City of London School for Girls: Difference between revisions

City of London School for Girls (CLSG) is a girls' independent school located in the Barbican Estate complex in the City of London, United Kingdom. It is sister school of the City of London School (a boys' school) and the City of London Freemen's School (a co-educational school). The school celebrated its 110th Anniversary in 2004-2005, under the title of 'Women in Leadership'. It celebrated its 111th Anniversary in 2005-2006, under the same title. It celebrated its 112th Anniversary in 2006-2007 under the title of 'International Women in Leadership'.

The school was founded by William Ward in 1894. It was his conviction that girls should be given a broad and liberal education with an emphasis on scholarship and despite having no daughters of his own, he left a third of his fortune to the City of London to fund the foundation of a girls' school, a £20,000 legacy for the Corporation of London. The school now receives financial support from the City Livery Companies as well as banks and other City firms. Links with the City of London remain strong - the City administers the school and the Board of Governors is appointed by the Court of Common Council. The school has strong links with its brother school - the City of London School for Boys is just a ten-minute walk away.

General

The school is for girls aged 7 to 18. Most pupils enter aged 7 ("7+" for the Prep School), 11 ("11+"), or 16 ("16+", for Sixth Form), although casual vacancies arise occasionally. The school's capacity is roughly 680 pupils. As its success rises, applications to the school continue to climb and new classrooms are being continually created, including by moving the school nurse out of her office.

Fees are currently £3,687 a term (2006) for the senior school exclusive of school lunches, and entrance is by examination. (The Prep Department is the same, but includes school lunches). The school remains relatively ethnically and socially diverse, although not as diverse as other leading London schools in both the state and independent sectors.

Academic

The school has an excellent academic reputation and leading league table results. In 2005, the school came first in The Sunday Times table of Prep Schools, and 2nd and 3rd respectively in many published tables of GCSE and A-level results. The current headmistress (the ninth in "City's" history) who drove the league table results up (despite often saying that she does not believe in their existence) has announced her retirement, with the current academic year being her last.

Extracurricular

The school's success gives it the reputation of a hot house with special emphasis and pressure being put on all girls taking public examinations. However, the school also encourages extracurricular activities. The arts are popular, appropriately enough for a school located across a lake from the Barbican Arts Centre. Furthermore, teachers are encouraged to go 'beyond the syllabus', exploring wider issues to nurture girls in areas that are not examined. Set within the heart of the City of London, the school is unique, in terms both of its location and its social mix.

Music lessons are availible to individuals or groups, and the school has successful Junior and Senior Orchestras, Junior and Senior Choirs, a gospel choir, a barbershop group and a swing band.

In 2005, City held its first ever drama festival; a fortnight of productions and workshops. Sports are another strength at City, with clubs and squads in abundance. The school has a swimming pool and an indoor gym with climbing wall. Debating is another popular activity, with participation in public speaking events such as Model United Nations and European Youth Parliament.

Trips and visits are common, and City girls are offered language exchanges to France, Spain, Germany and China, as well as other travelling opportunities through schemes such as World Challenge, which has seen girls go recently to Venezuela. Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions have been confined to the UK since 2001, when student Amelia Ward was killed whilst abseiling on a Duke of Edinburgh trip in South Africa.

Pastoral

The school is secular, yet has mildly Christian traditions, with twice weekly hymns and an annual Carol Service in the neighbouring St Giles' Church. There is a weekly Jewish assembly, as well as a Not Necessarily Jewish Society, an Asian Society and an African/Afro-caribbean society.

Future Plans

There are currently plans in the pipeline for a new extension to the school in the form of a Sixth Form Block and an all-weather playing field, as the school continues to grow - the 2000 intake swelled from the usual 60-70 girls per year to 90+.

The current headmistress is Dr Yvonne Burne, who is shortly to retire. The new headmistress will be Miss Diana Vernon, who will join the school in September 2007.

Former pupils

• Sahar Hashemi, entrepreneur
• Claire Rayner, b.1931, journalist
• Dido, b.1971, pop singer
• Claudia Winkleman, b.1972, TV presenter
• Sophie Winkleman, actress
• Romola Garai, b.1982, actress
• Mary Nighy, actress
• Lily Anna Cooper, b. 1986, actress
• Ellen Miles, b. 1909, British spy during WWII
• Emily Leon, b.1908,architect

External link

• City of London School for Girls web site