Founded by Miss Olive Willis in 1907 in Darwin's home, Downe House in Kent, it moved to its present site in 1921. It now occupies a 100 acre site in the village of Cold Ash, 5 miles north of Newbury. Extensive modernisation and building has taken place over the years and facilities are now very good. Life in the sixth form is planned to give girls a greater degree of independence and as such provide a transition between school and higher education. The school has its own chapel, which is central to school life. The teaching is good and examination results are accordingly high. It is very strong in music; the art and drama departments are very active. There are good sports facilities and a wide range of extra-curricular activities.
Pupils: Age range 11-18, 567 girls (21 day, 546 boarding). Entrance: Main entry ages 11, 12 and 13. Common Entrance exam and own assessment used; for sixth form entry, 7 GCSEs at least grade B (grade A preferred in sixth-form subjects).
Variable number of exhibitions and scholarships: academic, sports, music, art, drama; value £600-£1000 pa (or free instrumental tuition for music scholars). Some bursaries, based on financial need.
Headmistress: Mrs Emma McKendrick, appointed 1997. Educated at Bedford High and at the universities of Liverpool and Birmingham (German and Dutch). Previously Headmistress at The Royal School, Bath.
GCSE: 94 pupils in upper fifth: 100% gained grade C or above in 8+ subjects. A-levels: 82 in upper sixth: all passed in 3+ subjects, with average final point score of 415.
All sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (65% after a gap year), 17% to Oxbridge. 19% take courses in science and engineering (including medicine, veterinary medicine), 62% in humanities and social sciences (including languages), 11% in fine art, architecture and design, 5% in drama & theatre studies and 4% in specialist courses eg music technology, graphic arts, sports science.
GCSE, AS and A-levels. 27+ AS/A-level subjects. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; in addition, all take A-level general studies. 31% take science A-levels; 36% arts/humanities; 33% both. Communication and numerical skills integrated into general studies, IT as a discrete unit (to level 3). Leith's certificate in food and wine also offered in sixth form. Special provision: 2 part-time learning support teachers (full-time co-ordinator); also EFL. Languages: French, German, Italian, Spanish and Russian offered at GCSE and A-level. All 12-year olds spend a term in France; regular exchanges (aged 14-16 to France). ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum; compulsory to 16. 250 networked computers for pupil use (all day), with email and internet access. Many girls have own laptops. School has ratio of 1:3 computers to girls.
Music: Almost all pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 10 musical groups including 3 orchestras, 4 choirs, wind, brass bands. National Chamber Music Competition finalists and semi-finalists. Drama and dance: Both offered. GCSE drama and LAMDA exams may be taken. Majority of pupils are involved in school and house/other productions. Art and design: On average, 30 take GCSE, 20 take AS/A-level; 12 take GCSE photography, 16 take AS/A-level. Pottery, textiles also offered. Most A-level students accepted to first choice art foundation courses.
Sport: Tennis, squash, lacrosse, netball, hockey, swimming, athletics, aerobics, gymnastics, trampolining, cross-country running and dance compulsory. National, county and territory lacrosse representatives; county netball, hockey, cross-country and athletics representatives. Activities: Pupils take bronze and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. CCF and community service optional. Up to 30 clubs, including ballet, dance, debating, fencing, polo, horse riding. A variety of social, creative and physical activities and optional weekend events.
Uniform: School uniform worn, modified for sixth form. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects (called Seniors), head senior and deputy, heads of houses, house prefects - elected by the school and Head. School Council. Religion: All girls expected to attend collective worship unless formally withdrawn by parents. Social: Joint drama with Radley, social events with Radley, Eton, Harrow, Winchester. Trips abroad include to Paris (history of art), Cologne (shopping), Tuscany (choral tour), Bangalore (sixth form); World Challenge to Borneo; also links with schools in Romania, Mexico, Malawi and Kenya. Sixth formers may bring their own car to school. Meals self-service. School shop. Sixth formers allowed alcohol at supervised school events.
Pupils failing to produce prep once might expect to complete it in a supervised work session; for those caught smoking cannabis on the premises the ultimate sanction is expulsion.
Geraldine James (actress), Georgina Capel (literary agent), Clare Balding (TV sports commentator).
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