Top Science Schools for Girls

[Bizzarely]

Our daughter is very interested in Science and Maths. She is working at a much higher level in Maths in school. Are there any secondary schools which are great for Science? I recently found about Maths schools which look great, but are quite few. I am wondering if there are similar Science focused schools - Engineering, design technology, Maths, Physics,...where a lot of children go on to pursue Sciences in College.
Not really location specific right now. Will just be great to have a list of schools to work with, since we can move for the right school and work from home.
Thanks a lot.

This one is for sixth form only.

www.kingsmathsschool.com/

@CruCru thanks, like I said in my post I know about Maths schools. But am looking for more options.

The super-selective girls grammars around London/Home Counties will have a very strong STEM focus, for sure.

Girls grammar schools, or super selective independent schools. Lots of children take sciences in degree courses or go for med.

Colchester County High School for Girls used to say that it was a "specialist science college" on its sign but I don't think it does any more. I think back in the day you could be a "specialist" in something or other as a school and you got more funding, then that was removed - but I think it is still quite STEM focused. www.cchsg.com/

I have just started investigating University Technical Colleges for DD for similar reasons.

Thanks @BasiliskFace, had never heard of the school. I am going to look more into it.

Unfortunately - I don’t think what you are looking for exists.
Top selective girls schools will have better teaching of science, but it still won’t compare to the top boys secondaries.

Latymer Upper being mixed is one to possibly consider. A few years ago it got an award related to Physics teaching to girls.
Henrietta Barnet is said to have quite a lot of girls going into medicine.

But generally, if she is still STEM focused by A levels - she can think of moving either to Westminster, Kings, or specialist math schools.

But generally, if she is still STEM focused by A levels - she can think of moving either to Westminster, Kings, or specialist math schools Do you really think the STEM teaching at the high ranking public schools is much different to in the very high achieving super-selectives though? DS's old school (sixth form yearly cohort of 150) would regularly get getting on for a third of the cohort into medicine/related disciplines and engineering (and that's not counting the significant number of 'mathmos' and ones going on to do computer science. And pupils regularly won international awards across STEM subjects.

I think you should look into grammar schools (Henrietta Barnett, Tiffin Girls) as well as private schools either co-ed or those that see many children going into STEM after, you can see that from their university destinations. In London I think it's CLSG, I would imagine St Helen's could also fit the bill. LEH also has a good reputation although the leavers seem to go for medicine rather than engineering.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18

But generally, if she is still STEM focused by A levels - she can think of moving either to Westminster, Kings, or specialist math schools Do you really think the STEM teaching at the high ranking public schools is much different to in the very high achieving super-selectives though? DS's old school (sixth form yearly cohort of 150) would regularly get getting on for a third of the cohort into medicine/related disciplines and engineering (and that's not counting the significant number of 'mathmos' and ones going on to do computer science. And pupils regularly won international awards across STEM subjects.

There's a difference between engineering & medicine and math & physics. The numbers going on to math & physics at Oxbridge should be available, though I suspect the numbers merely passing the STEP and other pre-interview exams, therefore progressing on to interviews, would be a better indicator of how rigorous the A level courses are.

@user149799568 I believe that STEP is taken after interview and after you receive an offer, whereas the Oxford tests are taken pre-interview.

This is a specialist STEM school in Essex www.bmatstemacademy.org/

@NewModelArmyMayhem18

I meant there is a difference between girls-only super selective and boys or mixed ones.
Doe example - you can’t even do engineering or computer science at A-levels at SPGS. While SP boys has those courses.

I don’t know what is chicken and what is egg here - but girls schools are just less STEM focused. Even the super selective.
And even before the A-levels it’s taught to a different standard.

There is a Harris Academy in Sutton that has strong links with the nearby satellite site of the Royal Marsden?

I'm a bit shocked that the high-achieving girls schools don't put the same emphasis on STEM/STEP subjects as the equivalent boys schools. Thought we'd got beyond that.

Herts & essex in Bishops Stortford is actually the Herts & Essex High school and Science college. It doesn't offer engineering but does very well with physics and DT (product design) at A level. Also offers subjects like astronomy.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18

All schools say they put emphasis on STEM.

But there is a systemic issue. It starts even in primary where girls don’t get taught science/math/programming in the same way as the top boys prep. And it goes from there.
So - by A-levels the cycle is complete and girls gravitate to humanities.

All schools say they put emphasis on STEM. I don't think that's strictly true. DD's outstanding state (girls) school definitely doesn't make any such pretensions! And judging by the poor teaching in some of those subjects (for some of the sets), they'd be foolish to do so!

My two DDs went to a mixed prep school so studied maths and science alongside boys, then went to an all girls senior school (well known indy) where there is a really high take up of A levels in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Maths and Further Maths. My DDs are both STEM kids.

If you can afford even sixth form in the independent sector I would go for it, or if your DD is really bright a bursary may be available. No systemic issues in my experience.

Their school website lists A level results by how many girls sat each exam, their grade and also which universities and courses they went onto, every single year is listed so it’s easy to see how many went onto study medicine, physics, maths, engineering etc at university.

Nowadays girls are highly sought after and encouraged to go for STEM degrees.

A high proportion of girls at Nonsuch High School (Cheam, Surrey) take science A levels. Far more doing Biology and Chemistry (plus over half take Maths) than Physics, Computer Science and Further Maths though. Very different from my DS's school, so societal messaging still getting through somehow (possibly parents?).

Astronomy GSCE (Observatory on site).

I'm not sure where you are or your Dd's age OP, but if interested, applications can be made from out of catchment, so it is possible to get a place and then move closer. Applications end of Yr 5; entrance tests beginning of Yr 6.

Pate's in Cheltenham (super-selective grammar - mixed)
Denmark Road in Gloucester (girls' grammar)

A statistic from the Institute of Physics - girls are TWO THIRDS more likely to study physics at A-Level at an all girls school than in a mixed school.

I was shocked when I found that out. I mean, I kind of expected there to be a difference but not quite so huge. It's down to a lack of bias as to traditional "boys" and "girls" subjects in a single sex environment and also girls getting put off by the fact they might be the only girl in their class.

So in just choosing an all girls school, your daughter is more likely to take physics at A-level than at a mixed school even before you look at anything else.

@Bizzarely

Our daughter is very interested in Science and Maths. She is working at a much higher level in Maths in school. Are there any secondary schools which are great for Science? I recently found about Maths schools which look great, but are quite few. I am wondering if there are similar Science focused schools - Engineering, design technology, Maths, Physics,...where a lot of children go on to pursue Sciences in College. Not really location specific right now. Will just be great to have a list of schools to work with, since we can move for the right school and work from home. Thanks a lot.

Private or State?

Look at Kendrick in Reading. Very academic and extremely competitive. Strong reputation. Check out the destinations of its girls; vey successful across STEM subjects. You’ve got to be a very bright, committed kid to get in though.

Kings maths school. Near Waterloo, but kids commute a fair way. Results are very good. Failing that Harris Westminster. Again sixth form only.