Founded in 1913, it occupies an attractive rural site of 100 acres of splendid grounds and gardens. The campus is a village-like community and the buildings are a mixture of the modern and the venerable. Completely refurbished and extremely well equipped with modern facilities; recent additions include sixth-form boarding accommodation, an ICT centre, school-wide network, studio theatre, recording studio and radio station; it also has its own 9-hole golf course, floodlit games area with all-weather surface and indoor swimming pool. The school looks for all-round ability and a happy purposeful atmosphere prevails. It is neither consciously progressive nor traditional in its approach. It is not academically exclusive but all pupils are expected to be able to make a positive contribution to their own growth and that of the school. The teaching is good (a high staff:pupil ratio of about 1:8) and examination results are very good. The school prides itself on its careers department. Strong music and drama departments. A good range of sports and games, in which high standards are obtained particularly in lacrosse and hockey, and a wide range of activities. Moreton Enterprises (businesses run exclusively by students) gives pupils opportunities to learn business and entrepreneurial skills.
Pupils: Total age range 4-18; 360 pupils, 130 day (10 boys, 120 girls), 230 boarding girls. Senior department, 11-18, approx 300 girls. Entrance: Main entry ages 4, 7, 11, 13 and 16. Own entrance exam or Common Entrance used; for sixth form entry, 6 GCSEs at least grade C (including sixth form subjects). All-round abilities looked for; no particular religious requirements. State school entry, 10%-15% of main intakes.
Various scholarships, value of up to 10% of fees: academic, music, sport, art, drama and all-rounder; pupils may be awarded more than one scholarship. Means-tested bursaries up to the value of 100% of fees; forces bursaries and for independent school teachers. Parents not expected to buy textbooks or stationery; maximum extras £300 including music tuition.
25+% in industry or commerce; 25% from professions. 70+% live within 50 miles; 15+% live overseas (expatriates).
Principal: Jonathan Forster, in post from 1992. Educated at Shrewsbury and at Leeds University (English). Previously Girls' Housemaster and Head of English at Strathallan. Teaching staff: 39 full time, 14 part time. Annual turnover 5%. Average age 40.
GCSE: 48 pupils in upper fifth: 85% gained at least grade C in 8+ subjects; 10% in 5-7 subjects. A-levels: 42 in upper sixth: 15% passed in 4+ subjects; 72% in 3; and 8% in 1 subject + vocational A-levels. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 298.
97% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (36% after a gap year), 6% to Oxbridge. 16% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 23% in science and engineering, 6% in law, 25% in humanities and social sciences, 18% in art and design, 12% in vocational subjects eg nursing, physiotherapy.
GCSE, AS and A-levels (including vocational A-levels). 24 GCSE subjects, 22 AS/A-level (including 2 vocational). Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level (range 3-5), 3 at A-level. General studies not taken. 30% take science A-levels; 40% arts/humanities; 30% both. Key skills taught in discrete units to level 3. Vocational: Work experience available; all lower sixth involved in Moreton Enterprises. Special provision: Full-time learning support teacher (dyslexia and related disorders - no extra charge). Specialist EFL teaching (no extra charge). Languages: French, German, Spanish, Welsh, Russian and Mandarin Chinese offered at GCSE and A-level. Partner schools and exchange scheme with Spain Germany, France. All second and fourth year linguists visit France, Spain and Germany. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. 120 computers for pupil use (14 hours a day), all networked and with email and internet access. Some 70% of senior pupils own laptops.
Music: Over 70% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 10-15 musical groups including two orchestras, jazz bands, blues, wind bands, string groups, choirs. Members of Shrewsbury Choir and Orchestra; winners of local entry to BBC carol competition. Tours to Barcelona, Paris, Venice, Boston. Drama and dance: Both offered. GCSE and A-level theatre studies, ESB, Poetry Vanguard exams may be taken. Most pupils are involved in school productions and majority in house/other drama. Several joint productions with Shrewsbury, including productions taken to Edinburgh Festival; also Shakespeare, house plays, Oh What A Lovely War to Edinburgh Fringe. Art and design: On average, 20 take GCSE, 6 A-level. Design, costume design, history of art, pottery, textiles, photography also offered. Typically, 3 go on to art colleges each year.
Sport: Lacrosse, netball, hockey, rounders, tennis, swimming initially compulsory. Optional: cricket, golf (own golf course), riding, basketball, volleyball, football, dance, self-defence, judo, fencing. GCSE and BAGA exams may be taken. 3 national lacrosse players (England U18, Wales U18 and U16), 9 county and regional players, county hockey and netball players. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award (100+ involved). Community service optional at age 13 (200 participate). Up to 30 clubs, including pottery, croquet, debating, film club, Leith's cookery course, car maintenance. All lower sixth involved in Moreton Enterprises (Barclays Bank, radio station, Revive cosmetics).
Uniform: School uniform worn except in the sixth form. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, including head and second prefects - appointed by the Principal after consultation. Lower sixth are house prefects. House council and school council. Religion: Compulsory daily assembly and Sunday church in the Anglican tradition. Relaxation of Sunday requirements for sixth form. Social: Boarding houses twinned with houses at Shrewsbury School; many joint social activities/outings. Sports tours to USA and Canada, visits to Germany, France and Spain to stay with families; exchanges with schools in Europe and Australia. Meals self-service. School shop. Alcohol permitted on restricted basis in sixth form.
Punishments range from order marks to expulsion eg for drugs. Pupils failing to produce homework at any time would expect an enquiry as to why and be expected to remedy the situation at once.
Sixth form house with single (ensuite) rooms; 3 other houses of 60-75 (1 junior, 2 middle school). Qualified nurses; separate health centre. Central dining room. Sixth formers can provide and cook own snacks. Flexible weekend exeats each term. Visits to local towns allowed (Shrewsbury, Chester), according to age.
run by Katy Tanner, c/o the school.
Thea Musgrave (composer); Shanaz Pakravan (broadcaster).
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