, a member of the admissions team will be in touch to guide you through the process.
Offer Of A Place We aim to make most offers between January and March, with Sixth Form offered before the Christmas break. Should a year group be oversubscribed, pupils will be offered a place on our waiting list from which offers can be made at any time up to the beginning of the new school year, subject to availability.
Main Entry Points
Learn more
We welcome applications at all stages, but the most popular points of entry are as follows:
How to Apply
Open Events & Visiting Us
Apply Now
Fees
Year 1
Nursery
Reception
Year 4*
Year 5
Year 9
Year 12 (Sixth Form entry)
Year 7
*prioritised for York Minster Choristers
Help with Fees and Scholarships Applying to St Peter’s Boarding Help With Fees
Ginetta Scholarship
We are proud that we are able to support children who might not otherwise be able to afford to attend our school. Bursaries are means-tested awards that can help to pay some or all of the school fees for children who demonstrate potential to thrive at St Peter’s. You can apply for a Bursary from Year 7.
This annual Sixth Form scholarship is available to applicants who are bright and ambitious, with a demonstrable interest in engineering, design and technology. Applicants should take Design Technology as an A-Level, alongside other STEM subjects such as Physics, Mathematics, and Computer Science.
A Bursary differs from a Scholarship because it is means-tested. To find out more, please follow the QR code below. All Bursary enquiries are kept confidential.
We actively encourage and prioritise applications from pupils who might not otherwise be able to afford an independent school education. This scholarship not only gives full access to a means-tested 100% scholarship for an outstanding all-round education in the Sixth Form at St Peter’s, but also a unique work experience and insight into Ginetta.
Honorary Scholarships St Peter’s awards scholarships in recognition of academic achievement and co-curricular strengths, although these are purely honorary and do not include any reduction in school fees.
York Minster Choristers
Admissions Team
01904 527429 admissions@stpetersyork.org.uk
School fees for York Minster choristers are significantly subsidised by York Minster for the duration of the choristership. These are awarded following an audition in addition to fulfilling the entrance criteria into Year 4. Additional means-tested bursaries are available to ensure that choristerships are open to all children.
Learn more
Help with Fees
Scholarships
York Minster Choristers
Ginetta Scholarship
Practical Information Applying to St Peter’s Boarding Travelling to St Peter’s Where possible we encourage parents and pupils to travel to school in environmentally friendly ways. St Peter’s is easily accessible by train and bus (via the Park and Ride). We also encourage cycling, and have many bike parking locations across the campus.
This approach supports our mission to reduce distractions, improve wellbeing, and foster more purposeful use of technology for learning. It will also encourage pupils to use shared time for conversation and connection, without the distraction of phones.
Uniform
We also operate a St Peter’s school bus which travels from Wetherby through surrounding villages. We are looking at opening up new bus routes and you can register your interest in this service on our website.
All pupils from Pre-School to Sixth Form wear St Peter’s school uniform. This consists of a uniform for the school day and sports kit for physical activity. Information on everything that your child requires is available on our website and can be purchased through School Blazer.
Catering
Holiday Camps
Our belief is that the path to nourishing minds begins with nourishing bodies. We have an exceptional catering team, who use locally sourced ingredients of the finest quality to deliver multiple options for each mealtime, including catering to all dietary requirements. The cost of lunch is included in school fees.
We are pleased to offer year-round holiday provision for children from Nursery to Year 8 which includes multi activity adventure camps, sports camps and a range of specialist offerings including performing arts and STEM. Our aim is to provide support for families through the holidays with provision that is exciting and stimulating for children. Some camps are delivered in partnership with Adventure Camps, and some are run by the staff at St Peter’s
Devices St Peter’s operates a no-smartphones policy across the school. Pupils who have mobile devices place their phones in magnetically sealed pouches during the school day which remain locked until opened under staff supervision. From Year 9, pupils are lent one-to-one Microsoft Surface Pro devices for their lessons and homework. This is part of a long-term strategy to enhance and augment teaching and learning across the school.
Camps can be booked through our website, with some available to pupils before they start at St Peter’s.
Junior School
Senior School
The School Day
Pre-School to Year 2
Year 3 to Year 6
Year 7 to Sixth Form
Drop off from
7:45am
7:45am
7:45am
School Day starts
8:20am
8:20am
8:20am
Lunch
12pm
12pm
12:30pm
End of School Day
3:20pm
4pm
4pm
End of clubs or After-School Care
Until 5:15pm
Until 5:15pm
Until 5:15pm
Extended Until 6pm Until 6pm (additional charge) (additional charge) After-School Care
Until 6pm (unsupervised)
Learn more
Catering
Uniform
Bus Routes
Holiday Camps
Campus and Facilities Applying to St Peter’s Boarding Our campus occupies 50 acres, with playing fields, a Forest School and open spaces stretching down to the banks of the River Ouse. The combination of green space so close to the heart of the city gives our pupils the perfect balance of a safe environment in which to grow, with the intellectual and cultural stimulation offered by the city.
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St Peter’s Senior School 1. Main Building 2. Head Master’s Office 3. Memorial Hall 4. Chapel 5. Library 6. Music School 7. Drama Department 8. Pascal Building (Maths & MFL) 9. Pavilion (P Block) 10. Science Block (Chemistry) 11. Science Block (Physics / DT) 12. C Block (Art & Biology) 13. Clifton & The Grove Houses 14. Queens Building 15. Hope House 16. CCF Building 17. Health and Wellbeing Centre 18. St Catherine’s 19. The Lodge 20. Estates Offices
30 17
St Peter’s Junior School 21. Main Entrance 22. Junior Art / Design & Technology 23. Music Department St Peter’s Sixth Form Centre 24. Sixth Form Centre (Chilman Building) 25. Sixth Form Centre (Wentworth Building) 26. Sixth Form Café
Sports Facilities 31. Astro Viewing Platform 32. Swimming Pool 33. Boat House 34. Sports Centre and Gym 35. Sports Hall and Dance Studio
Boarding Houses 27. Linton House 28. Manor House 29. Dronfield House St Peter’s Nursery 30. The Rise Nursery
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Health & Mental Health Centre
35 31 21 23 22
The school is just an eight-minute walk from York’s historic city centre and railway station
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Yorkshire’s dramatic coastline and picturesque moorland is only a short journey from the city
St Peter’s School, York, YO30 6AB Tel: 01904 527300 Email: admissions@stpetersyork.org.uk
www.stpetersyork.org.uk