Introduction to the School

Woodhouse Grove was originally founded in 1812 by the Methodist Conference to provide a boarding school for the sons of itinerant Methodist ministers. Re-founded in 1883, under the headship of Dr Vinter, the school expanded and admitted a larger number of laymen’s sons. In the 1970’s girls were admitted to the Sixth Form and in 1985 the school became fully coeducational.

Our main aims are to promote academic excellence and realise the full potential of every individual to be the best that they can be: • to foster mature, caring behaviour and high standards of social responsibility • to encourage leadership, adventure and self-discovery • to endorse the values of integrity, loyalty and commitment and uphold the School’s Christian heritage • to pursue excellence in the creative arts • to prepare our pupils for a world they will encounter when they leave school • to promote sporting excellence and develop fitness, well-being and healthy competition across the whole school

As a Christian school, we endeavour to live up to the responsibilities that such a title confers. We encourage our pupils to respect the rights and property of others, to take personal responsibility for their actions, to tell the truth, to respect other races and religious faiths and to develop a strong sense of self discipline.

We hope that our pupils will go into a world of opportunity with the confidence born of achievement in the range of activities open to them and with the strength of character developed by their sustained exposure to challenges and experiences in a caring and secure setting.

The House System

There are two boarding houses, one for boys and one for girls. There are six Houses (mixed boy/girl and boarding/day) for inter-House sporting and cultural competition. The House provides continuity of commitment and care throughout a pupil’s career at the school.

The Day Houses:

Atkinson Findlay Southerns Stephenson Towlson Vinter House Heads:

Miss L Holloway Mr A N Crawford Mrs L A Watmough Mr D N Barr Mrs C Spencer Mr T Exeter

The Boarding Houses:

Assistant Head (Boarding & Compliance) Mr D King Head of Girl’s Boarding (Miller) (Girls) Mrs N Bradburne Head of Boy’s Boarding (Brodwell) Mr M Dobson