Independent Girls' Schools

Streatham & Clapham High School GDST is an independent day school for girls aged 3 to 18, situated across two sites in South London. Founded in 1887 and a member of the Girls’ Day School Trust, the school features a Prep School in a Victorian building and a Senior School bordering Tooting Common. Notable architecture includes 1930s modernist structures and a contemporary Sixth Form wing. Specialist facilities include a recital hall, art suites, and a floodlit all-weather pitch. Guided by the motto "Towards wisdom unafraid," the school balances academic breadth with a wide-ranging co-curricular programme.

Burgess Hill Girls is an independent day and boarding school for girls aged 2 to 18, situated on a 14-acre campus in a conservation area of Burgess Hill, West Sussex. Founded in 1906, the school provides an all-through education including a co-educational nursery. On-site facilities include a Creative Arts Centre, a Science and Technology Hub, and an athletics track. The school’s ethos is summarised by its motto, 'I am, I can, I should, I will', which focuses on the development of individual potential. Boarding is available for students from age 11.

Notting Hill and Ealing High School GDST is an independent day school for girls aged 4 to 18, situated in Ealing. Established in 1873 as a founding member of the Girls' Day School Trust, the school relocated to its current premises in 1931. The curriculum combines academic study with a strong emphasis on creativity and physical activity. Notable facilities include a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, a four-court sports hall, and a rooftop dance and fitness studio. Its ethos focuses on nurturing independent, confident individuals within a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

Cumnor House School for Girls is an independent day school for pupils aged 2 to 11, located in Purley, Surrey. The school occupies a site on Woodcote Lane and offers a curriculum that integrates academic study with music, sport, and drama. Facilities include a purpose-built science laboratory, an art and design studio, and various outdoor play and learning spaces. Part of a wider group of schools, it emphasises the development of individual character and social skills to prepare girls for entry into a variety of senior schools.

St Paul's Girls' School is an independent day school for girls aged 11 to 18, located in Brook Green, Hammersmith. Founded in 1904 by the Worshipful Company of Mercers, the school is primarily housed in a Grade II listed Arts and Crafts building designed by Gerald Horsley. Its ethos combines academic tradition with a progressive focus on innovation and the arts. Facilities include the Rosalind Franklin Wing, a centre for design and technology. The school maintains a distinguished musical heritage, notably through its association with composer Gustav Holst, a former Director of Music.

City of London School for Girls is an independent day school for pupils aged 11-18, located in the Barbican. Founded in 1894 following a bequest by William Ward, the school occupies a Grade II listed building set between ancient Roman walls and iconic brutalist architecture. Its ethos is intellectually rigorous yet "unstuffy", fostering a culture of curiosity and pioneering spirit. The school makes full use of its central London location for cultural partnerships, while facilities include an indoor swimming pool, a climbing wall, and a theatre. It remains part of the City of London Corporation.

Godolphin and Latymer School is an independent day school for girls aged 11 to 18, situated in Hammersmith, West London. Established in 1861 as a boys’ school, it was reconstituted in 1905 with support from the Latymer Foundation. The campus features Victorian architecture alongside contemporary facilities, notably the Bishop Centre for performing arts, housed in a converted church designed by William Butterfield. Students in the Sixth Form choose between A Levels and the International Baccalaureate Diploma. The school’s ethos encourages intellectual curiosity, independent thought, and a commitment to social responsibility.

Blackheath High School GDST is an independent day school for girls aged 3 to 18, situated on the edge of the Heath in South East London. Founded in 1880 as the first purpose-built school of the Girls’ Day School Trust, it was officially opened by Princess Louise. The school operates across two sites: the Junior School in Blackheath Village and the Senior School at Vanbrugh Park. Facilities include an £18 million campus redevelopment with a state-of-the-art library, fitness suite, and an extensive sports campus at Kidbrooke Grove.

Pembridge Hall School is an independent preparatory day school for girls aged 4 to 11, situated in Notting Hill, London. Housed in two white Georgian buildings on Pembridge Square, the school offers a broad curriculum with a particular focus on the arts, music, and sport. Facilities include specialist art and drama studios, and pupils have access to extensive offsite sports grounds. Originally established in 1979, the school emphasises the development of well-rounded individuals and prepares pupils for entry into a variety of senior day and boarding schools.

Prior's Field is an independent girls' day and boarding school for pupils aged 11 to 18, situated in 42 acres of parkland near Godalming, Surrey. Founded in 1902 by Julia Huxley, the school is centred around a Grade II listed Arts and Crafts building designed by C.F.A. Voysey. The curriculum emphasises individuality and creative breadth, supported by specialist facilities including the Arnold Building for science and music. Pupils participate in a wide range of extra-curricular activities, including a dedicated Tennis Academy and niche clubs such as silversmithing and electric car design.

The Cavendish School is an independent day school for girls aged 3 to 11, situated in Camden Town, London. Established in 1875 by Cornelia Connelly, the school moved from Cavendish Square to its current site in 1970 and operates as a charitable trust. Occupying a blend of Victorian and modern buildings near Regent’s Park, the school provides an inclusive environment for pupils of all faiths. Facilities include a 200-seater auditorium, a science laboratory, and a dedicated art studio. The broad curriculum emphasises individual development, incorporating languages such as French, Mandarin, and Latin.

Situated in the heart of Brighton, Brighton Girls GDST is an independent day school for girls aged 3 to 18. Part of the Girls’ Day School Trust, the school was founded in 1876 and claims to focus on the joy of learning, instilling curiosity, adventure, and independence. The main campus at Montpelier Road features the historic Temple building. Facilities include a sports hall, gym, dance studio, and an Astroturf pitch. The school provides an all-through education, comprising a prep school, senior school, and sixth form within a vibrant urban setting.

Walthamstow Hall is an independent day school for girls aged 2 to 18, located in Sevenoaks, Kent. Established in 1838 to educate the daughters of missionaries, it is one of the oldest schools of its kind in the United Kingdom. The campus combines an Arts and Crafts-inspired main building and Victorian vaulted dining room with modern facilities, including the Ship Theatre and a specialist Sixth Form Centre. The school provides an all-through education that emphasises academic breadth alongside a rich co-curricular programme in sport, music, and the performing arts.

Croydon High School GDST is an independent day school for girls aged 3 to 18, situated on a 20-acre site in Selsdon, South Croydon. Established in 1874, it was one of the earliest schools founded by the Girls’ Day School Trust. The campus features extensive green space and facilities such as a 25-metre swimming pool, a sports hall, and a dedicated sixth form centre. The school provides a broad curriculum designed to encourage independence and leadership, supported by a wide range of extracurricular clubs and activities.

St Catherine's Preparatory School Bramley is an independent day school for girls aged 3 to 11, situated on a 25-acre campus in the Surrey Hills. Founded in 1885, the school provides a Church of England education that focuses on the personal and intellectual development of its pupils. The grounds feature a Grade II listed school house and a Victorian chapel with Kempe stained glass windows. Specialised facilities include the WonderLab science centre and Soundscape music suite, alongside extensive outdoor learning spaces such as a cottage garden and woodland areas.