Founded in 1896, it is set in 33 acres of beautiful parkland on the outskirts of Horsham. The main building, formerly a country house, is part Jacobean and part Georgian. There have been a number of recent additions, including purpose-built science and prep school buildings, a sports hall, a sixth form centre and a new nursery. An excellent all-round education is provided and examination results are very good. A large staff permits a staff:pupil ratio of about 1:8. The music, PE, drama and art departments are very active. A good range of sport and games, with notable success particularly in riding, hockey and netball. It has an excellent record in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme and the Young Enterprise Scheme.
Pupils: Total age range 3-18; 403 girls (375 day, 28 boarding). Prep department 3-11, 142 girls. Senior department 11-18, 261 girls. Entrance: Main entry ages 4, 11, 12, 13 and 16. Own entrance exam used; for sixth form entry, 6 GCSEs at least grade C (grade B for some sixth-form subjects). No special religious requirements; favours girls with active extra-curricular interests. State school entry 30% of senior school; many seniors from own prep department.
Scholarships (academic, art, drama, music, sport), awarded on entry at age 11, 13 and 16 and carry a grant paid direct to the pupil; 15%-20% of pupils currently on scholarships. Means-tested bursaries, up to 100% of tuition fees, available to pupils from Year 5.
Headmistress: Mrs Jonnie Goyer, in post from 2006. Educated at Belfast Royal Academy and at Trinity College Dublin (history, politics) and Queens University Belfast (PGCE). Previously Deputy Head at Brentwood, Head of Girls at St Joseph’s, Ipswich, Housemistress at Highgate and taught at Belfast Royal Academy. Teaching staff: 40 full time, 18 part time. Annual turnover 12%. Average age 39.
GCSE: 37 pupils in Year 11, 90% gaining at least grade C in 5+ subjects (average of 9 subjects). A-levels: 24 in upper sixth, passing an average of 3 subjects, with a final point score of 332.
100% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (22% after a gap year), 10% usually to Oxbridge. 16% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 24% in science and engineering, 50% in humanities and social sciences, 10% in vocational subjects such as speech therapy, education, business.
GCSE, AS and A-levels, AQA Baccalaureate. 20 exam subjects offered (including history of art, sociology and psychology). Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level. 35% take science A-levels; 40% arts/humanities; 25% both. Special provision: Individual help arranged for those requiring it. Languages: French, German, Spanish and Italian offered to GCSE; French and Spanish at A-level. Languages taught from age 7. Regular exchanges to France, study tours to Spain. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. Pupils take ECDL. 80+ computers for pupil use (9 hours a day), all networked with email and internet access.
Music: Over 70% of pupils learn a musical instrument or voice; instrumental and vocal exams can be taken. Broad range of musical groups including choirs. Regular participation in local and national events. Pupils prepared for university and conservatoire entrance. Drama and dance: Drama taught as a discrete subject; dance as part of PE and as an extra-curricular activity. LAMDA and ISTD exams may be taken. Majority of pupils are involved in school productions. Regular performances in local community. Art and design: On average, 25 take GCSE, 5 A-level. Painting, stained glass, printing, graphics, sculpture, ceramics offered; textiles as a discrete subject. Also figure drawing at local college. Students regularly accepted for art college.
Sport: Hockey, netball, gymnastics, dance, health related fitness, badminton, volleyball, basketball, tennis, athletics, swimming, rounders. From age 14, girls choose games (rugby, football, lacrosse, basketball, hockey, netball, health related fitness, athletics, life-saving, rounders, tennis) or aesthetics pathway (dance, aerobics, yoga, power walking, orienteering, badminton, self-defence). Optional: trampolining, fencing, judo, golf. Sixth form only: pilates, use of local gym. GCSE and A-level PE may be taken. County representatives in hockey, netball and athletics; riding squad regularly competes at local jumping events and at NSEA Championships. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Community service encouraged in sixth form. Clubs include debating, chess, trampolining, choirs, Young Enterprise, art, drama, judo.
Uniform: School uniform worn; smart office dress in sixth form. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, head girl, head of house and house prefects, elected by staff and pupils. School Council. Religion: Based on Church of England ethos; short religious assembly weekly. Social: Annual ball and discos. Organised trips; skiing holidays in Europe and North America, water sports trip to France, Wilderness Trust to South Africa. Upper sixth allowed to bring own car to school.
High standards of behaviour are expected at all times with the emphasis on consideration towards others and the environment; mutually-agreed code of conduct in place. Both parents and pupils understand sanctions in place: departmental detention for unsatisfactory academic work; after-school detention for infringements of behaviour code; Saturday detentions for serious offences. Possession of smoking materials or alcohol, bullying or theft may lead to suspension or in some cases expulsion; any pupil found to be abusing solvents or possessing or using drugs must expect to be expelled.
22% have own study bedroom, 45% share with 1 other; 33% in dormitories of up to 6. Qualified nurse on site by day. Dedicated dining room. Varied weekend activity programme.
is run by Mrs R Monk, c/o the School.
Samantha Cross (academic publisher); Samantha Houghton (anthropologist); Angela Thorne and Jemma Powell (actresses).
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