Wakefield Girls' High School A GSG School

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.

Fencing

What The Good Schools Guide says

Headmistress

Since January 2025, Judith Tingle, previously deputy head (academic). She has a BEd in PE from Leeds and an MSc in leadership and management from Leeds Met.

Director of the junior section since 2021, Sam Rowley. A Mancunian with first degree in psychology and sports science and a PGCE, both from the University of Birmingham and an MSc in human resource management and international development from the University of Manchester. After starting his teaching career in London, he worked in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Italy for several years before joining Wakefield Grammar School Foundation (junior boys' section). This led him to headship at the junior girls’ section. He has overseen the transition to being a section of the senior school which has allowed the use of senior subject specialists. When not at school he can be found on his allotment or enjoying cycling and squash.

Head of pre-prep since 2021, Emma Gill. Originally from the Cayman Islands, she read history and education at the University of York followed by PGCE from Hull and an MA from Sheffield Hallam. She began her career in the state sector, culminating in three headships in South Yorkshire, before moving to oversee the creation of the co-ed pre-prep within the Wakefield Grammar Schools Foundation. A qualified SENCO she has an inclusive and modern approach to education that is significantly different to the much more traditional style of both the girls’ and boys’ senior schools and perhaps signals the direction of travel for the rest of the foundation.

Entrance

Entrance to the junior section is from year 3. Pupils come for a taster day, the official one is in January but others can be arranged on an individual or small group basis. The morning is for tests in reading, comprehension, maths and non-verbal reasoning, then it’s sample lessons in the afternoon. References are also taken up. Pre-prep admissions involve a series of visits to familiarise the pupil with school. School may say no if they feel the child won’t reach age-related national average standards by the end of year 2. At the time of our visit pre-prep and the senior school had capacity for more pupils.

For external entrants to the senior section there is an 11+ test in maths and English plus a non-verbal reasoning test (GL Assessment). Interviews with a senior member of staff also take place. For entrants to years 9 or 10 there is an additional science assessment. Junior school girls transfer automatically, the only assessment is for those being considered for scholarships. Sixth form students are interviewed by the head of sixth and must get at least grade 5 in all their GCSEs and grade 7 in those they wish to study at A level. If they haven’t already studied a particular subject they must take an assessment to ascertain their suitability for it.

Exit

Almost all the pre-prep move on to the junior section and similarly most of the juniors progress to the senior school. A few leave for financial reasons or due to re-location.

A relatively low 60 per cent of girls move on to the sixth form. Those that leave do so mainly for financial reasons to the very good state provision in the area. In 2024 seven medics/dentists/vets. Almost all to university, 52 per cent to Russell Group. Seven degree apprenticeships and one to performing arts school.

Latest results

In 2024, 51 per cent 7-9 at GCSE; 37 per cent A*/A at A level (67 per cent A*/B).

Teaching and learning

WGHS has a broad curriculum designed to give students choice and to explore what excites them. We visited lots of engaging lessons with attentive pupils and enthusiastic teachers. Year 7 classes were happily looking at experimental probability in maths, learning the accusative in Latin and delving into medieval Mali and the Black Death in history, most appropriate given the school was home to a hospital during World War II. Design technology includes food and nutrition as well as textiles and runs through to A level; no subject stereotyping and plenty of girls have achieved Arkwright engineering scholarships over the years. We saw some super chairs displayed with a definite stylistic homage to old girl Dame Barbara Hepworth. Separate sciences are studied from year 8 onwards with equal numbers taking dual and triple award science at GCSE. Labs are great modern spaces, well equipped and designed. Science also has its own lecture theatre with super comfy seats, no nodding off allowed though. At key stage three French or Spanish or German are on offer; a language is recommended at GCSE but is not essential. Astronomy also offered at GCSE. There is a lovely colourful library.

Twenty-six A level subjects including classical civilisation and Latin. The head says that it isn’t always possible to run all subjects but around two-thirds of courses are co-taught with the boys' school which keeps a good breadth of choice. Students and parents seem to like this and we expect the number of co-taught courses will continue to expand.

The school regularly holds ‘empower her’ events where alumnae of all ages come back to talk about their work in science, industry the media and politics. The sixth form have their own separate building, beautifully refurbished with its own food outlet, a bright airy common room (sixth form boys allowed here) and separate area for quiet study.

