Established in 1860 and later joined the Girls' Day School Trust. It occupies an 11-acre site within easy reach of the centre of Cardiff. The imposing mid-Victorian Gothic school building has been enlarged and adapted; facilities include a great hall, drama studio, recording studios, technology centre, indoor swimming pool, sports complex and ICT suites. There is separate accommodation for the newly co-educational sixth form college; sixth-form boys were first accepted in 2005. Pastoral care is well structured through the tutorial system. Academic standards are high and examination results very good. It is very strong in music and drama. There is a range of games and sports in which high standards are achieved, with national and county honours and representatives in many of them. Extra-curricular activities are encouraged. There are work experience and work shadowing programmes in the UK, France and Germany.
Pupils: Total age range 3-18; 866 day pupils. Senior school 11-16, 580 pupils (85 sixth-form boys, 495 girls). Entrance: Main entry ages 3, 4, 11 and 16. Own entrance exam used; for sixth form entry, 6 GCSE subjects at least grade C (including English, science and maths; grade B in sixth form subjects). No special skills or religious requirements.
Academic scholarships at 11 and 16, value up to 50% of fees. Means tested bursaries at 11 and 16, and for current pupils if parents suffer financial difficulty. Textbooks, examination entries etc included in fees.
Principal: Mrs Sally Davis, in post from 2007. Educated at Bassaleg Comprehensive School, Newport, London University (Geology) and College of St Mark and St John (PGCE). Previously Deputy Head at the school and taught at inner London comprehensive schools, including one of the first City Technology Colleges. Teaching staff: 56 full time, 18 part time. Annual turnover 5%.
GCSE: 81 pupils in Year 11, 98% gained at least grade C in 8+ subjects. A-levels: 68 in Year 13: 100% pass in 3 subjects.
The vast majority of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (15% after a gap year), 10% to Oxbridge. 24% take courses in science, medicine, pharmacy and engineering, 9% in law, 9% in business studies, 25% in the arts, 33% in other subjects including IT, physiotherapy, performing arts, music.
GCSE, AS and A-levels. 21 AS/A-level subjects. Integrated PSHE programme; peer-led drug education. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; general studies is not taken. 30% take science A-levels; 45% arts/humanities; 25% both. Vocational: Work experience for all Year 11; available in Europe for Year 12 linguists. Special provision: Dyslexia unit. Languages: French, Latin, German and Welsh offered at GCSE, AS and A-level. Regular trips to France and Germany. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum (eg internet research, wordprocessing, DTP to produce coursework). 180 computers for pupil use (9 hours a day), all networked and with email and internet access. ECDL qualification for all those not taking ICT at GCSE.
Music: Over 50% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Musical groups include 4 choirs, madrigal group, 3 orchestras, many chamber groups including jazz, pop and classical. Large proportion of girls involved in music at county level, some at national. Drama and dance: Both offered. LAMDA exams may be taken. Majority of pupils are involved in school and house/other productions. Art and design: Design, pottery, textiles, photography, print making, art history, sculpture, graphics also offered.
Sport: Options include gymnastics, dance, hockey, football, lacrosse, netball, tennis, cricket, swimming, rounders, athletics, basketball, badminton, volleyball, cross-country, fencing, lifesaving, aerobics, aqua aerobics. RLSS exams may be taken. National representatives at sailing, tennis, hockey, gymnastics, lacrosse and skiing; county representatives at netball, hockey, tennis, swimming and skiing. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Community service compulsory for sixth form. Up to 20 clubs, including BAYS, classics, drama, astronomy, debating, various sports and public speaking. Also Young Enterprise Scheme, Engineering Project, Achievers International, CEWC (Council for Education in World Citizenship), World Challenge, First Challenge.
Uniform: School uniform worn except in the sixth form. Houses and prefects: House system, pastoral and competitive (including school eisteddfodau). Prefects, head girl and deputies. Religion: Non-denominational. Social: Meals self-service. Second-hand uniform shop.
Relatively minor disciplinary matters dealt with either by the relevant member of staff or head of section. Strong anti-bullying policy (all girls sign an anti-bullying contract).
All former students are members of Minerva, the GDST alumni association. Hywelian Guild run by Mrs N Davies, c/o the school
Baroness Jean McFarlane (Professor of Nursing); Dr Anne-Rosalie David (Chair of Egyptology, Manchester University); Felicity Hunt (Cambridge University's Equal Opportunities Officer); Sarah Powell (BBC producer), Meriel Beattie (BBC News Reporter); Jane Crowley QC (Wales's first woman QC); Charlotte Church (singer).
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