Independent Girls' Schools

Glendower Prep School is an independent day school for girls aged 3 to 11, situated in South Kensington. Established in 1895 by Edith Lloyd and Maud Cornwell, the school is housed in two interconnected Victorian terrace houses on Queen's Gate. Its ethos focuses on fostering academic curiosity and critical thinking, balanced with a strong emphasis on performing arts and competitive sport. While utilising local facilities such as Hyde Park and Imperial College for outdoor and aquatic activities, the school provides dedicated spaces for music. It aims to develop confident, capable, and socially aware young women.

Palmers Green High School is an independent girls' day school for ages 4 to 16, located in Winchmore Hill, North London. Founded in 1905 by Alice Hum, the school is guided by the Quaker-inspired motto, “By Love Serve One Another”. It is housed in Avondale Hall, a building with historical significance that once hosted suffragette meetings. The school provides a supportive learning environment with small class sizes and a broad curriculum. Facilities include specialist spaces for art, drama, and music, supporting a focus on academic progress and personal development.

Situated in the village of Mayfield, East Sussex, Mayfield School is an independent Catholic boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18. Occupying the historic Old Palace of the Archbishops of Canterbury, the school features 14th-century buildings and a medieval chapel. It claims to follow a "Cornelian" ethos, focusing on intellectual curiosity, integrity, and compassion. Set within rural grounds, the school offers over 80 co-curricular activities and supports a diverse community of more than 20 nationalities. The school aims to nurture the whole person, balancing academic standards with spiritual and emotional resilience.

Francis Holland Regent's Park is an independent day school for girls aged 11 to 18, situated in Marylebone near the gates of Regent's Park. Founded in 1878 by Canon Francis Holland, the school maintains a "schooling for life" ethos rooted in its Church of England heritage. On-site facilities include a swimming pool, while the nearby park and Paddington Recreation Ground are used for outdoor sports. In 2022, the school opened Linhope House, a purpose-built Sixth Form centre. The curriculum balances academic ambition with a strong commitment to the creative arts and pastoral support.

Woldingham School is a Catholic independent day and boarding school for girls aged 11 to 18, situated in a 700-acre estate within the Surrey Hills. Founded in 1842 by the Society of the Sacred Heart, it is one of the oldest girls' schools in the UK. The school is housed in Marden Park, a former country estate near Caterham. Its facilities include a 600-seat professional theatre and a modern sports centre. The curriculum focuses on academic breadth alongside a commitment to the Sacred Heart values of personal growth and social awareness.

Sutton High School GDST is an independent day school for girls aged 3 to 18, situated in the heart of Sutton, Surrey. Established in 1884, the school is a member of the Girls' Day School Trust and provides a continuous education from nursery through to sixth form. The campus features a blend of Victorian buildings and modern facilities, including a dedicated sixth form centre and specialist spaces for performing arts and sport. The school's ethos focuses on fostering a supportive community that encourages academic curiosity and personal growth in every pupil.

Benenden School is an independent boarding school for girls aged 11 to 18, situated within the 250-acre Hemsted Park estate near Cranbrook, Kent. Founded in 1923, the school is centred on Hemsted House, a Victorian mansion built in the 1860s. Its educational approach follows a 'Complete Education' model, which integrates academic study with professional skills and personal development. Facilities include a dedicated science centre, a professional-standard theatre, and a music school with a concert hall. The expansive grounds accommodate a variety of activities, including lacrosse, hockey, and equestrian sports.

Bute House Preparatory School for Girls is an independent day school for pupils aged 4 to 11, located near Brook Green in Hammersmith. Established in 1958 on land leased from the Mercers’ Company, the school maintains a distinctive non-competitive ethos that avoids academic streaming. The broad curriculum emphasises a well-rounded education, supported by modern facilities including a science laboratory, art studio, and a signature pirate ship playground. While Bute House shares some sporting facilities with St Paul’s Girls’ School, it operates as an independent, mixed-ability environment focused on developing inquisitive and confident learners.

Sir William Perkins's School is an independent day school for pupils aged 11 to 18, located on a 13-acre greenbelt site in Chertsey, Surrey. Founded in 1725 by a local merchant, the school moved to its current premises in 1819. Historically a girls' school, it begins a phased transition to co-education in September 2026. Facilities include a purpose-built Sixth Form centre, drama and music studios, and a private boat house on the River Thames at Laleham Reach. The ethos focuses on fostering confidence and integrity through a broad academic and co-curricular programme.

Guildford High School is an independent day school for girls aged 4 to 18, situated on London Road in the heart of Guildford. Founded in 1887 by the Church Schools Company, the school provides a progressive and nurturing environment based on its "GHS 8" principles of kindness and resilience. The campus combines historic architecture with modern facilities, including a dedicated Sixth Form centre in Morton House and a state-of-the-art sports centre featuring a 25-metre swimming pool. Pupils enjoy extensive extracurricular opportunities, with a particular focus on lacrosse and swimming, alongside direct access to the playing fields of Stoke Park.

Situated in a coastal setting in Brighton, East Sussex, Roedean School is an independent day and boarding school for girls. Established in 1885 by the Lawrence sisters, the school claims to provide a thorough physical, intellectual, and moral education. The campus occupies a site overlooking the English Channel. Its ethos focuses on academic excellence, personal independence, and a broad co-curricular programme including sport, culture, and the arts. The school aims to provide a high-quality, all-round education within a supportive community, utilising its expansive grounds for diverse activities.

St Hilda’s School, located in the heart of Harpenden, is an independent day school for girls aged 4 to 11, with a co-educational nursery from age two. Founded in 1891, the school is housed in a Victorian red-brick mansion and emphasises a nurturing, family-centred ethos. Facilities include a STEM lab, a sound-proofed performing arts studio, and a swimming pool. The curriculum balances academic subjects with creative arts and sport, aiming to prepare pupils for senior school entry while developing well-rounded, confident individuals.

Kensington Prep School GDST is an independent day school in Fulham for girls aged 4 to 11. Established in 1873 as the first school of the Girls' Day School Trust, it relocated to its current site in 1997. The school emphasises a "Growing Great Minds" ethos, prioritising curiosity, creativity, and holistic development. Notable facilities include the "Explore Floor" for immersive learning and a playground spanning over an acre with on-site netball and tennis courts. Alumnae include the suffragette Emily Wilding Davison and former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Queen's Gate School is an independent day school for girls aged 4 to 18, located in South Kensington, London. Occupying five Victorian terrace houses near the capital’s major museums, the school provides an urban learning environment that utilises local landmarks as an extended classroom. Founded in 1891 by Eleanor Beatrice Wyatt, the school emphasises individuality within a supportive atmosphere and is notable for its lack of a prescribed uniform. The broad academic curriculum is enhanced by the regular use of nearby facilities, including the Royal Albert Hall and Imperial College.

Bromley High School GDST is an independent day school for girls aged 4 to 18, situated on a 25-acre campus in Bickley, Greater London. Established in 1883 and a member of the Girls’ Day School Trust, the school moved to its current site in 1981. It holds the distinction of being the world's first all-girls All-Steinway School, housing a specialist music wing. Facilities include a 25-metre indoor swimming pool and floodlit sports pitches. The school provides a rigorous academic environment alongside a diverse range of extracurricular opportunities in music, sport, and the arts.