The juniors are taught in forms. There’s no setting but plenty of intervention and booster groups to provide support where needed. The head is proud that while important, ‘maths and English’ don’t rule the roost, 'We give plenty of time to making sure the girls get as broad a curriculum as possible.’ That said, girls love the maths and English here. One told us, ‘I feel really proud when I express myself in creative writing.’ Well resourced library complete with its own system of Matilda awards. We saw an inspirational English lesson where girls were doing directed reading in groups taking different roles as leader, predictor, clarifier, questioner and summariser; all girls enthusiastically taking part and developing as independent and collaborative learners. Pupils do design technology and computing as well as six periods of science a fortnight, sometimes in the senior school labs. They study French in years 3, 4 and 5 with two terms of German in year 6 before reverting to French for the last term ready for the move up to the senior school. Art, music, drama, languages and games are taught by senior subject specialists.

A radical overhaul of the curriculum was taking place at the time of our visit and from 2024 it will be stripped back to being thematic and largely Yorkshire centred. In EYFS pupils study a book in depth and all their learning including reading, writing and maths are based around the book. They have specialist PE, music and French lessons from foundation stage 1. The emphasis here is on developing independent and enquiring learners. There is a phonics assessment every six weeks. Two nice separate dining areas one for foundation stage 1, another for the rest of school. School appoints its own head boy and girl who have to make 500 word speeches on speech day. In some ways it is all very grown up.

Learning support and SEN

The SENCO works across the five sections of the foundation and is supported by five staff, all fully qualified teachers. There are also teaching assistants working in primary and pre-prep. SENCO says, ‘When a new pupil applies we will assess whether we can support their needs before offering a place.’ They support ASD, ADHD, speech and language needs, communication, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, fine motor skills, hearing, visually impaired and moderate physical disabilities.

Around 20 per cent of pupils across the foundation are on the SEN register. This is higher than national and local averages in part because school screens all pupils in years 7 and 9. All on the register have access to one lesson a week additional support. In pre-prep and the sixth form this is often on a one to one basis and in small groups from year 3 to year 11.

There is a good awareness of neuro divergence from the head downwards and a training programme is in place to support staff in meeting different needs.

While there is some limited lift access and school does its best got accommodate mobility impaired pupils in ground floor rooms, this is a complicated set of old buildings and some might find the junior and senior sections a challenge but pre-prep would be suitable.

The arts and extracurricular

We loved the creative and individual work we saw in the Hepworth art room and around school. Music is a highlight of pupil’s time at WGHS - spacious music building has its own recording studio. With 15 musical events and an impressive three musical productions every year there are plenty of opportunities to learn and perform. We loved the girls’ single ‘I am me’ recently released on Spotify. Junior girls are all given two free taster lessons in an instrument and most then choose to carry on - seemingly a very successful policy as all the girls we spoke to were learning an instrument. Instruments can be hired and lessons are charged as an extra. All the choirs, ensembles and competitions you would expect plus performances at Wakefield Cathedral and some impressive wins at regional music festivals.

When we asked about drama the head’s face lit up with pride, she clearly sees it as one of the jewels in the crown There is nice drama studio and numbers taking it at GCSE and A level are buoyant. Pupils spoke with great enthusiasm about their involvement in productions such as Frozen, Matilda and the Addams Family. A few parents commented that while there is a lot of recognition for sporting success sometimes the senior girls who take part in music and drama feel overlooked.

The WGHS EDGE programme sees girls involved in all manner of extracurricular activities one afternoon a week, with 30 choices for juniors and 116 for seniors. Year 7 get to do pottery, study skills, STEM projects and a Herculean odyssey, plus a choice of other activities. From year 8 the options open up massively ranging from aerial yoga and geocaching to Japanese food culture and junior bake off. Most are included within fees. Good range of trips from the very local to Iceland, Japan and Malaysia. Junior girls have a similar programme called the carousel covering art, drama, food, DT, textiles and robotics on a six week cycle. There are lots of junior trips including residentials for each year group to York, Malham, Condover Hall and Blencathra.

