Founded in 1874, as a member of the the Girls' Day School Trust, and moved in 1966 to its present site, just south of Croydon in the Surrey greenbelt. It is a modern purpose-built and well-equipped school. The emphasis is on all-round education, including not only the academic curriculum and personal and social education but an impressive programme of extra-curricular activities. Good communication between home and school are greatly valued. The teaching is well known to be very good. Academic standards are high and examination results excellent. It is particularly strong in music, art and design and drama. Sport and games are played to high standards (many county and national representatives). There is a big commitment to local community schemes, World Challenge and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.
Pupils: Total age range 3-18; 674 day girls. Junior department 3-11, 204 girls. Senior department 11-18, 470 girls. Entrance: Main entry ages 4, 5, 7, 11 and 16. Own entrance exam used; for sixth form entry, 7 GCSEs at least grade C, including English and maths, and grade B in sixth-form subjects. Good academic ability required; no religious requirements. 30% of new senior intake from state schools; many from own junior department.
12+ pa scholarships awarded at age 11 and 16, value up to 50% fees (academic, music, drama, sports, art and design); also 6 sixth-form awards of £150 (sport, languages, humanities, sciences, art). Some bursaries at entry at 11 and 16; plus some for girls whose parents' financial circumstances change. Parents not expected to buy textbooks.
Headmistress: Mrs Debbie Leonard, in post from 2010. Educated at Birmingham University (BEd with mathematics and PE, MEd). Previously Deputy Head of Nottingham High and of Thetford High and Head of PE and school development at King Edward’s Birmingham. Also national hockey coach. Head of Junior School: Mrs Liz Wilson, in post from 2011. Educated at South Bank University (BEd mathematics). Previously Head of Sutton High Junior School, taught at GDST schools and in the maintained sector. Teaching staff: 53 full-time teaching staff, 15 part-time. Annual turnover under 10%.
GCSE: 55 pupils in Year 11, all gaining grade C or above in 6+ subjects (99% included English, maths, a science, a humanity and a modern language). A-levels: 50 in upper sixth: 22% passed in 4 subjects, 78% in 3 subjects, with an average final point score of 398.
99% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (11% after a gap year), 14% to Oxbridge. 10% took courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 33% in science and engineering, 48% in arts, humanities and social sciences. Others typically go on to art, music or drama colleges.
GCSE, AS and A-levels. 22 AS/A-level subjects. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level (some 3 or 5), 3-4 at A-level; general studies is not taken; Extended Project offered as a stand-alone qualification. Approx 25% take science/maths A-levels, 25% arts/humanities; 50% both. Vocational: Work experience available. Languages: French, German, Spanish and Latin offered to GCSE and A-level. Regular exchanges to France, Germany and Spain. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. Computers for pupil use in 4 suites, all networked and with email and internet access (filtered).
Music: Up to 40% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Many musical groups including 3 orchestras, wind band, brass ensemble, jazz group, 4 choirs, ad hoc choirs, chamber groups, popular groups etc - most weekly groups have 30+ members. Drama and dance: Drama and dance offered. GCSE and AS-level drama, LAMDA, Guildhall exams may be taken. All pupils are involved in school productions and majority in other productions. Successful Theatre in Education group. Art and design: On average, 40 take GCSE, 15 A-level. Regular entrants to foundation courses.
Sport: Netball, hockey, dance, gym, tennis, athletics, swimming compulsory. Optional: rounders, volleyball, basketball, badminton, table tennis, aerobics. Sixth form only: lifesaving. Netball umpiring exams may be taken. National netball and swimming finalists; national representatives in a variety of sports, county reps in netball, hockey, tennis, swimming, gymnastics, cross-country, athletics. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Community service compulsory for 1 term at age 16+, optional otherwise. 15-20 clubs, eg computer, design and technology, chess, debating, drama, sports, UN, Young Enterprise, World Challenge.
Uniform: School uniform worn. Houses and prefects: Four competitive houses. Prefects, senior prefects and 2 head girls, elected by staff and senior girls. School Council. Religion: Non-denominational school. All pupils attend daily assembly. Social: Activities joint with Trinity and Whitgift boys' schools, including weekly enrichment programme with Trinity (on both sites). Exchange trips, educational courses, study trips, and ski trips abroad. Meals self-service. Second-hand uniform shop.
In any disciplinary actions parents are always closely involved. For example, pupils failing to produce homework would expect a letter home at the third instance.
is run by Mrs M Knight, c/o the school.
Baroness (Nancy) Seear (social scientist and Lib Dem politician); Marion Roe (MP); Jill Tweedie (journalist); Jane Drew (architect); Wendy Savage (gynaecologist and obstetrician); Jacqueline du Pré (cellist); Helen Chadwick (artist); Jane Warr (BBC correspondent); Elizabeth Laird (children's author).
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