Founded in 1878 by the Girls' Day School Trust. It moved in 1884 to its present premises in spacious grounds in the pleasant suburb of Broomhill. The junior department at Melbourne House and the separate sixth-form centre are on the same site and close to the senior school. Many additions have been made to the original Victorian buildings including science, ICT and art facilities. It provides a sound general education and examination results are very good. There is a full programme of music, dance, drama and art, involving many pupils. A wide range of sports and games is offered and high standards are achieved in many, particularly in athletics, badminton, cross-country, hockey, netball, trampolining and rounders. There are many extra-curricular activities, including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, a substantial commitment to local community services and a variety of overseas trips.
Pupils: Total age range 4-18; 1000 day girls. Senior department 11-18, 700 girls. Entrance: Main entry ages 4, 7, 11 and 16. Own entrance exam used at 11; for sixth form entry, 7 GCSEs at least grade C, including English and maths (grade B in sixth form subjects). No special skills or religious requirements. Many senior pupils from own junior department.
Academic scholarships (maximum value 50% of fees) and bursaries (which may be up to 100% of fees).
Headmistress: Mrs Valerie Dunsford, in post from 2004. Educated at Manchester University (French). Previously Deputy Head at Durham High School.
GCSE: 111 pupils in Year 11, 100 % gained at least grade C in 5+ subjects. A-levels: 91 in upper sixth, passing on average 3.1 subjects.
99% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (11% after a gap year), 4% to Oxbridge. 15% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 13% in science and engineering, 41% in humanities and social sciences, 5% in art and design, 8% in business and management, 3% in other vocational courses eg optometry, sport and exercise science.
GCSE, AS and A-levels. 19 GCSE subjects offered, 25 AS/A-level. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3-4 at A-level; additionally, AS/A-level general studies may be taken. Key skills ICT level 3 in Year 12. Vocational: Work experience compulsory at age 16 and 17. Languages: French, Russian, German, Spanish, Latin and Greek (ancient) offered to GCSE and A-level. 80% take GCSE in more than 1 language. Regular exchanges; work experience offered in France and Germany. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. All pupils take short course GCSE IT. Many computers for pupil use plus additional laptops (all day); all networked and with email and internet access.
Music: Most pupils learn one or more musical instruments; instrumental exams, GCSE and A-level may be taken. Musical ensembles include choirs, orchestras, concert and swing bands, string and woodwind groups. Drama: Part of curriculum. GCSE and A-level drama, also LAMDA exams may be taken. All pupils can participate in school plays, musicals, drama and scriptwriting clubs. Art and design: On average, 50 take GCSE, 17 A-level. Design, pottery and textiles also offered.
Sport: Hockey, netball, tennis, athletics, volleyball, trampolining, badminton, gymnastics, dance, rounders and fitness compulsory. Optional: cross-country, swimming, aerobics, fencing. CSLA, GCSE PE and A-level sports studies offered. Many international players in athletics, football, hockey, rounders; National champions in trampolining and skiing; national finalists in netball, badminton, cross-country, biathlon, rounders, skiing; regional and county finalists and champions in hockey, netball, rounders, trampolining, tennis; city champions in cross-country, badminton, hockey, netball, trampolining and athletics. Sports tours overseas (eg New Zealand). Activities: 60-70 pupils per year take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Community service compulsory in sixth form. 30+ clubs, eg bridge, debating, dance, rock and fossil, physics, Christian Union, Young Enterprise.
Uniform: School uniform worn except in the sixth form. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, head girl and house captains - elected by sixth form and staff. Student Council. Religion: Non-denominational. Religious assembly most mornings. Social: Games fixtures and debates with local schools. Skiing trips, exchanges and visits to eg France, Singapore, Russia; sports tours eg South Africa, Australia; educational cruises; World Challenge expeditions to eg Mongolia, Argentina. Pupils allowed to bring own car/bike/motorbike to school. School tuck shop.
Regular monitoring of academic progress and social development by pastoral staff. Code of behaviour drawn up by student council and staff. Pupils failing to produce homework once might expect to see her Head of Year; those using an illegal substance on the premises could expect exclusion. Process for pupils to set own targets.
Margaret Drabble (novelist); Baroness (Sally) Oppenheimer (politician); A S Byatt (novelist); Angela Knight (British Bankers' Association) ; Naomi Siddall (England netball).
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