Although its roots may be buried in the past, Sandroyd is very much a forward-looking school, able to respond to the ever-changing demands and expectations of new generations of parents and children. Having successfully opened our doors to day-pupils in 1995 we continued that process of expansion with the introduction of co-education from September 2004 and the opening of a pre-prep establishment, The Walled Garden, within our grounds. Thus the unique Sandroyd experience is now available to both boys and girls over a wide age range and many more children can now grow and blossom in that special atmosphere which makes Sandroyd what it is today.
We are proud of our record of academic success at both Scholarship and Common Entrance level. The Honours Boards tell a consistent tale of excellence in examinations to all leading Public Schools. We recognise too that not all students will learn at the same rate and for those who need extra help with their studies there is a dedicated Learning Support Unit. Here the specialist teachers reinforce class work, teach learning skills as well as offering advice and encouragement on a one-to-one basis.
Sandroyd is about much more than academic success, however. Given our extensive grounds and superb facilities there are countless opportunities for all the pupils to enjoy and develop their favourite sports and to try out new hobbies and activities.
In addition to the usual team games for boys and girls there is sailing, judo, golf, riding, archery, fencing, gardening, Natural History and much more besides. The weekends can be an especially busy time for our large number of boarders with expeditions and outings organised by the many staff who live on site. There is literally something to appeal to everyone … not forgetting the Saturday visit to the tuck shop, of course!
Any school thrives on everyone living together in harmony and working towards shared goals. Yet the hopes and aspirations of the individual are never allowed to take second place. Pastoral care is one of Sandroyd’s great strengths. Each child has a personal Tutor who is responsible for monitoring academic progress, seeing that out-of-class hours are spent profitably and productively and generally being a first port of call when life doesn't always go according to plan!
All the children are encouraged to take an interest in music. Many play at least one instrument and enjoy performing in frequent concerts and recitals. Three choirs, an orchestra and specialist music groups make up a busy programme. Drama too plays a vital part in the development of the individual. All age-groups have a chance to take part with productions performed throughout the year in front of parents and friends. Even those to whom acting does not appeal get much satisfaction from their involvement with lighting, scenery and the making of costumes and props.
The academic side of the timetable is balanced by more practical demands in the form of Art and Design and Technology. The specialist rooms for both of these disciplines are in almost constant use both during and out of class time and a significant number of pupils have submitted portfolios of their work to Senior schools. A fully equipped computer room keeps everyone up to date with the latest advances in technology and each individual has a personal e-mail address for private use.
It is our aim at Sandroyd that days spent here should be exciting, stimulating, rewarding and fun. We offer all our children peaks that can just be climbed with higher ones for tomorrow. Wherever their talents lie we strive to develop them to the full and thus help them to make their way into the competitive world with confidence. We cannot, of course, expect to capture fully in words and pictures the energy, vitality and sense of purpose which is the essence of our school, but we hope that what you have seen here will encourage you to visit us for yourselves. You will be most welcome.
A full prospectus, published in September 2005, is available - there is an on-line prospectus request form on the 'Contact the school' page of this site (see under 'Main Menu'). This prospectus contains more detailed information about Sandroyd and The Walled Garden.