Headteacher’s message

Welcome to Our Federation

At Glasshouses and St Cuthbert’s Schools, we consider it a privilege to be entrusted with your child’s education. Our mission is simple: to inspire every child to believe in themselves, achieve their full potential, and become a source of inspiration to others. Our values, ‘Believe, Achieve, Inspire’, are at the heart of everything we do.

Nestled within the breath-taking Nidderdale Natural Landscape (formerly an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, AONB) — our schools provide a nurturing environment where small class sizes and specialist teaching ensure that every child thrives. As a Federation, we combine our strengths to offer unique learning opportunities that go beyond the national curriculum, fostering confidence, curiosity, and resilience.

A Rich and Varied Educational Experience

In addition to helping every child reach their full academic potential, we believe education should be more than just classroom learning, which is why we offer enriching experiences designed to support your child’s personal growth and wellbeing, such as:

🌟 Nurture Breakfast – Each morning, children start their day with a warm slice of toast and a wellbeing check-in, providing them with a safe space to share their thoughts with a trusted adult.

🎤 Personal Development & Leadership – Every child plays a role in shaping school life by joining a leadership team focused on key areas such as Wellbeing, Sports, Online Safety, and Rights Respecting Schools. Pupil voice is valued, ensuring children have a say in decisions that affect their school experience.

🌳 Forest School – Learning comes to life outdoors! Children explore nature through activities such as orienteering, den building, map reading, and campfire cooking. These experiences build teamwork, resilience, and problem-solving skills in a fun and supportive setting.

🎵 Music & Performance – Weekly music lessons, our Federation Junior Band, and exciting events like the Young Voices concert at Sheffield Arena provide children with unforgettable musical opportunities.

⚽ PE & Outdoor Education – With expert-led PE sessions from Kanga Sports and strong links with local secondary schools, children develop confidence, teamwork, and a love for physical activity. We also offer before- and after-school sports clubs.

🏕️ Residential Trips – From Year 3 onwards, children experience adventure on carefully planned residential trips, fostering independence, perseverance, and friendships beyond the classroom.

🕒 Wraparound Care – We offer flexible before- and after-school care (7:45 am – 5:30 pm) to support busy families.

Our Commitment to Your Child

At the heart of our Federation is a deep commitment to nurturing every child’s academic, social, and emotional growth. Our CHAMPS values guide us in creating a safe, inclusive, and inspiring learning environment.

We aim to instil:-
✔️ A love for learning
✔️ The confidence to embrace challenges
✔️ The skills to succeed in an ever-changing world

As Rights Respecting Schools, we pride ourselves on fostering a warm, respectful, and inclusive community. If you are looking for a school where your child will be valued, supported, and encouraged to thrive, we would love to welcome you to our Federation family.

📅 Visit Us
We invite you to experience our schools first-hand. To arrange a visit to one, or both of our schools — or our Federation Nursery — please fill out the online form above. We can’t wait to show you what makes our Federation such a special place to learn and grow!

Miss Nicola Thornber
Executive Headteacher