School: Cheltenham Ladies’ College
Address: Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 3EP
Pupils: 873, Upper Sixth 330
Fees: For the academic year 2021/22, the College fees are*: £13,260 Boarding per term £8,900 Day per term *Fees for new girls joining College in the Sixth Form: £14,930 Boarding per term £10,130 Day per term
Enquiries: Enquiries to the Principal. Applications to the Admissions Department
Description: Founded in 1853, College flourished for most of its first 50 years under Miss Dorothea Beale, a pioneer of the belief that the education of girls is every bit as important as that of boys. In 1873 it moved into fine buildings at Bayshill, near the centre of regency Cheltenham. There have been many additions since to provide a well-equipped school, most recently a Health and Fitness Centre and a programme of boarding house refurbishments. The school provides an environment that is supportive, interesting and challenging, in a culture where every girl matters and where their progress and wellbeing are paramount. It has a strong academic tradition with a large, well-qualified staff. The International Baccalaureate is offered as an alternative to A-levels. Academic standards are high and examination results are consistently excellent; a large number of girls go on to Oxbridge each year and many to US universities. Music, drama and art are strong and good standards are continuously achieved. High standards are attained in sport, with many representatives at county, regional and national level, while others will develop their skills, work as a team and lead a healthy lifestyle. A range of some 140 clubs allows all pupils to find one or more activity to suit them.
School Head: Principal: Ms Eve Jardine-Young, in post from 2011. Educated at Cheltenham Ladies College and Cambridge University (Engineering Science). Previously Director of Studies at Blundell’s, Housemistress and Head of Sixth Form at Epsom College and taught economics at Radley. Worked as a structural engineer before entering the teaching profession. Teaching staff: 94 full time, 55 part time, 59 peripatetic.
Results: GCSE: 126 pupils in Year 11. In 2021, students have been awarded 96.1% A*-A / 9-7 grades. These include core subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths and English Literature, many languages including German, Arabic, Italian, Chinese, French, Japanese and Russian, and a broad range of other subjects such as History, Geography, Art, Food & Nutrition, Music, PE and RS. At Cheltenham Ladies’ College, 86.6% of results were 9/8/A*. A Level: With A* grades making up a half of all results in 2021, this year the school has seen 38 pupils achieve 3 or more A* grades at A Level. Across the cohort, 84.8% are A* or A grades, while an impressive 96.1% of results are A*-B grades. Girls celebrated their International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma results having achieved an impressive average of 42.7 points, significantly higher than the 2021 national average of 33 points. The IB Class of 2021 have secured places at a number of other prestigious international institutions, including Yale and Johns Hopkins in the US and the University of Hong Kong, as well as a range of top UK universities, including Cambridge, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), Durham, Imperial College London, London School of Economics (LSE) and Edinburgh.
Furtherhigher: 91% of students achieved their first choice or preferred university place in 2021 and 90% of our UK destinations are Russell Group universities. Pupils take a wide range of courses, including medicine, veterinary science, science, engineering, maths, social sciences, arts, classics, English and modern languages.
Arts: Music: 65+% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Musical groups including a symphony orchestra, two string orchestras, choirs, symphonic wind band, flute choirs, jazz band, rock groups, clarinet ensembles, guitar ensembles, saxophone ensembles, early music ensembles. Many chamber choirs, musicals and tours abroad. Drama: Part of the curriculum and LAMDA and Guildhall exams may also be taken. There are a number of productions, including musicals. Art and design: Offered as part of the curriculum and of the co-curricular programme. Photography, art history, sculpture, etching and silk-screen printing offered. Visits to museum and galleries. Girls regularly gain entry to top schools of art and architecture.
Sport: Over 30 sports are available including badminton, cricket, fencing, lacrosse, martial arts, polo, skiing, yoga. Girls regularly complete at county, regional and national levels; also are opportunities for girl who enjoy sport as part of healthy lifestyle. Also bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award; sixth form community links volunteering programme. 140+ clubs and activities, including acapella, chess, robotics, debating, marine biology, environment, model UN, music, philosophy, street dance, upcycling and young enterprise.
Boarding: Junior houses of 65 girls in dormitories of 2-6. Separate sixth-form houses, with single study bedrooms. 4 exeats a year, plus Sundays after Church. All girls are allowed into the town, with frequency and supervision dependent on age.
Alumni: The Guild Office is based at the College.
Formerpupils: Dame Mary Archer (scientist and Chair of the Science Museum); Baroness Rosie Boycott (journalist and former editor of The Independent); Katherine Hamnett CBE (fashion designer); Cherry Healey (broadcaster and presenter); Tamara Hill-Norton (founder of Sweaty Betty); Caroline Kirby OBE (first female President of the Law Society); Rachel Lomax (first female Deputy Governor, Bank of England); Fiona MacTaggart (Labour politician); Dame Clare Marx (first female Chair of the General Medical Council and first female Chair of the Royal College of Surgeons); Gareth Peirce (defence lawyer and human rights activist); Bridget Riley CBE (artist); Amber Rudd (former Home Secretary and Conservative politician); Dame Kristin Scott Thomas (actress); Robin Stevens (children’s author); Sophie Soloman (violinist and composer); Amanda Wakeley OBE (fashion designer).
