Moorfield School joins Bradford Grammar School in move securing long-term future
Moorfield School and Nursery in Ilkley has joined Bradford Grammar School (BGS) in a move that secures the prep school’s long-term future and strengthens independent education across the region.
The agreement brings Moorfield into the BGS Foundation while retaining its distinctive ethos, leadership and identity.
The partnership builds on an established relationship between the two schools and a shared commitment to academic excellence, strong pastoral care and opportunity beyond the classroom.
For Moorfield, which has educated children in Ilkley for almost 100 years, the agreement provides stability and strategic backing at a time when many independent schools are strengthening collaboration across the sector to navigate a period of significant change.
Jessica Crossley, Head of Moorfield, said the partnership was both an endorsement of the school’s strengths and an investment in its future.
“To have been chosen by Bradford Grammar School is a real accolade for us,” she said.
“They understand what makes Moorfield special. We offer an over and above education while holding on to the magic of childhood. Our children are warm, confident and eager to learn, and we achieve strong academic, sporting and creative outcomes through a genuinely individual approach.”
Moorfield is known for its creative curriculum, excellent STEM teaching, rich musical tradition and strong sporting culture, alongside extensive outdoor learning and bushcraft provision.
Pupils are supported to achieve their potential, with small class sizes enabling close relationships between staff and children.
“We take children of all abilities and ensure each one thrives,” Mrs Crossley said. “That warmth and care, and the way we know our pupils so well, is central to who we are. This partnership protects that and will give confidence to parents and staff alike. We will continue to be Moorfield School — but with the support of a larger foundation behind us.”
Dr Simon Hinchliffe, Head of BGS, has served on Moorfield’s Board of Governors for nearly a decade. He said the decision to formalise the partnership reflected long-standing respect for the school’s strengths and a shared vision for independent education in Yorkshire.
“Moorfield is a school of high standards, creativity and genuine nurture,” he said. “We have admired its work for many years. This step allows us to safeguard its future, invest with confidence and create opportunities for collaboration that will benefit pupils at both schools.”
In practical terms, both schools will continue to function with a high degree of independence while benefiting from shared expertise, strategic oversight and operational support. Leaders say the joint venture will enhance long-term sustainability and reinforce parental choice in the area.