The GDST was founded in 1872 to establish good, affordable day schools for girls. It currently educates 20,000 pupils a year at its 26 member schools. Almost all provide all-through education for girls of 3 through to 18. You can contact GDST on www.gdst.net or tel 020 7393 6666.

Pupils at its schools are still predominantly day girls. However, two schools are co-educational at sixth-form level, several in the junior or prep departments; and the Royal High School in Bath takes boarders.

GDST has its own scholarships and bursaries scheme to encourage pupils from different social, economic and ethnic backgrounds. Some 20% of pupils receive some help towards their fees each year.

These are the independent GDST schools

Blackheath High School

Brighton & Hove High School

Bromley High School

Central Newcastle High

Croydon High School

Heathfield School (Pinner)

Howell’s School (Llandaff)

Ipswich High School

Kensington Prep School

Northampton High School

Norwich High School for Girls

Notting Hill & Ealing High School

Nottingham Girls’ High School

Oxford High School

Portsmouth High School

Putney High School

Royal High School (Bath)

Sheffield High School

Shrewsbury High School

South Hampstead High School

Streatham Hill & Clapham High School

Sutton High School

Sydenham High School

Wimbledon High School

There are also two academies: Belvedere Academy and Birkenhead High School Academy