About girls' schools

From the many myths about independent girls' schools: hot-houses, bitchy girls, superior swots, man-hating... to all the positives: happy places where girls feel special, form life-long friendships and succeed. What's the truth?

Success stories

Joanna Dring

School: Dame Alice Harpur School

Occupation: Public Relations Manager, Wells and Young’s Brewery

Read more about Joanna Dring

Claudia Winkleman

School: City of London School for Girls

Occupation: Journalist/TV presenter

Read more about Claudia Winkleman

Miranda Krestovnikoff

School: The Abbey School, Reading

Occupation: Television Presenter, writer

Read more about Miranda Krestovnikoff

Siân Pledger

School: Bolton School

Occupation: Full time athlete in Malta and part time gym instructor

Read more about Siân Pledger

Claire Young

School: Wakefield Girls' High School

Occupation: Consultant and TV Presenter

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Sarah Outen

School: Stamford High School

Occupation: Motivational speaker, adventurer, writer

Read more about Sarah Outen

Marianne Fry (nee Newman)

School: Malvern Girls' College

Occupation: Retired

Read more about Marianne Fry (nee Newman)

Charlotte Avery

School: St Paul's Girls School

Occupation: Headmistress, St Mary's School, Cambridge

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Sue Thexton

School: Newcastle upon Tyne Church High School

Occupation: Managing Director

Read more about Sue Thexton

Sarah Ker (nee Walsh)

School: Merchant Taylor's School For Girls

Occupation: Army Specialist Registrar in Occupational Medicine

Read more about Sarah Ker (nee Walsh)

Photo of Philippa Davies

Philippa Davies

School: Croham Hurst, Roedean

Occupation: Maths Teacher (Former head of department, Harrow School)

Read more about Philippa Davies

Picture of Sarah Goulding

Sarah Goulding

School: Guildford High School

Occupation: General Practitioner and GP training scheme Programme Director

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Mairi Evans

School: Kilgraston School

Occupation: Councillor for Angus Council

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Elizabeth Tuley

School: St. Mary's School, Cambridge

Occupation: Student, reading Veterinary Science at Bristol University

Read more about Elizabeth Tuley

Toppy Wharton

School: St Catherine's Bramley/Sherborne Girls School

Occupation: PA to the Head at St Catherine's Bramley

Read more about Toppy Wharton

Helen Morris

School: Guildford High School for Girls

Occupation: National Brand Manager for TK Maxx

Read more about Helen Morris

Lucy Telford

School: St Mary's Hall, Brighton

Occupation: Brand Manager, Yves Saint Laurent Beauté

Read more about Lucy Telford

Profile photo of Anna Vercoe

Anna Vercoe

School: Parsons Mead School

Occupation: Sponsorship and Brand Solutions Group Head (advertising) for IPC

Read more about Anna Vercoe

Case studies

Read other families experiences of raising and educating girls. How did they research, debate and decide on the best school for their daughters? Was it the right choice for their daughter and how do they know? Read the real-life stories…

View case studies

FAQs

Read our experts’ replies to those questions that every parent asks. Our “agony aunts” draw on their experience as parents, teachers and Heads to offer suggestions, explanations and solutions

View Relationships FAQs