Ages 
This school is buzzing. Everywhere, we sensed empowerment, initiative, kindness and enterprise. The girls were extremely keen to discuss and inform, and all unfailingly polite, opening doors, letting others through. Comfortably and effortlessly affable. The notion of compassionate accountability is no empty rhetoric. These girls embody it and this school is all dressed up with everywhere to go.
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Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 637 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 110 ·
- Religion
- None
- Fees
- £26,040 pa
- Local authority
- London Borough of Lambeth
- Linked schools
- School ownership
- Girls’ Day School Trust school
Headteacher
Head
Ms Cathy Ellott
Since September 2023, Cathy Ellott, previously pastoral deputy head and then senior deputy head at St Mary’s Ascot. Educated at Tonbridge Grammar School for Girls, she ‘has a highly academic background’: English at Oxford, PGCE at Cambridge and a
Entrance
Entry at 11+ via ISEB test but school takes a ‘holistic view’, looking in greater depth than comparable schools at the child’s potential. This involves a group activity and a creative writing task. About 40 per cent from sister prep school, 10
- Open days
- Various days: see school website
Exit
Vast majority (over 80 per cent and growing) stay for the sixth form, not least because of the attractive sixth form centre. Most head to Russell Group universities. Exeter, Newcastle, Bristol and Nottingham ‘our top hits’ in 2025. One to Oxbridge in
Latest results
In 2025, 76 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 33 per cent A*/A at A level (68 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
Large classrooms with small classes (average 24, max of 26). Setting only in maths – and even that is quite loose. Good on MFL - begins in year 7 with French, Mandarin and Latin too. Spanish is added in year 8, when girls choose two out of the four.
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- EPQ
- GCSE
Learning support & SEN
School’s inclusive policy is demonstrated in its personalised support for the 22 per cent on the SEN register, mostly with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and autism – plus an additional 17 per cent of pupils with additional learning needs, be they more
Arts & extracurricular
Music central to school life, with around half having individual instrumental lessons. Opportunities to play, sing and partake abound, with lots of choirs and orchestras to join and concerts galore. Recent highlights include performances at both
Sport
School sits near Tooting Commons in its own extensive verdant space. Own sports hall, own dance studio, own fitness centre, own Astro, own tennis courts – impressive for London. Sport for all, major ones being football, hockey, netball, athletics,
Ethos & heritage
Started in 1887 as Brixton Hill High School for Girls - one of the earliest GDST schools. Became Streatham Hill High School and moved to current former boys’ Battersea Grammar School in 1993.
Recent developments include new entrance and atrium (we
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
Pastoral care universally praised by parents and girls. ‘You always know where to go – and you can go to anybody.’ Deputy head (pastoral) takes the lead, supported by heads of year, heads of house, tutors, school counsellor and school nurse. Much
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 We want to limit younger pupils’ access and engagement with smartphones and ask that year 7 pupils do not bring smartphones (phones with internet access) into school and strongly advise that they do not have smartphones at all before the age of 13. Instead, year 7 pupils may bring in to school a basic, non-smartphone model without internet capabilities - what you might call a brick phone. We then require that all phones are locked away in our bespoke phone lockers when pupils arrive in school until the end of lessons at 3.55pm.
Pupils & parents
Local it may be, and many girls walk, bike or scoot to school but, to relieve the inevitable congestion in a residential area, school runs nine bus routes to local catchment areas, advertising the school’s well-loved motto: towards wisdom unafraid.
Money matters
Fees at the lower end of London senior schools and GDST is generous on the bursary and scholarship fronts. All are automatically considered for an academic scholarship on entry into year 7. Specialist scholars, in either art, drama, music or sports
- Fee information
- £26,040 pa
The last word
This school is buzzing. Everywhere, we sensed empowerment, initiative, kindness and enterprise. The girls were extremely keen to discuss and inform, and all unfailingly polite, opening doors, letting others through. Comfortably and effortlessly
