Add to clipboard

What it's like

Founded in 1838 for the daughters of missionaries, it moved in 1882 to Sevenoaks where it has a most agreeable site on the outskirts of the town. The original Victorian house, in delightful grounds and gardens, is at the heart of a complex of up-to-date facilities including a centre for languages and humanities, a theatre and music block, library, indoor swimming pool and squash courts. The school is inter-denominational and is a friendly, purposeful community. It is academically selective and offers a broad grammar school education. Examination results are very good. Music, drama and art are well supported. There is a good range of sports and games and girls play for the county; plus a variety of extra-curricular activities. Local community service flourishes and the school has an impressive record in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme and Young Enterprise.

Pupils & entrance

Pupils: Total age range 2-18; 484 day girls. Senior department 11-18, 288 girls. Entrance:à Main entry ages 3, 4, 7, 11, 13 and 16. Own entrance exam used; for sixth-form entry, 5 GCSEs at least grade C (grade B in sixth-form subjects). No religious requirements but a Christian foundation. State school entry, 50% senior intake plus 10% to sixth form. Large intake from own junior department.

Scholarships & bursaries

Scholarships, value up to 50% fees, awarded at 11, 13 and 16: academic, music, art, drama and sport. Bursaries available. Parents not expected to buy textbooks.

Head & staff

Headmistress: Mrs Jill Milner, appointed 2002. Educated at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls and Oxford University (English). Previously Assistant Head Teacher at Tonbridge Girls' Grammar School. Teaching staff: 69 full time, 23 part time. Annual turnover 4%.

Exam results

GCSE: 36 pupils in upper fifth, all gained at least grade C in 9+ subjects. Average GCSE score 70. A-levels: 16 in upper sixth: 86% passed in 3+ subjects (average 3.8). Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 370.

University & college entrance

99% of sixth-form leavers go on to a degree course. 15% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 15% in science and engineering, 35% in humanities and social sciences, 15% in art and design, 20% in vocational subjects (eg nursing, radiography, business management, drama, accounting, teaching).

Curriculum

GCSE, AS and A-levels: 23-24 examination subjects. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; as well as AS-level general studies. 44% take arts/humanities A-levels; 56% combination of sciences and arts. Key skills are integrated into sixth-form courses and activities. Vocational: Work experience available. Annual Challenge of Success Conference. Special provision: Extra help from willing staff; occasional paid tuition arranged for dyslexia or EFL. Languages: French (compulsory to GCSE), German, Spanish, Latin and Greek available at GCSE and A-level. Regular exchanges, work experience in France and Germany. ICT: Taught as a discrete subject and across the curriculum (eg data logging, graphing results in science, searching for data and analysis in geography). 85 networked computers for pupil use, all with access to internet and email.

The arts

Music: Over 70% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams are taken. Musical groups include wind band, wind and string ensembles, choirs and music ensembles. Pupils involved in local musical activities. Drama: GCSE drama, A-level theatre studies and Guildhall exams may be taken. Pupils are involved in school productions and in house/other productions. Regular drama workshops. Art and design: On average, 20 take GCSE, 8 A-level. Painting, drawing, design and creative textiles offered; GCSE photography in sixth form.

Sports & activities

Sport: Lacrosse, netball, tennis, rounders, swimming, athletics, gymnastics, trampolining, basketball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, squash. Optional: squash, judo. 1-year GCSE for sixth form. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Community service vigorous. Science Club projects in conservation. Up to 16 clubs, eg astronomy, drama, Christian Fellowship, art, science, maths, computing, geography, squash, financial literacy, Young Enterprise, arts society, chess.

School life

Uniform: School uniform worn except in sixth form. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, head girl, head of house and house prefects - elected by school. School Council. Religion: Inter-denominational. Social: Voluntary service unit involves all local schools. Links with Tonbridge School for music, drama and debating. Organised trips abroad to France and Germany; also skiing trips. Pupils allowed to bring own car, motorbike or bike to school on request. Meals formal. Secondhand uniform shop. No tobacco or alcohol allowed.

Discipline

Pupils failing to produce homework once would be admonished; those caught smoking cannabis on the premises would be expelled.