Gargrave is a voluntary controlled Church of England primary school, and is one of the family of Church Schools in the Bradford Diocese. It was originally founded by the Church, but is now controlled by the local authority.
Recognising the School's historic foundation, the Governors and Staff aim to preserve and develop its religious character in accordance with the principles of the Church of England and in partnership with the Church at parish and diocesan level. The School aims to serv its community by providing an education of the highest quality within the context of Christian belief and practice. The School encourages an understanding of the meaning and significance of faith, and promotes Christian values through the experience it offers to all its pupils. It caters for boys and girls between the ages of four and eleven. The maximum number of children to be admitted into the Reception class in each academic year has been set at 20. The number on roll as at September 2011 is 90.
The present school was built in 1977 and opened on 21st June of that year. The School is set in extensive grounds overlooked by the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. The building consists of four classrooms, hall, library, computer room, staff room, secretary's office, headteacher's office and kitchen where school dinners are prepaired daily. The grounds include a large hard-surfaced playing area and a sports field, including wooden play equipmwnt, a wildlife garden and a gardening area with greenhouse and poly-tunnel. There is also a classroom
dedicated to the Out of School Club. Within the school grounds there is an independent preschool, catering for children from two and a half years to school age, run by a successful voluntary management committee.
The school serves the areas of Gargrave, Coniston Cold, Bell Busk, Eshton, Bank Newton, Broughton and East and West Marton and has strong links through activities and events with this community.