Ages 
The best of unstuffy girls’ schools. The fun, the frolics, the fearlessness and (crucially) the future-proofing all foment in the greenest of settings, where girls can enjoy being unselfconscious girls till they are ready to take on the world beyond those unobtrusive gates. A happy place, where ‘everyone feels they are smashing it’, as one mum put it
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 350 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 120 ·
- Offers boarding
- Yes ·
- Religion
- C of E
- Fees
- Day £43,560; Boarding £58,410 pa
- Local authority
- Wiltshire Council
- Linked schools
Headteacher
Head
Mrs Anne Wakefield
Since 2024, Mrs Anne Wakefield, previously deputy head at Benenden and before that at Queenswood. This elegant head, with her immaculate bob, tailored dress, jacket and navy heels, has no need of any convert’s zeal as far as single-sex education for
Entrance
Academically selective. Girls wanting to join years 7, 8 or 9 with a registered place will be invited to a taster day, ostensibly for them to experience the school and to meet their year group, but also for the school ‘to begin to get to know them’.
- Open days
- March
Exit
A handful leave after GCSEs in search of wider/vocational subject choices and/or boys: Marlborough seems to be number one destination. Incoming sixth formers make up numbers.
The vast majority of sixth form leavers go on to university, mostly in
Latest results
In 2025, 71 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 62 per cent A*/A at A level (83 per cent A*-B).
A levels or equivalent - Average points score (2024)
What is this?
These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.
Teaching & learning
Definitely academic but not a hothouse. Girls are taught in their classes to start with and set just for maths. A second modern language added in year 8 alongside critical thinking, Latin or classical civilisation and optional ancient Greek in year
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- EPQ
- GCSE
Learning support & SEN
Entrance assessments helpfully flag up areas in English and maths which might need extra support, be that individually or in class. Mild learning difficulties can be addressed – ‘and support is viewed as normal,’ according to the head of learning
Arts & extracurricular
Hard to know where to start, as art, drama and music all shine here. The laughter and creative buzz which was the backdrop to the GCSE drama devised pieces we saw in rehearsal – sensibly done in year 10 here – was infectious, and though the theatre
Sport
Tennis tennis tennis, as far as the eye could see in the summer term, with all 20 courts seemingly occupied and the air thick with the thwack of balls on rackets. The tennis academy has earned a good reputation and attracts promising players.
Boarders
First and foremost a boarding school, with just 20 per cent day girls, some of whom can’t wait to board. Unusually, boarding is horizontal, so girls move houses with their year group every year or two. All the boarding houses are dotted around the
Ethos & heritage
Founded in 1873 by John Duncan, a sometime vicar of Calne, who believed strongly in providing education on a par with that available to boys. ‘The object of this school is to give a sound and practical education to girls of the middle class,’ as the
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
‘Inclusive,’ said our impromptu panel of girls when we asked them to describe the school, along with ‘friendly and welcoming’. House staff and tutors are the first port of call for any troubles and sharp on picking things up. Not a bitchy or a
Mobile phone policy
A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.
Mobile phone policy
Provided by the school and not part of our review Pupils below the sixth form are not allowed their phones during the school day. Pupils in the fifth form and below are allowed their mobile phones after the end of the school day. During times when pupils are allowed mobile phones, unless express permission is granted, mobile phones should not be used during any activities (eg lectures, concerts, play performances etc) or in the dining hall. Mobile phones should be kept completely out of sight and on silent outside the boarding house.
Pupils & parents
Currently 20 per cent from overseas and no plans to increase this; no nation or language dominates. We found the girls unaffected and pretty happy with their lot: enjoyable lessons and sport, enough to do at weekends and only the faintest grumbles
Money matters
The VAT increase has not been imposed in full initially, but a relatively young school this size at just 350 girls has fewer resources to absorb or spread the increase for long. Some extracurricular activities are chargeable, as are learning support
- Fee information
- Day £43,560; Boarding £58,410 pa
The last word
The best of unstuffy girls’ schools. The fun, the frolics, the fearlessness and (crucially) the future-proofing all foment in the greenest of settings, where girls can enjoy being unselfconscious girls till they are ready to take on the world beyond
