Which independent girls' school is the classiest in the UK?

[capstix]

This is just a hypothetical question. Both my kids are now at university. But purely out of interest, I would love to know which girls' school or schools people think are the poshest, classiest, most revered, most elite in the country. Please also let me know why you think so.

This is just a 'for instance' and I hope it doesn't cause any offence!

Ones I can think of in the top echelons would be (in what I think is a possible order):

Cheltenham Ladies'
St Mary's Ascot
Downe House
St Paul's Girls
Wycombe Abbey
Benenden
Heathfield
Tudor Hall
Sherborne Girls
Roedean
Francis Holland SW1
St Mary's Calne
Francis Holland NW1
St George's Ascot
St Swithun's
City of London Girls
James Allen's Girls' School (Jags)
Queen Margaret's
Woldingham School
Godolphin
Godolphin & Latymer
The Lady Eleanor Holles School
Malvern St James

I thought Roedean was meant to be posh.

Oh and Badminton

Charterhouse and Malvern College both take girls,

I think perhaps by classiest the OP means which has the most classes? 😳🤣

I suspect @JTK392, @GetOffTheTableMabel, @MissyB1, @merrymouse, @Onthetrain75, @cherryonthecakes and @Moobootoyoutoo have been watching too much American television. I agree that when Donald Trump says "Classiest" it does sound somewhat gauche.

Nonetheless, "classiest" is a perfectly normal word in a British context - it means having the most class.

I did make it clear that it was hypothetical, @vipersnest1, so I suggest if anyone has any "getting over themselves to do" there's an element of pot and kettle going on.

The rest of you, thank you very much for your comments.

Are you trying to insult people by speculating that they watch Donald Trump?

This is bizarre.

And schooling people in the British lexicon to boot.

Trebizon for sure.

You inadvertently started an amusing thread, roll with it, OP.

@capstix

This is just a hypothetical question. Both my kids are now at university. But purely out of interest, I would love to know which girls' school or schools people think are the poshest, classiest, most revered, most elite in the country. Please also let me know why you think so.

This is just a 'for instance' and I hope it doesn't cause any offence!

Ones I can think of in the top echelons would be (in what I think is a possible order):

Cheltenham Ladies'
St Mary's Ascot
Downe House
St Paul's Girls
Wycombe Abbey
Benenden
Heathfield
Tudor Hall
Sherborne Girls
Roedean
Francis Holland SW1
St Mary's Calne
Francis Holland NW1
St George's Ascot
St Swithun's
City of London Girls
James Allen's Girls' School (Jags)
Queen Margaret's
Woldingham School
Godolphin
Godolphin & Latymer
The Lady Eleanor Holles School
Malvern St James

Who honestly has the time to type this out.... who cares!!!

I can't believe that you left out Miss Minchin's boarding school for girls!

St Balonz School.

I went to uni with a girl who attended Cheltenham LC.
She was a complete bitch.
Also not very bright and certainly not classy. The rugby team could attest to that.
That’s basically my entire experience with the schools on that list.
I thought the whole point of being classy was that you could make anyone feel comfortable in whatever situation.
Yeah, that’s not what that girl was like at all.

@Kilimanjaro97

Whyteleafe or Mallory Towers.

But Whyteleaf is co-ed

I always thought Cheltenham Ladies was the girls’ equivalent to Eton but not much experience with elite private schools. Don’t know why everyone’s jumping down your throat!

This is an old thread, similar question.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/education/1159843-Eton-Harrow-Girls-equivalent
In the end I believe one in Scotland was suggested at being the most elite.

Anything, ever, described as 'classy' is by definition not.

I see in your op you use the term UK but fail to have any Scottish schools. You should of course ask MN to edit your title to be be more politically correct never mind classy.
HTH

Do you mean snootiest? It does seem a slightly odd question. I think rather hard to judge.

(but it really won't matter soon as Boris is putting his 'classy' education to terrible use to get us all killed 🤦‍♀️)

Who cares?

Nonetheless, "classiest" is a perfectly normal word in a British context - it means having the most class.

Literally, yes - but culturally the word provokes huge dissonance, as no British person who attended or sends their child to the sort of schools listed would ever admit to doing so for social class based reasons. (The whole point of ‘class’ is to be seen as effortlessly superior - not as having bought position.)

Speaking as someone with at least three generations of independent education across this and other continents - I couldn’t have written such a list off the top of my head.

Why are you really asking?

‘with at least three generations within my family of independent education’ obvs.

@TottersBlankly

Nonetheless, "classiest" is a perfectly normal word in a British context - it means having the most class.

Literally, yes - but culturally the word provokes huge dissonance, as no British person who attended or sends their child to the sort of schools listed would ever admit to doing so for social class based reasons. (The whole point of ‘class’ is to be seen as effortlessly superior - not as having bought position.)

Speaking as someone with at least three generations of independent education across this and other continents - I couldn’t have written such a list off the top of my head.

Why are you really asking?

This. I went to one of those schools, and it was because it was the “classiest” or, worse, “poshest”.

Those words, especially the latter, are, with respect OP, used by people who have no idea how these schools work and indeed, what life is like for those who go to these schools.

I think of them not in ‘classy’ terms, rather in academic-excellence ditto.

On that basis I’d probably put St Paul’s Girls at the top, though as pps have said, boarding and day schools are somewhat different.

London-area day schools can probably take their pick more easily than most, and the best are highly selective.

Just noticed that this isn’t just a list but a list in order.

You forgot to include St. Trinians. They always seems a particularly classy group of young ladies to me.