Perse Girls

[Augres1]

We are moving to Cambridge and are interested in people's thoughts on Perse Girls. It has a great review in the Good Schools Guide, but some more troubling comments on this site.

Many thanks.

It is very academic and not sporty

It is very academic and girls only up to 16. There used to be a great drift out of the school for sixth form with girls going to Hills Road or the Perse - not sure of situation now as Perse Girls 6th Form is now a mixed college called Stephen Perse 6th Form.
The Perse (i.e. what was the boys' school will be fully co-ed 7-18 from September. It always had the reputation of being rather more laid back than Perse Girls but not sure whether this will change now. The only other independent single sex girl's school is St Mary's - nice girls (according to DS1) but not as academic as either Perse schools.

It's an academic pressure cooker of a school ime, fab on exam results, heavy on discipline, but a very narrow focus and not a happy school. I went and wouldn't dream of sending my dd. By all accounts it hasn't changed in essence since my time there.

My daughter goes to Perse Girls, and though it was once a very pushy school, it is changing. Very academic, but not really pushy.
Though the work is harder, discipline in the school is more relaxed then at St Marys
The school had good art and music, but the sport, both facilities and teaching, arent great.

If you're moving to Cambridge you might try King's School Ely - 12 minutes by train from Cambridge, girls first admitted in 1940 so 40 years' co-ed experience. Head is a female dynamo, music (as you'd expect because of the association with the cathedral - boy choristers are all at King's Junior School and the girl choristers are Senior School boarders)and art are great strengths. I'm a mum of a not terribly academic but very sporty boy and a bright sporty girl and they've both thrived. We're lucky to live in Ely but plenty of pupils come on the train from Cambridge and weekly or full boarding's also an option.

My very bright non-sporty daughter did very well at Perse Girls,and defected to Perse boys for sixth form.
My very sporty not very academic second daughter has exceeded all expectations at perse girls.In addition ,the school has

really appreciated her sporting success
both in and out of school.I cannot praise the school highly enough.

I have three daughters at the school - all rounders - all sporty - this is a topnotch school with excellent pastoral care and wonderfully eccentric. Not a pressure cooker - but your daughters will fulfil their potential. The teams my daughters play in regularly beat the other local schools including St Mary's and the Leys. So whilst those schools might like to think Perse Girls aren't sporty well I'm afraid they are! Can't recommend it highly enough.