Yarm and Our History

Yarm School was founded in 1978 and is now one of the country’s best independent schools. It is located in the north east of England in the beautiful, prosperous and vibrant market town Yarm, on the edge of the Teesside conurbation.

The Senior School borders the River Tees and is just off Yarm High Street. The school is very much a part of the town, with pupils, staff and parents all enjoying what the buzzing high street has to offer by means of shops and cafes. Our Nursery, Pre-Prep and Preparatory School are all located on the opposite side of The Spital to the Senior School. The whole school is just a stone’s throw away from both town and countryside, including the nearby North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales and stunning coastline.

Yarm Town

Yarm’s history is vast. Prior to the Tees Barrage, Yarm town was once an important crossing point of the River Tees and the bridge was the last crossing point of the tidal section of the river. The impressive viaduct is also a well-known local landmark.

Yarm is close to the A66 and A19, and is just a short drive away from Durham Tees Valley Airport. With superb rail network links in the town itself and nearby, London is also only 2.5 hours away by direct train. Go west through Teesdale and within around an hour and a half you will find yourself in the world-famous Lake District, while it is a similar distance north to the wild and wonderful county of Northumberland.

Yarm, Middlesbrough and Darlington offer plenty of shopping opportunities, with bigger centres like Leeds and Newcastle both just over an hour away. There is also a renowned modern art gallery in Middlesbrough and a historic theatre in Richmond. Durham and York are also just a short distance from Yarm.

The School’s History

A group of parents formed the Cleveland Independent School Trust and acquired the buildings and grounds of the old Yarm Grammar School site. The school quickly established itself as a leading independent school and its numbers grew. This early success brought rapid development and, before long, the School had outgrown its accommodation.

In September 1980 the School acquired and moved into The Friarage, which is today the focus of the Senior School site. The Friarage is located on the west bank of the River Tees in Yarm, North Yorkshire.

By September 1996, the whole of the Senior School moved to The Friarage and the Preparatory School and its Early School had exclusive use of the old Grammar School site. In 2001 Yarm School became fully co-educational and was the first co-educational private school in the North East of England.

The Senior School now has about 760 pupils, with approximately 200 of these in the Sixth Form. There are 63 full-time and 18 part-time teaching staff in the Senior School; there are a further 24 full-time and 7 part-time teachers in the Preparatory School which accommodates 320 pupils.

In recent years there has been significant investment into the excellent results and is widely acknowledged as a very happy school community.

The School’s first Headmaster Mr Neville Tate has written a book, ‘A Story to be Told’. His charm, wit and spirit of adventure are evident throughout, and this illuminating insight into Yarm School makes a fascinating read. You can buy a copy from the School Office, just call 01642 786023.

Location and School Site

The School is located in the town of Yarm, in the North East of England. Yarm offers easy access to both town and countryside. This includes the nearby North Yorkshire Moors, Yorkshire Dales and a stunning coastline.

Yarm Senior School and Sixth Form can be found at The Friarage, on the west bank of the River Tees. The school houses several buildings, including the Tate Building for science and technology, the Hunt Building for History, Geography and English and a modern Music School. The School also offers outstanding on-site sporting facilities, including a boat house and fitness studio. The 750-seat auditorium boasts incredible views of the River Tees from a stunning terrace area and is regularly used by the School for assemblies and school performances.

Yarm Preparatory School is located on the opposite side of The Spital, just off Yarm High Street. The School has several buildings with many classrooms, large multi-use sport pitches, and an outdoor adventure trail.

The School’s catchment area is vast, with pupils joining the school from around the North East and North Yorkshire. A dedicated coach service is available to pupils from Year 3 (Prep) onwards and covers key routes including Stockton, Stokesley, Northallerton and Wynyard.