Founded at the end of the 19th century it has a fine site close to Windsor Great Park and opposite the Ascot racecourse. The grounds comprise 30 acres of fields, woods, streams and heathland and the handsome brick buildings have an elevated position with good views. The school is well equipped and has good sports facilities, including a fully-equipped sports hall and floodlit tennis and netball courts. Other recent additions include a performing arts hall, design and technology facilities. The computer system has been networked to all buildings. It is Christian in outlook and has its own chapel. A sound general education is provided and results in public examinations are very good. Music, drama and art are an important part of the curriculum. There is a wide range of sports, games and extra-curricular activities.
Pupils: Age range 11-18; 270 girls (152 day, 118 boarding). Entrance: Main entry ages 11, 12, 13 and 16. Common Entrance used. Pupils come from a wide range of feeder schools.
Scholarships available: academic, art and music (at both 11 and 16), plus drama and PE at 16. Some means-tested bursaries for existing pupils. No compulsory extras; charges for extra individual games, drama and music.
Headmistress: Mrs Caroline Jordan, in post from 2005. Educated at St Helen and St Katherine and at Oxford University (earth sciences). Previously Head of Sixth Form and Deputy Head of Boarding at Wycombe Abbey.
GCSE: 41 pupils in fifth, all gaining at least grade C in 8+ subjects. A-levels: 36 in upper sixth, all passing in 3+ subjects, with an average final point score of 382.
98% of sixth form leavers go on to degree courses (60% after a gap year). 5% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 23% in science and engineering, 49% in humanities and social sciences, 12% in art and design, 11% in vocational courses such as education, sports science, accountancy, speech science, architecture.
GCSE, AS and A-levels: 16 GCSE subjects, 24 AS/A-level. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; general studies is not taken. Girls may study for the AQA Baccalaureate in addition to A-levels. 11% took science A-levels; 41% arts/humanities; 48% both. Key skills integrated into sixth-form courses; IT certificates. Range of enrichment courses eg leadership challenge, safe driving, yoga. Vocational: Work experience and community service available. Special provision: Support teaching is arranged as an extra one-to-one. Languages: French, German and Spanish offered to GCSE and A-level; other languages by special arrangement. Regular exchanges. ICT: Taught as a discrete subject. All pupils take GCSE in business and communication systems. 45 computers solely for pupils use (15 hours a day), all networked and with email and internet access; also number of networked, wireless laptops.
Music: 80% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 10 musical groups including choirs, woodwind, strings, jazz group, orchestra. Drama: GCSE drama, A-level drama and theatre studies and LAMDA exams may be taken. Some pupils are involved in school productions and majority in house/other productions. Art and design: On average, 20 take GCSE, 8 A-level. Textiles, photography, ceramics and history of art A-level also offered.
Sport: Netball, lacrosse, gymnastics, tennis, swimming, rounders, athletics, squash compulsory. Optional: badminton, volleyball, table tennis, fitness, fencing, ballet, aerobics, modern stage, tap, basketball. County, regional and national lacrosse teams members, lacrosse tours to USA. Activities: Pupils take bronze and silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Clubs include young scientist, pet keeping, photography and cookery.
Uniform: School uniform worn except in sixth form. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. School Council. Religion: Church of England. Compulsory morning assembly in chapel, 4 days a week. One compulsory Sunday service; Roman Catholics attend Mass; other religions may participate in their practices. Social: Contact with local schools encouraged. Trips abroad include annual visit to Normandy, skiing trip, art and history of art trip, frequent European music tours. A wide range of charities are supported.
Clear and consistent policy on drugs, alcohol and smoking. Minor offences dealt with by detention or extra school duties. Girls encouraged to follow school code by showing consideration for others.
Most sixth form have own study bedroom; 8% of pupils in dormitories of 4+. Accommodation divided by age group. Qualified nurse. Visits to Ascot allowed, supervised until the end of Year 9.
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