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Durham High School for Girls A GSG School

What says..

Girls spoke appreciatively of teachers' personal approach and the amount of individual attention they get. Parents speak highly of teachers who ‘build relationships with each child individually and get to know what makes them tick’. Childrens’ mental health high on teachers’ agenda. Without exception, girls spoke of support and encouragement from teachers; being known well; talents spotted; confidence built. Supplemented by trained counsellor plus school chaplain. The seniors' play is performed at the Gala Theatre in Durham - the school's drama studio stage is, cleverly, the same size, to facilitate the transfer...

 

 

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What the school says...

Durham High School is unique as the only girls’ school in County Durham, and its distinctiveness also stems from being an all-through school, educating girls from Nursery through to the Sixth Form on one site.
Our pastoral care is exemplary; girls feel secure as members of a caring, compassionate community, each knowing she is valued for her own talents and individuality. Visitors invariably comment on the warm, happy atmosphere in school.
As experts in the teaching of girls, we know how girls learn and we provide the stimulating and supportive environment in which they can flourish. Girls here enjoy their academic studies and the challenges with which they are presented; they like the fact that it's ‘cool’ to try hard and all have high aspirations. With small classes and committed staff, each girl is assured of individual support and teachers are indefatigable in their efforts to secure the best possible outcomes for the girls in their care.
We have an extensive extra-curricular programme, with activities, trips and opportunities to suit everyone. Girls are also encouraged to develop the leadership skills, confidence and mental resilience which will help them succeed in later life. ...Read more

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Other features

All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.

Sports

Equestrian centre or equestrian team - school has own equestrian centre or an equestrian team.

Rowing

What The Good Schools Guide says

Headmistress

Since September 2018, Simone Niblock, previously senior deputy head at Queen Margaret's School. English degree from Oxford and a PGCE from Cambridge. Has taught at St Edmund's College, Ware, Stockport Grammar, Perse Girls and Shrewsbury High, where she stayed for 16 years, joining as head of English and being promoted to director of studies.

Entrance

At 11 and 13+: exams in English and maths, verbal reasoning, interview and school report; takes above average ability. Sixth: five 9-6s at GCSE including English and maths, with at least 6 in prospective A level subjects (grade 7 for some), school report and interview; about 10 join.

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Please note: Independent schools frequently offer IGCSEs or other qualifications alongside or as an alternative to GCSE. The DfE does not record performance data for these exams so independent school GCSE data is frequently misleading; parents should check the results with the schools.

Who came from where

Who goes where

Special Education Needs

We have in-school screening for Specific Learning Difficulties. We have a designated Learning Support Room with appropriate resources. We have an Educational Pyschologist who works with the school, assessing and following up individual needs. SpLD students are given a weekly lesson with a qualified SpLD teacher and support within the curriculum, if parents request it. For those with literacy and numeracy difficulties, we give help on an individual or small group basis. Other support for hearing difficulties is given usually through the LEA sensory support services working with the school.

Condition Provision for in school
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Aspergers Y
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders
CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia
Dyscalculia
Dysgraphia
Dyslexia Y
Dyspraxia
English as an additional language (EAL) Y
Genetic
Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory
Has SEN unit or class
HI - Hearing Impairment
Hospital School
Mental health
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Natspec Specialist Colleges
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
PD - Physical Disability
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Special facilities for Visually Impaired
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
VI - Visual Impairment

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