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What it's like

Founded in 1887, in 1905 it moved to its present urban site with its own playing fields. Reading town centre is within easy reach and pupils travel from a wide area, including most of Berkshire and parts of Hampshire and Oxfordshire. The junior and prep schools and early years centre are on a different site nearby but the school is organised as one complete unit. The sixth form has its own wing of the school. Places in the senior school are offered on the understanding that girls will complete the full seven-year course, including the sixth form. It is a C of E school and, while girls of all faiths or none are accepted, all join in morning prayers and religious instruction in accordance with C of E principles. Academic standards are high and examination results very good. The school aims to send into the world young people with good standards of behaviour, with a sincere and responsible attitude to work and to other people, and with a capacity for enjoying life to the full. Music, sport and drama are particularly strong, with events and productions involving all members of the school in some capacity. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme flourishes and some nine or ten expeditions are arranged each year.

Pupils & entrance

Pupils: Total age range 3-18, 990 day girls. Senior school 10-18, 750 girls. Entrance: Main entry ages 3, 6-11 and 16. Own exam used; for sixth-form entry, a spread of at least 7 GCSEs at grade B or above, including sixth-form subjects. No special skills required; school looks for potential. C of E foundation but welcomes pupils of other faiths or of none. Pupils drawn from large number of state and independent schools.

Scholarships & bursaries

20 pa scholarships, value 10%-40% of fees: 18 academic, 2 music (5 at 11, 15 at 16). Also school assisted places, bursaries available as needed. Parents not expected to buy textbooks. Only extras are music (140 a term) and speech and drama (60).

Head & staff

Headmistress: Mrs Barbara E Stanley, appointed 2002. Educated at Glenlola Collegiate School, Co Down, and at universities of Belfast and Leicester. Previously Principal at Alexandra College, Dublin, Headmistress of Bedford High, Deputy Headmistress of Channing, Head of Geography at St Bernard's Convent, and held other posts at Forest School, Devizes School and Glenlola Collegiate School. Also Church Council and School Governor; Member and Speaker, Corrymeela Community (N Ireland Reconciliation Community); Executive Member, NI Branch of Assistant Masters' and Mistress's Association (AMMA) and representative on NI Council for Educational Research. Teaching staff: 84 full time, 16 part time.

Exam results

GCSE: On average, 102 pupils in upper fifth. 100% gained at least grade C in 8+ subjects. Average GCSE score 79 (75 over 5 years). A-levels: 76 in upper sixth. 14% passed in 4+ subjects; 86% in 3 subjects. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 384.

University & college entrance

On average, 92% of sixth-form leavers go on to a degree course (30% after a gap year), 7% to Oxbridge. 18% take courses in medical professions, 30% in maths, science and engineering, 38% in humanities and social sciences, 8% in expressive arts eg art, drama, theatre and textiles, 6% in business management.

Curriculum

GCSE, AS and A-levels. 23 subjects at GCSE, 28 at AS/A-level. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 or 4 at A-level; general studies not taken. Key skills are compulsory, some taught separately, some incorporated into A and AS-levels. Vocational: Work experience available. No vocational courses. Special provision: Some help for pupils with mild dyslexia. Languages: French, German and Spanish offered at GCSE, AS and A-level; French compulsory from age 11, further language from age 12. Regular exchanges to France, Germany and Spain. ICT: Taught as a discrete subject. Students wordprocess assignments and use charting; all take GCSE. 102 computers for pupil use (10 hours a day), all networked and with Email and internet access.

The arts

Music: Up to 50% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Musical groups include orchestra, concert band, jazz band, brass ensemble, saxophone group, chamber choir, flute choir etc. Drama: Drama offered; AS-level and New Era Academy exams may be taken. Majority of pupils involved in school and other productions: recently My Fair Lady; sixth form production of The Rivals; Beauty is a Beast (Year 3, directed by lower sixth). Girls regularly achieve gold medals in examinations. Art and design: On average, 28 take GCSE, 10 A-level. Design, pottery and textiles also offered.

Sports & activities

Sport: Hockey, netball, gymnastics, dance, athletics tennis, rounders, swimming compulsory. Options: Synchro swimming, diving, keep fit, aerobics, golf, rowing, real tennis. GCSE, AS-level, BAGA exams may be taken. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Community service optional. Clubs include music, sports, drama, debating, public speaking, chess, art, science, Christian Union, Italian.

School life

Uniform: School uniform worn except in sixth form. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. 2 head girls, prefects, house captains elected by the school. Sixth-form council. Religion: Attendance at religious worship compulsory. Social: Debating, sixth-form management conference joint with other schools. Educational cruises to Mediterranean, annual ski trip, visits to France and Spain, exchange with Germany (Hetligenhaus). Pupils allowed to bring own car, bike or motorbike. Meals self-service, separate sixth-form dining room. School shop. No tobacco or alcohol allowed.

Discipline

Pupils failing to produce homework once could expect individual discussion on the nature of the problem; those caught taking drugs on the premises are likely to be suspended, following discussion with the family and governors' representatives.