Sport

School has a lovely modern sports hall, the Hartley Pavilion on site and vast playing fields a 10-minute walk away with changing rooms, pavilions, Macadam, acrylic and Astro tennis courts, a shale running track and more pitches than you can shake a stick at. Very successful netball and hockey teams reaching district and national championship finals as well as the under-13 and under-15 cricket team reaching regional finals. Junior sport includes hockey, netball, rounders, tag rugby, dance, cheer-leading, Bollywood and line dancing. Cricket is a real feature of school life with the trophy cabinet jam full of awards. With access to the swimming pool at the boys' school all girls are encouraged to learn to swim by the end of year 5. There are regular swimming fixtures and a school biathlon. Juniors share the senior school sports hall and the fantastic playing fields.

Ethos and heritage

Founded in 1876 and part of the Wakefield Grammar School Foundation alongside Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School for Boys, WGHS has a wealth of illustrious alumnae including artist Dame Barbara Hepworth, authors Helen Fielding (Bridget Jones’ Diary), Joanne Harris (Chocolat), paralympian Sophie Carrigill, civil servant and academic Dame Anne Mueller, actress Katherine Kelly and triathlete Laura Siddall.

Senior section is a mixture of old and newer buildings on two sides of a road, all well-kept although we felt the music building had seen better days. The junior section just across the playground from the seniors is in a warm and welcoming Georgian building that has been sympathetically adapted to the needs of a modern school. Lovely classroom spaces and old fashioned family atmosphere, with a real sense of belonging, joiners get a school teddy and leavers a mug. Pre-prep is newly and beautifully refurbished. Adjacent to the girls’ high school pupils can benefit from the facilities of both the boys' and girls’ schools including the forest school at Owl’s Den.

Pastoral care, inclusivity and discipline

A senior member of staff told us, ’Their voice matters, we encourage them to be noisy about what they want’. There are action groups for everything here. LGBTQ plus students have no problem fitting in, acceptance and inclusion are the order of the day. The sixth form are seen as important role models for junior girls and there is organised crossover between the junior and senior pastoral teams. As well as pastoral care through form tutors there are fortnightly vertical house form times and once a term the junior girls meet with the seniors in their houses all helping integration and transition. Lots of rewards - junior girls who get 100 house points have brunch with Ms Boyes. Girls from years 10 and 12 are peer mentors for the juniors and sixth form students are mentors for those on scholarships.

‘Everyone is polite,’ the girls say. ‘Yes we fall out at times but it’s normal, we know where the boundaries are and who to talk to when things go wrong.’ There are lots of sensible options in uniform and PE kit although the girls find the rules about hair and coats somewhat old fashioned. Smart uniform with summer and winter options for juniors and seniors and business dress in the sixth form. In the pre-prep there’s a smart but practical uniform of a fleece and tracksuit bottoms in foundation stage moving to more formal navy uniform for years 1 and 2.

Pupils and parents

Parents we spoke to were very enthusiastic about the school. ‘Pre-prep is so very nurturing, there are lots of open days but they are very flexible around my work commitments.’ A parent from out of area praised the way school put her into contact with other pupils and parents over the summer before her daughter started which, ‘made the transition so much easier’. They also praise the support the junior school gives, ‘My daughter was behind in everything when she joined. Within six months we could see a huge difference, small classes meant she wasn’t lost, she was keen to do homework, we could see her confidence grow. She was even happy to perform in front of her class.’ Eight school buses, shared with the boys' school, bring pupils in from Holmfirth, Leeds, Penistone, Doncaster and Barnsley.

Money matters

With some of the lowest fees in the area school says around 17 per cent receive some form of assistance from means tested merit based awards.

The last word

A well-focused, rather genteel school. Lots of opportunities for girls to learn and play together, a warm, welcoming atmosphere, good results and every encouragement for young women to go out and take their place in the world.

Special Education Needs

The learning support department at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School provides continuous support for pupils at both the junior school and senior school. The SENCo is a qualified teacher of dyslexia. Provision includes work on study skills/organisation, revision skills, a multisensory literacy programme, reading courses, diagnostic testing and exam concession reporting. It is a thriving department whose main aims are to raise self esteem and give the pupils the skills and strategies needed to take control of their own learning.