Can anyone recommend a good all through girls school?

[mintychocchippy]

We are at a prep now and dd is about to go into year 5 in September

Dh has been offered a job in a different country for one year though moving asap. We will probably move with him for the year but come back for year 6. We had planned to come back to the same prep but my dd is saying she'd rather not as she doesn't want to (!) she says she would be happy to move because her closest friends have moved and she's just not really overly happy.

I am not happy with the current prep for various reasons and am thinking perhaps this may be an opportunity to change schools, although I'm not sure about changing to another prep for year 6-8 vs simply moving to an all through school if that's even possible.

Dh company will find the relocate back to U.K. so we can move anywhere as he won't need to be in an office.the perfect school would be an academic all through girl school. Do they exist? Dd is academic but musical and sporty as well. We were expecting to go to academic schools if we stayed at this current prep but I'd be happy to send her to a less selective school as long as the outcome in grades isn't too bad.

St Helen & St Katherine near Oxford would be my choice. It's academic, all girls and through from yr. 5. They have some mixed classes with a boys school (Abingdon) in the later years. Oxford is great city for teens and it's not desperately far to get into London.

Look at the GDST schools, about 20 across the country. Many will go all through from Reception to Sixth Form.

www.maynard.co.uk/
ticks all your boxes

@Panamii that one was on my 11+ list, do you know if they'd take someone into year 6? I'll be calling any schools tomorrow anyway but any advice is much appreciated.

@bare am I wrong in thinking GDST schools are more no frills 'academic' only, ideally I'd like schools to facilitate sports/music etc within the school fully. I may be wrong but I had not looked at them so much because of this. Thank you.

@mintychocchippy They will take into year 6 but it will be an occasional place rather than an intake year. Their junior department is relative new and the class sizes are quite small. From what I've heard they won't turn down a girl who is bright and will make space as the junior department is so small anyway.

For slightly less academic but still an amazing school (some would argue better than SHSK) I'd look at Headington. There's certainly less pressure at Headington.

Kent college in Tunbridge wells

Red Maids' High School in Bristol has a prep and senior school. I don't know about entry requirements though, although I do know it's a day school (they used to do boarding but stopped some years ago).

Gdst are good all round schools. Tormead in Guildford or GHS?

I went to North London Collegiate School which fits this description. Lots of opportunities to excel in music and sport as well as academically

I think GDST schools are pretty good all round to be honest. Some are more academic than others but we've had good experience with art, sports and music in the two we've used.

It must have changed a lot in recent years then.

How about St Albans girls?

Thanks for the school names I will have a look. And also the advice on GDST. I will have a look at these again too.

Re you looking for schools in London or outside? There are lots of all through schools in London, both all girls and Co-Ed. The more academic ones may be full for Y6 though. Off the top of my head- Putney High, Wimbledon High, Alleyns, JAGS, Latymer Upper. All have great music and sport as well as being academic. Also Ibstock Place and Emanuel (not all through but has a Y6)- perceived as slightly less academic (but its all relative)...

Talbot Heath
Near Poole Dorset

I agree with the Headington School suggestion. Both of my girls are there and very happy.

Guildford High School would be my recommendation. It's very strong academically, and also has excellent music and sport (and drama).

My girls were very happy there.

Pipers Corner in Bucks is a girls school with junior snd senior school. It’s not Wycombe Abbey status but it’s capable of getting very good results. Drama is excellent. Alternatively, look at Godstowe prep. All girls. Then you have a wide selection at 13. Many from there do go to Wycombe Abbey at 13.

www.talbotheath.org. Friends daughter is here and very happy.

I would also say it’s not necessary for a very bright child to be with lots of others who are the same. Plenty of schools don’t have the results that Wycombe Abbey does, for example, but can still educate bright pupils to Oxbridge standard. Sometimes they flourish if they don’t compete quite so hard against so many.

St Francis College in Letchworth Garden City is small but lovely!

Is it not a send haven? Used to be. I know quite a few who left there.

Edgbaston High in Birmingham - think it ticks all the boxes in terms of sport, music and academic

If you want London then Channing is worth a look.