Foundation. Godolphin and Latymer became a girls’ day school in 1905. It was aided by the London County Council from 1920 onwards and by the Inner London Education Authority when it received Voluntary Aided status after the 1944 Education Act. Rather than become part of a split-site Comprehensive school it reverted to Independent status in 1977.
Godolphin and Latymer is an independent day school for approx. 800 girls, aged 11 to 18. The school stands in a six-acre site in Hammersmith, near Hammersmith Broadway and excellent public transport. Historic buildings – including a converted church – sit side-by-side with modern facilities interconnected by tranquil gardens and courtyards. Facilities include a pottery room, computing classes, science and technology laboratories, art studios, a dark room, an ecology garden, all-weather surface for hockey and tennis and netball courts The Rudland Music School opened in the Autumn Term 2008 and the renovated church, The Bishop Centre for the performing arts, was completed in early Spring 2009. These state-of-the-art developments provide a range of teaching and performance spaces, recording studios and a music technology suite. The Bishop Centre provides an auditorium to seat over 800. In September 2015 the Sports Complex, the Hampton Centre, was opened, a new Sixth Form Centre opened in Autumn 2023, and a new Library and extended dining facilities opened in January 2024.
At Godolphin and Latymer the academic and pastoral aspects of school life operate in tandem and we strive for a love of learning and academic excellence whilst emphasising the development of the individual, within a happy, supportive community.
There is an emphasis on choice and opportunities with the option of both the A Level and IB pathways in the Sixth Form and an extensive extra-curricular and G&L Futures programme. The school aims to develop the girls’ self-respect, self-confidence and resilience, together with consideration and care for others so that they feel a sense of responsibility and are able to take on leadership roles within the school and the wider community.
Pastoral care. The school has a close relationship with parents, and every member of the staff takes an interest in the girls’ academic and social welfare. Each girl has a co-form teacher and a deputy form teacher and there is a Head of Lower School, Head of Middle School and a Head of Sixth Form, each with at least two deputies.
Curriculum. We offer a broad, balanced curriculum including appropriate education concerning personal, health, ethical economics and social issues. During the first three years, girls study: English; Mathematics; Latin; History; Geography; Religious Studies; Physics; Chemistry; Biology; Computing; Food Preparation and Nutrition; Design Technology; Art; Music; Drama; and Physical Education. Year 7 students study French, German and Mandarin. In Year 8, students choose two languages from French, German, Spanish and Mandarin, continuing with those chosen languages through Year 9.
In Year 9, students may either study Latin or Classical Civilisation. In addition to continuing all other curriculum subjects from Years 8, Year 9 students experience a rotation of three 8-week programmes exploring Computing, PSHE and our bespoke Futures Programme. In Year 10, Italian and Classical Greek become available and Computer Science is available for GCSE and A Level. Girls take ten subjects to GCSE.
In the Sixth Form, there is a choice of curriculum between the A Level and the International Baccalaureate Diploma. All subjects (except PE, Food Preparation and Nutrition and Design Technology) offered to GCSE can be continued into the Sixth Form with the addition of Ancient History, Economics, Politics and History of Art. Sixth Formers also undertake the Extended Project Qualification (AL) or Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge (IB) and attend lectures given by outside speakers.
The Sixth Form. The new Sixth Form Centre opened in Autumn 2023. The 200 plus girls in the Sixth Form play a leading role in the school, taking responsibility for many extracurricular activities, producing form plays and organising clubs. They undertake voluntary work and lead our Social Impact Committee.
Higher Education and careers advice. A strong careers team offers advice to girls and parents with specialists for Oxbridge, Medicine and Overseas destinations. Almost all girls proceed to their first-choice Higher Education degree course (including around 25% to Global Top 10 universities).
The Creative Arts. Music and Drama flourish throughout the school. The Rudland Music School has outstanding facilities for music: 20 soundproofed rooms for individual or group work, a recording studio, ICT suite and two classrooms which open out into a very large rehearsal space for choirs and orchestras. There are numerous choirs, two orchestras and several small ensembles. Individual music lessons are offered in many different instruments. Each year there is a Year 7 and Sixth Form play as well as the school productions. The Bishop Centre offers a superb performing arts space for music, drama and dance.
Physical Education Teams regularly achieve success at regional and national level in netball, hockey, rowing, athletics, cross-country and cricket and students also enjoy badminton, basketball, dance, fencing, football, gymnastics, Karate, kickboxing, pilates, rock-climbing, rounders, skiing, swimming, tennis, trampolining, volleyball, yoga, as well as Boom cycle and squash in the Sixth Form. A state-of-the-art Sport and Fitness Centre provides a Sports Hall, climbing wall, dance studio and fitness suite. Tennis/netball courts and an astroturf hockey pitch are also on site.
