The College was founded in 1853 to provide an education for girls on Christian lines. Over the years there has been a continuing programme of development and modernisation so that today the standard of the buildings and equipment, like the quality of the teaching, meets the needs of the twenty first century. Recent additional facilities include a Sports Hall, Drama Studio and Computer network. A new competition-sized, indoor swimming pool opened in Autumn 1994.
There are seven boarding houses taking girls from 11 to 16, and four sixth form houses. Each house has its own Housemistress, House Staff and domestic and catering staff. Sixth form Housemistresses have a small teaching role but other boarding Housemistresses are non-teaching. There are also three day girl houses.
The curriculum includes all normal academic subjects, plus Electronics, Economics, Computer Studies, Technology, Textiles and Theatre Studies. The Sciences are taught separately and together with Mathematics are very popular A level options. French, German, Spanish and Russian are taught to both GCSE and Advanced level; Italian is taught in the Sixth form to Advanced level.
There are excellent facilities for Music, Art, Drama and Sport with many choirs, two orchestras and sports' teams in every age group and many sports. There is a wide variety of extra-curricular activities, including the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, in which the majority of girls participate.
Most girls enter via the Common Entrance Examination at 11, 12 or 13+ but the College also holds its own Scholarship Examinations. Academic, Music and Art Scholarships are available. Assisted Places offered.
