Founded in 1820, it was the first academic boarding school for girls. After a move from Ealing in London it has settled at its present site at Temple Dinsley, near Hitchin. The main building is a delightful Queen Anne mansion (1712), enlarged by Lutyens in 1909. This and the Dower House lie in fine Gertrude Jekyll gardens and 183 acres of parkland. Considerable modern developments now provide first-rate accommodation and all-round facilities. It remains a small school by choice, with a staff: pupil ratio of about 1:18. It is the school's belief that every girl is an individual and the curriculum, extra-curricular activities and boarding opportunities can be tailored to enable each girl to succeed. Girls are prepared for life in the 21st century within a caring and supportive atmosphere, with an emphasis on individual development. A good all-round education is given and examination results are good. It is strong in the arts (dance, art and music) and a good range of sports, games and activities is available. There is a substantial commitment to local community schemes and an impressive record in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.
Pupils: Age range 11-18; 220 girls (135 day, 85 boarding). Entrance: Main entry ages 11, 13 and 16. Common Entrance and own examination used. Pupils come from a range of independent and state schools.
Academic, art, drama, music, sport and sixth-form scholarships available. Bursaries available for daughters of clergy and members of the armed forces.
70+% live within 30 miles; up to 5% live overseas.
Headmistress: Jo-Anne Duncan, in post from 2008. Educated at the University of St Andrews (English literature and biblical studies) and Homerton College, Cambridge (PGCE). Previously Head of religious studies at Benenden. Teaching staff: 30 full time, 33 part time.
GCSE: 32 pupils in Year 11: 97% gained grade C or above in 5+ subjects. A-levels: 21 in Year 13, 10% passed in 4 subjects, 80% in 3, 10% in 2 subjects. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 300.
95% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (3% after a gap year). 24% take courses in business, 10% in science and engineering, 19% in art and design, 10% in education, 5% in languages, 32% in a variety of other subjects.
GCSE, AS and A-levels. 23 GCSE subjects, 22 AS/A-level. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; PSHE, citizenship and careers compulsory. Vocational: All Year 10 girls participate in work experience. Special provision: Individual and group lessons by specialists. EFL exams. Languages: French, German and Spanish offered at GCSE, AS and A-level. Latin also offered. Regular educational visits to France, Germany and Spain. German and Spanish teachers are native speakers. ICT: Taught as part of the core curriculum and used across the curriculum (eg processing of geography fieldwork, web page building for history). All Year 10 take GCSE short course (AS and A-level available). 100 computers for pupil use (14 hours a day), all networked and with email and internet access(filtered); wireless system allows internet access from pupils' own laptops; also printers, scanners, digital cameras and camcorders available for pupils' use.
Music: Over 75% of pupils learn a musical instrument or take singing lessons; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 8 musical groups including choirs, orchestras, madrigal, jazz, ensembles. 95% of pupils involved in some musical activity. Drama and dance: Both offered at GCSE, A-level or as extra-curricular activities; LAMDA exams may be taken. Dance popular; ballet, Irish, tap, modern and jazz all offered. Majority of pupils involved in productions with school, house or with local boys school. Art and design: On average, 50% take GCSE; AS and A-level offered. Fine art, ceramics, textiles, photography, design technology also offered. Pupils regularly go on to prestigious art colleges.
Sport: Lacrosse, netball, swimming, tennis, rounders, gymnastics, fitness suite, badminton, athletics, cross-country, trampolining. GCSE, AS and A-level PE may be taken, and RLSS exams. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Young Enterprise programme culminating in sixth-form competition. Community service offered to sixth form. Up to 15 clubs, eg debating, desk-top publishing, silkscreen printing, trampolining, hockey, photography, street/jazz dance.
Uniform: School uniform worn; business wear for sixth form with different uniform for special occasions. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, head girl, head of house and house prefects - appointed by the Headmistress, consulting colleagues and girls. School Council. Religion: Interdenominational. Social: Music, debates, sport, drama and social events with boys' schools. Regular educational visits abroad. Sixth form allowed to bring own car/bike to school. Meals combination of self-service and formal. School shop. No alcohol allowed.
Year 11 and sixth formers have own study bedrooms; others in small dormitories. Separate sixth-form house. Resident qualified nurse. Central dining room. Flexible exeats including weekly boarding and flexible boarding. Visits to local town allowed for senior girls; London and Cambridge for sixth formers.
is run by Mrs C Murray and Mrs M Goodbody, email: phc/oga@wstp.fsnet.co.uk or write c/o the school.
Governesses to the children of Queen Victoria and the Kaiser; Dr Helena Wright (pioneer of birth control); Mary Allen (founder of Women's Auxiliary Police); Dorothea Lambert Chambers (six times Wimbledon champion); Kathleen Archer (MI5, who rumbled Philby); Lady Trumpington (Government minister); Cindy Shelley (actress).
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