Extracurricular activities. The many opportunities for extracurricular activities include Dissection Club, Wild Aspirations, Computing, Chess, Model United Nations, Debating, Creative Writing, Classics Club and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, as well as a wide range of sporting activities such as karate, fencing, rowing and trampolining.
Activities outside the School. Students enjoy language exchanges to Germany and a musical exchange to Hamburg. There are study visits to Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Greece, Norway and a ski trip to the US. We take advantage of our London location by arranging visits to conferences, theatres, exhibitions and galleries. Field courses are an integral part of study in Biology and Geography.
Admission. Girls are normally admitted into Year 7 (First Year Entrance) or into our Sixth Form. We are a member of the London 11+ Consortium and 11+ examinations take place in December and interviews in January. 16+ tests and interview take place end October/November. There are occasional vacancies in other years. Entry is on a competitive basis.
Fees per term (from January 2024). £9,355. Fees are liable to change each January. Private tuition in music and speech and drama is extra. Most girls have school lunch.
Scholarships. Music scholarships are available on entry to Year 7 and in the Sixth Form and include free tuition in one instrument.
An Art scholarship is available in the Sixth Form.
All scholarships are worth up to 30% of fees and may be topped up by means-tested bursaries in cases of need. For all awards, candidates must satisfy the academic requirements of the school.
Bursaries. A number of school bursaries are available annually.
Uniform. Uniform is worn by girls up to and including Year 11.
Charitable status. The Godolphin and Latymer School is a Registered Charity, number 312699. It exists to provide education to girls aged 11 to 18.
Governors & Staff:
Governors:
Chair: Mr S Davies, BA Oxon
Ms S Davies, BA Wimbledon College of Art, MA London
Mr M Esiri, LLB London, MBA Greenwich
Mrs S Kinross, BA Exeter
Mr K Knibbs, MA Oxon
Dr L Magrill, BSc Edinburgh, MCom Birmingham, PhD Bradford
Mr N McLaughlan, BA Durham
Mrs J McNeill, QC, MA Oxon, GDL City
Ms T Meller, BA Glasgow School of Art, Dip Arch Oxford Brookes, RIBA
Mrs E Watson, BA Exeter
Clerk to the Governors: Mrs D Lynch, BSc Kingston, FCCA
Staff:
Head Mistress: Dr F Ramsey, MA, DPhil Oxon
Senior Deputy Head (Academic): Dr S Harnett, MA, DPhil Oxon
Deputy Head (Pastoral), Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Dr J Carter, BA Oxon, MA Chicago, MSt, DPhil Oxon
Assistant Heads:
Teaching and Learning: Dr C Badger, MSci PhD Cantab, FCCT, MA UCL
Co-Curricular and Educational Development: Mr J Carroll, BSc Durham
Director of Sixth Form: Mrs M Holder, BA Bristol, MSc Hertfordshire
Staff and student wellbeing and development, including Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs J Smart, BSc Birmingham
Heads of Departments:
Art and Design: Miss L Cooper, BA Staffordshire, MA Wimbledon School of Art
Biology: Miss E Thrower, BSc Manchester
Chemistry: Mrs A Swann, MChem Oxon
Classics: Mrs L Duffett, BA Oxon, MA London
Computing: Mrs G Oliver, MA Cantab
Design and Technology: Ms M Martins, BA Leeds
Drama: Ms S Adams, BEd Melbourne
Economics: Mrs M Koutsiouki, BA Athens, MSc Warwick
English: Dr J Christie, BA Warwick, MSc Edinburgh, PhD Warwick
Geography: Mr M Golland, BA London, MEd Cantab, FCCT
History and Politics: Mrs A Armstrong, BA York
History of Art: Dr G Williams, BA Leeds, MA UCL, PhD York
Individual Learning Needs: Ms F Zahid, BA Roehampton, MA Open University
International Baccalaureate Coordinator: Ms A Dubois, BA, MA Le Littoral
Mathematics: Mr J Ramsden, BSc Durham
Modern Foreign Languages: Mrs C Corcoran, MA Orléans, MA Southampton
French: Mrs C Corcoran, MA Orléans, MA Southampton
German: Miss A Page, BA Oxon
Italian: Miss L Padalino, BA Bologna
Mandarin: Mrs S Whittaker, BA Durham
Spanish: Mr D Rees-Williams, BSc Bath
Music: Mr C Langworthy, BMus Manchester
Philosophy and Religion: Mrs M Davis, BA, MA Surrey
Physical Education: Miss E Elfick, BEd Exeter
Physics: Mr J McGrath, BSc Wales, MSc Cranfield
Bursar: Mrs D Lynch, BSc Kingston, FCCA
Registrar: Mrs F Lundberg, CIPD
Higher Education and Careers: Mrs A Armstrong, BA York
PA to the Head Mistress: Miss V Stearns
Senior School Nurse:
Mrs T Vardigans, RN, SpCPHN-SN Brunel