Independent Girls' Schools

Wimbledon High School GDST is an independent day school for girls aged 4 to 18, situated in the heart of Wimbledon, London. Founded in 1880 by the Girls’ Day School Trust, the school occupies a town-centre site featuring Victorian buildings and modern additions, including a dedicated STEAM tower. Its playing fields at Nursery Road possess significant sporting heritage as the original home of the All England Lawn Tennis Club. The school focuses on fostering intellectual curiosity and resilience, encouraging pupils to explore a broad range of academic and co-curricular opportunities.

St Mary's School, Hampstead, is an independent Catholic preparatory school for girls aged 2 to 11, with a co-educational nursery. Established in 1871 as a convent boarding school, it has occupied a Grade II listed building on Fitzjohn’s Avenue since 1926. The school is set within extensive grounds that include a leafy playground and a dedicated nursery garden. Notable facilities include a full-size chapel and a virtual reality room. Following "The St Mary’s Way", the school focuses on developing academic excellence, resilience, and moral integrity within a nurturing, faith-based community.

Tormead School is an independent day school for girls aged 4 to 18, located in Guildford, Surrey. Established in 1905, the school combines high academic expectations with a focus on personal development through its "ACHIEVE" ethos. The campus features a dedicated performing arts centre, an Olympic-standard sprung gymnasium, and the Urnfield Sports Ground. As an Apple Distinguished School, Tormead employs a 1:1 iPad scheme to support its digital learning strategy. The school provides a broad curriculum alongside a variety of extra-curricular activities in music, drama, and competitive sport.

Francis Holland School (Sloane Square) is an independent day school for girls aged 11 to 18, situated in the heart of Belgravia, London. Founded in 1881 by Reverend Canon Francis Holland, the school moved to its current Graham Terrace site in 1884. It maintains a Church of England ethos, focusing on the development of leadership, creativity, and enterprise. Facilities include the RIBA award-winning Centre for Creative Learning and the Old School House, a dedicated Sixth Form centre. The school is well-regarded for its specialisms in the creative arts, including drama, music, and ballet.

South Hampstead High School GDST is an independent day school for girls aged 4 to 18, situated in north-west London. Established in 1876 by the Girls’ Day School Trust, the school relocated to its Maresfield Gardens site in 1882. The Senior School campus features a contemporary seven-storey building designed by Hopkins Architects, incorporating a subterranean sports hall and a roof garden. Facilities also include the Waterlow Hall performance space and a four-acre off-site sports ground. The school’s ethos emphasises an outward-looking education, balancing academic rigour with music, drama, and competitive sport.

Marymount International School is an independent day and boarding school for girls aged 11 to 18, situated on a seven-acre campus in Kingston upon Thames. Founded in 1955 by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, the school maintains a Catholic ethos while welcoming students of all faiths. It was the first school in the United Kingdom to adopt the International Baccalaureate curriculum, offering both the Middle Years and Diploma Programmes. Facilities include a modern STEAM "Fab Lab" and purpose-built sports and arts spaces, supporting a holistic approach to education.

Islamia School for Girls is an independent secondary day school for pupils aged 11 to 16, situated in Queen’s Park, London. Established in 1989 by Yusuf Islam, the school is housed in a converted Victorian building on Salusbury Road. Its curriculum integrates the National Curriculum with a faith-based ethos, aiming to foster spiritual, moral, and academic growth. The school provides a close-knit, single-sex environment focused on developing confident British Muslim women. Its compact setting encourages a strong sense of community and a personalised approach to pastoral care and student development.

St James Senior Girls' School is an independent day school for girls aged 11 to 18, situated in West Kensington, London. Founded in 1975, the school follows a holistic ethos that integrates mindfulness and periods of stillness, known as 'The Pause', into the daily routine. The curriculum balances academic rigour with philosophy, the creative arts, and the study of Sanskrit. Facilities include specialised science laboratories, an on-site gymnasium, and a dedicated Sixth Form centre nearby. Set within a gated garden courtyard, the school offers a broad extracurricular programme including lacrosse, netball, and yoga.

St Christopher's School is an independent preparatory day school for girls aged 4 to 11, situated in Hampstead, North London. Established in 1883, the school is housed within Victorian villas on Belsize Lane. Its ethos balances academic rigour with creative imagination, encouraging pupils to be curious and analytical thinkers. Facilities include a dedicated music department and modern outdoor learning spaces. The school provides a nurturing environment where girls are encouraged to develop their own opinions and confidence, preparing them for a wide range of leading senior schools.

St Albans High School for Girls (STAHS) is an independent day school for pupils aged 4 to 18. Established in 1889, the school operates across two Hertfordshire sites: the Senior School in central St Albans and the Preparatory School set within 18 acres of parkland in Wheathampstead. Rooted in the Church of England tradition, the school follows a "Teach to 25" philosophy. Facilities include a performing arts centre, an indoor swimming pool, and extensive sports grounds for lacrosse and tennis, alongside a modern Sixth Form centre.

The Royal Masonic School for Girls is an independent day and boarding school for pupils aged 2 to 18, set within 315 acres of parkland in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. Founded in 1788 to provide for the daughters of Freemasons, the school relocated to its present site in 1934. The campus features a blend of historic architecture and modern facilities, including a planetarium, a dedicated performing arts centre, and extensive sports grounds. The school focuses on nurturing individual talent and potential, offering a broad curriculum alongside a diverse range of extracurricular activities.

Queen’s College London is an independent day school for girls aged 11 to 18, occupying four Grade II listed townhouses on Harley Street in Marylebone. Established in 1848 by Frederick Denison Maurice, it was the first institution in Great Britain to grant academic qualifications to women. The college maintains a liberal ethos, focusing on developing intellectual curiosity and independence. Its central London location facilitates use of the capital’s cultural resources, while a broad curriculum emphasises the creative arts, music, and humanities. Facilities include modern science laboratories and art studios.

Sydenham High School GDST is an independent day school for girls aged 4 to 18, situated in South London near Crystal Palace. Established in 1887, the school is a member of the Girls' Day School Trust and operates across two sites within walking distance of each other. The curriculum focuses on academic breadth alongside strengths in the creative arts, music, and sport. Facilities include a dedicated performing arts centre and a long-standing sports pavilion. The school's ethos encourages independence and self-belief within a supportive community setting.

Queenswood is an independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18, set within 120 acres of Hertfordshire countryside near Hatfield. Founded in 1894 with a Methodist affiliation, the school focuses on developing well-rounded, independent individuals through a progressive curriculum. The campus features notable facilities, including a 280-seat theatre and 27 tennis courts, supporting a strong reputation for sport and the performing arts. The main building, Sheepwell House, was rebuilt in its original style after a fire in 1936, maintaining the school's distinctive architectural character.

Seaton House School is an independent day school for girls aged 3 to 11, with a co-educational nursery, located in Sutton, Surrey. Founded in 1930, the school is situated in a residential setting and emphasises a nurturing environment with small class sizes. It focuses on providing a broad curriculum that prepares pupils for the 11-plus transition to both grammar and independent senior schools. Facilities include dedicated spaces for music, art, and ICT, supporting a range of extracurricular activities alongside its core academic programme.