Founded in 1915, to provide ‘a sound education for girls to prepare them for the opportunities that may arise after the war'. The main school building opened in 1930 and is set in 26 acres of its own playing fields and gardens, a mile from central Oxford. The prep school is housed in a Victorian villa just across the road. There has been a continuing programme of development of facilities, and recently completed projects include a floodlit astroturf pitch, a music school, a 240-seat professional theatre, and an airy art building. The school is a C of E foundation, but there are pupils of many faiths and cultures; 30 different nationalities are represented. Much is made of diversity and pupils are known for their individuality and lack of stereotype. The International Baccalaureate is offered as an alternative to AS and A-levels in the sixth form; examination results are very good. A wide range of extra-curricular activities allows pupils to find their niche, whether their strengths are academic, musical, sporting, creative or entrepreneurial. Sport is strong, rowing in particular. World Challenge, Duke of Edinburgh and CCF schemes give older girls the opportunity to broaden their horizons. The school benefits from the cultural resources of Oxford, as well as those of nearby London and Stratford.
Pupils: Total age range 3-18; 1005 pupils, 798 day, 207 boarders. Prep department 3-11, 266 girls. Senior department 11-18, 739 girls. Entrance: Main entry ages 3, 4, 9, 11,13 and 16. Common Entrance exams used at age 11 and 13; own exam at other ages. For sixth form entry, 6 GCSEs at least grade B. No special skills or religious requirements but talents such as sport, art, music taken into account. State school entry, approx 25%. Pupils welcomed from a range of junior, prep and primary schools.
Scholarships with nominal value of £300 (but may be increased on means-tested basis): academic, sport and music at 11, 13 and 16; plus art and drama at 11 and 13; all recipients expected to make a positive contribution to the area of school life relevant to their award (which is reviewed annually). Means-tested bursaries, up to 100% of fees, available for entrants at age 9, 11, 13 and 16.
Headmistress: Mrs Anne Coutts, in post from 2003. Educated at King's High, Warwick, Apsley Grammar and Warwick University (microbiology, virology; MEd). Previously Headmistress of Sutton High School and of Eothen School. Has also held scientific research posts. Teaching staff: 162 full time, 170 part time. Annual turnover 6%. Average age 43.
GCSE: 100 pupils in Year 11, all gaining at least grade C in 8+ subjects. A-levels: 114 in upper sixth; 40% passed in 4+ subjects, 60% in 3 subjects - with an average final point score of 427. First IB results not yet available.
Typically, 99% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course, 11% to Oxbridge; taking a wide range of courses, from medicine, engineering and veterinary science to art foundation courses, English, the humanities or business studies.
GCSE, AS and A-levels, IB Diploma. 22 GCSE subjects, 30+ AS/A-level/IB. Sixth form:16% of pupils are taking the IB Diploma. Remainder take 4-5 subjects at AS-level, 3-4 at A-level. General studies is not taken. Vocational: Young Enterprise. Special provision: Specialist help can be arranged. Languages: French, German and Spanish offered to GCSE, A-level and IB. French compulsory from 11; 1 language compulsory to GCSE. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum, through areas such as video conferencing, mathematics investigations, data logging in science. 300+ computers for pupil use, all networked and with email and internet access. Many pupils have own laptops. All pupils take GCSE short course in ICT.
Music: Over 50% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Musical groups include orchestras, choirs, flute group, string quartet, piano trio. Participation in music festivals; foreign music tours, chamber choir CD. Drama and dance: GCSE drama, A-level theatre studies; Guildhall exams may be taken. Full working theatre (for professional touring companies and school productions). School productions have toured Canada and are regularly on Edinburgh Fringe. Pupils involved in acting, lighting, costumes, directing. Art and design: Strong take-up at GCSE and A-level. Creative design, surface textiles, sculpture, 3D-design, print-making, multi-media also offered. Several entrants to art and design courses.
Sport: Hockey, netball, gymnastics, athletics, swimming all compulsory at various stages; range of sporting opportunities, from netball and hockey, to rock and roll dancing or equestrianism. Policy of sport-for-all, providing for every level of ability and enthusiasm, from casual participation to international competition; 70+ girls regularly compete at county level or above, and several teams are current county champions. Top girls' rowing school and boat club is welcoming and popular. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award; nearly a third of pupils involved. Also CCF contingent; Running Your Own Company scheme; active fundraising initiatives; World Challenge expeditions. Over 50 clubs, including debating, international, literary, art, craft as well as various music and sport.
Uniform: School uniform worn except in the sixth form. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, head girl, head of house and house prefects, appointed by Head and staff after staff /sixth form elections. School Committee (run by head girl). Religion: Church of England; attendance expected at morning assembly and boarders' services (weekly). Social: Joint concerts, social events and A-level seminars with other schools (including Magdalen College, Radley, Abingdon). Trips abroad include chamber choir tours, language exchanges, drama and art trips, geography and biology field trips, rowing, cross-curricular trips, skiing; biannual World Challenge trips to eg Botswana/Zambia, Nepal. Pupils may bring own bike to school (lockable bike sheds). Meals self-service, with good range of lunch and supper options. School stationery shop.
Pupils failing to produce homework might expect a penalty point (three mean a detention); any girl caught smoking cannabis on the premises would incur suspension or expulsion.
Boarding is flexible: full, weekly, flexi and occasional boarding on offer. 4 boarding houses, divided by age groups; sixth formers enjoy the freedom of purpose-built house, adjoining the sixth-form centre. Full programme of weekend activities; options from horse riding to strawberry picking, skateboarding to theatre trips.
is run by the Development Office, c/o the school.
Lady Elizabeth Longford (biographer); Baroness (Janet) Young (former Leader of the House of Lords); Julia Somerville (newscaster); Oliyinka Idowu (Olympic long jumper); Christina Onassis (shipping magnate); Baroness (Ann) Mallalieu QC (president of Countryside Alliance); Jane Tewson (founder of Comic Relief); Emma Watson (actress).
|
