What it’s like
Founded in 1915, it is situated in 26 acres of playing fields and gardens, a mile from the city centre. The main school building opened in 1930 and a continuing programme of development and building has kept pace with the school’s growth and the demands of its broad curriculum – most recently a performing arts centre and a new boarding house. Examination results are very good. The school is a C of E foundation, but there are pupils of many faiths and cultures, including students from Europe, Africa and the Far East. Much is made of this diversity – the girls are known for their individuality and lack of stereotype. Much emphasis is placed on breadth of opportunity and thus music, art, sport and drama play a vital role in school life. The rowing club has an excellent reputation. A CCF was recently introduced. Much use is made of the cultural resources of Oxford, as well as of London and Stratford.

School profile

Pupils & entrance
Pupils: Total age range 3–18; 962 pupils, 764 day (11 boys, 753 girls), 198 boarding girls. Senior department, 11–18, 693 girls.
Entrance: Main entry ages 3, 4, 11 and 16 (some at 12–14). Common Entrance used at age 11 and 13; own exam at other ages. For sixth-form entry, 5 GCSEs at least grade C (grade B in sixth-form subjects). No special skills or religious requirements but talents eg sport, art, music taken into account. State school entry, 10% main intake plus 10% to sixth form. Pupils welcomed from a range of junior, prep and primary schools.

Scholarships & bursaries 10+ pa academic scholarships, value 20%–50% fees, some according to financial need (awarded at 11, 12, 13 and 16).

Parents 15+% are doctors, lawyers etc; 15+% in industry/commerce; 15+% are academics. 10% live overseas.

Head & staff
Head Mistress: Mrs Anne Coutts, appointed 2003. Educated at King’s High, Warwick, Apsley Grammar and Warwick University (microbiology, virology and education). Previously Headmistress of Sutton High School and of Eothen, Deputy Head of Edgbaston College and Head of Department at Trent College. Also member of Midlands Business Women’s Association; has held a number of scientific research posts.
Teaching staff: 52 full time, 29 part time. Annual turnover 12%. Average age 42.

Exam results
GCSE: In 2003, 93 pupils in fifth: 75% gained at least grade C in 10+ subjects; 21% in 8–9 subjects. Average GCSE score 70 (69 over 5 years).
A-levels: 86 in upper sixth: 15% passed in 4+ subjects; 78% in 3 subjects. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 393.

University & college entrance All 2003 sixth-form leavers went on to a degree course (20% after a gap year), 10% to Oxbridge. 12% took courses in medicine, dentistry & veterinary science, 15% in science & engineering, 25% in humanities & social sciences, 5% in art, design, music and drama, 43% in vocational subjects eg accountancy, architecture, education, physiotherapy.

Curriculum GCSE, AS and A-levels. 19 GCSE subjects, 28 AS/A-level.
Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; general studies is not taken. 14% take science/maths A-levels, 42% arts/humanities; 44% both. Key skills integrated into sixth-form courses.
Vocational: Young Enterprise.
Special provision: Specialist help can be arranged (as an extra).
Languages: French, German and Spanish offered to GCSE, AS and A-level; also GCSE Italian in the sixth form. French compulsory from 11 to GCSE. Exchanges to France.
ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject (1 lesson/week in Years 7–9) and across the curriculum, eg video conferencing for modern languages, mathematics investigations, data logging in science, geography newspaper. 200+ computers for pupil use (up to 14 hours a day), all networked and with e-mail and internet access. Many sixth formers have own laptops. All pupils take GCSE ICT.

The arts
Music: Over 50% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. 15 musical groups including orchestras, choirs, flute group, string quartet, piano trio etc. Participation in music festivals; foreign music tours etc, chamber choir CD (2000 & 2004).
Drama & dance: A-level theatre studies, GCSE drama and Guildhall exams may be taken. Majority of pupils are involved in school and house productions. Regular productions of eg Joseph, Bugsy Malone.
Art & design: 40 take GCSE, 12 AS-level,10 A-level; plus 6 taking photography AS-level, 3 A-level. Creative design, surface textiles, sculpture, 3D-design, print-making, multi-media also offered. Several entrants to art & design and to architecture courses.

Sport & activities
Sport: Hockey, netball, gymnastics, athletics, swimming all compulsory at various stages; otherwise 22 options, including dance, tennis, fitness, trampolining, badminton, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, fencing, judo, rowing. County and regional players in netball, hockey, badminton, tennis, athletics and swimming. 3 pupils in GB rowing squad (2003).
Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award; nearly a third of pupils involved. CCF introduced 2001. World Challenge trips. Very active community service in upper sixth. Annual charity fair. Over 30 clubs, eg debating, international, literary, art, craft as well as various music and sport.

School life
Uniform: School uniform worn except in the sixth form (uniform has options, including trousers).
Houses & prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, head girl, head of house and house prefects, appointed by Head Mistress & staff after staff /sixth form elections. School Committee (run by Head Girl).
Religion: Attendance at morning prayers expected.
Social: Joint concerts, social events and A-level seminars with other schools (eg Magdalen College, Radley, Abingdon, Stowe). Trips abroad include chamber choir tours (Rhineland 2003), language exchanges, drama and art trips, geography and biology field trips, rowing, cross-curricular trips, skiing, etc; World Challenge trips to eg Guyana (2003), Mongolia (2004). Pupils may bring own bike to school, car with permission. Meals self-service. School stationery shop, tuckshop in some houses. No tobacco or alcohol allowed.

Discipline Pupils failing to produce homework might expect an order mark (three mean a detention); any girl caught smoking cannabis on the premises would incur suspension or expulsion.

Boarding Single or double study-bedrooms from age 14, dormitories for up to 6 for juniors. 4 houses: junior house (age 11–14); 2 parallel houses for 12–16; sixth-form house. 33% weekly board; overnight/weekend stays possible for day girls. Visits to Oxford allowed at weekend.

Alumni association is run by the Development Office, c/o the school.

Former pupils Lady Elizabeth Longford; Baroness Young (former Leader of the House of Lords); Rev Catherine Milford (Chairman, Movement for Ordination of Women); Julia Somerville (newscaster); Oliyinka Idowu (Olympic long jumper, 1992); Christina Onassis.