Monmouth School for Girls is one of the schools of the William Jones Foundation, arising from a bequest in 1614, and administered by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers.
Mr James Murphy-O’Connor became the first overarching Principal of Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools in September 2019. Formerly Principal of Prior Park Schools in Bath, Mr Murphy-O’Connor's role has an emphasis on academic and co-curricular provision, marketing, fund-raising, outreach and community relations working with the three schools’ heads to provide the best possible provision for pupils.
Mrs Jessica Miles took over the headship at Monmouth School for Girls in April 2019. She was formerly the Head of Queen Margaret’s School in York.
The school guides day and boarding pupils aged 11–18 through this crucial stage of their educational and emotional development.
There are 437 girls in the senior school, including a Sixth Form of 114. The fully co-educational Monmouth Prep School caters for 218 boys and girls aged 3 to 11, with boarding available at age 7. (For further details see entry in IAPS section.) A thriving boarding community with accommodation on the school site includes a junior house and modern senior house with study-bedrooms and Augusta House, the Sixth Form boarding facility, with 47 en-suite bedrooms.
Our girls thrive and flourish within a positive, constructive and inspiring single-sex community from Years 7 to 11, set in the outstanding natural beauty of the Wye Valley. Education is carefully planned to motivate girls; we deliver a broad choice of subjects, with teaching specifically tailored to their learning styles and subject choices free from any gender stereotyping.
Through our unique Monmouth Model, girls also benefit from the invaluable interaction with Monmouth School for Boys, sharing many trips and expeditions, events and community projects.
Understanding the pressures of adolescence, our focused approach prepares girls for Sixth Form, where they have the confidence to aim high in their specialist academic subjects and to fulfil their particular sporting, musical or artistic ambitions. Monmouth Schools Sixth Form brings day and boarding boys and girls together at this final stage of their educational journey with us, recognising their greater maturity and focus. We offer the benefits of pastoral care within a co-educational academic environment.
Monmouth girls develop a can-do attitude and make the most of the superb facilities on offer for sports, culture and the arts. Full use is made of the ample sports facilities: spacious playing fields, all-weather pitch, tennis courts, indoor swimming pool and sports hall. All are adjacent to the school.
Main sporting activities include, netball, softball, rowing, fencing, hockey, dance and equestrian. Many girls play at County, National and International level. A newly established tennis academy makes the most of the impressive site.
A purpose-built Performing Arts Centre, housed over three floors, opened in Autumn 2018. This state-of-the-art facility replaced the old gymnasium and is linked to the existing theatre at stage and hall level. A new home to the music department and with a dance and drama studio on the top floor, it features a recital hall with space for an audience of up to 150 people and includes a viewing gallery.
The school has a Chaplain and is a Christian foundation. Girls are encouraged to attend the places of worship of their own denomination.
We teach classics throughout the school. At examination level, we offer Latin at GCSE and A Level, and Classical Civilisation at A Level. Classical Greek is offered by request as an extra-curricular activity. The school excels in a variety of STEM programmes, gaining many accolades in ‘The Big Bang’ and ESSW competitions.
Almost all our pupils progress to Higher Education. With excellent careers advice, girls are aware of the scope of degree subjects. More than 60% of our girls gain places annually at Russell Group universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.
We encourage creative and practical work, especially music and drama. Girls frequently attend concerts, plays and exhibitions, and take an active interest in industry and management. Local businesses lend support to the school’s Young Enterprise schemes.
Girls participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, Combined Cadet Force, overseas expeditions and community projects and many also belong to local voluntary organisations.
Fees per term (2022-2023). Senior School: Day £5,505–£5,893, Boarding £10,780–£12,129. Monmouth Prep School: Day £2,820-£4,133, Boarding (Years 3–6) £7,454.
Entry Entry is usually at 7, 11, 13 or post GCSE, although occasionally other vacancies occur. Informal assessments for entry at 7+ to Monmouth School Girls’ Prep are normally held in the Lent term. Entry to the senior school is normally by examination, interview and report from the current school. The interviews and entrance examinations are normally held for 11+ in January, 13+ in February/March (or Common Entrance Examination in June), and for 16+ in November.
Due to current restrictions on social distancing, we are streamlining our whole entrance process, with the emphasis placed firmly on looking for potential not just test-performance.
Scholarships and Bursaries. A number of academic scholarships are normally awarded at 11+, 13+ and 16+ to the best candidates on the basis of the school’s entrance examination, interview and report from the current school. Music scholarships, also available at 11+, 13+ and 16+, are normally awarded on the basis of audition and interview held in the Lent term for 11+ and 13+ and the Michaelmas term for 16+.
Sport and Dance scholarships are available at 11+, 13+ and 16+ entry and are normally awarded on the basis of assessment and interview, held in the Lent term for 11+ and 13+, and Michaelmas term for 16+. Creative Arts (art and drama) scholarships are normally awarded following an assessment day held at the school in the Lent term for 13+ and the Michaelmas term for 16+.
Means-tested Bursaries and Assisted Places of up to 100% of fees are also available at all entry points.
To arrange an individual bespoke tour or for more details about the new steps for academic assessments, scholarships and bursaries, please contact the Admissions Manager, Mrs Helen Edwards; Tel: 01600 711104, email: girls.admissions@habsmonmouth.org. Charitable status. William Jones’s Schools Foundation is a Registered Charity, number 525616. The object of the Foundation shall be the provision and conduct in or near Monmouth of a day and boarding school for boys and a day and boarding school for girls.
Governors & Staff:
Board of Governors:
Chairman of Governors: Lord Colin Moynihan
Mrs E Ashford
Mrs J Booth
Professor R Carwardine
Professor A Davies
Mr T Haden-Scott
Dr S Honeywill
Mr N Manns
Mr R Miners
Dr A Mohindru
Mrs H Moriarty
Mrs R Rose
Mrs L Russen
Mr N Waters
Dr R Weeks
Mr I de Weymarn
Mrs R Williams
Clerk to the Governors: Mrs C Stansfield, BA
Foundation Bursar: Mrs T Norgrove, MBA
Head: Mrs J Miles, MA Oxon, PGCE
Senior Deputy Head Pastoral: Mrs R Rees, BA Manchester Metropolitan, MEd Buckingham, PGCE
Senior Deputy Head Academic: Mrs K Whiteman, MA Oxon, PGCE
Head of Pupil Progress and Assessment (Assistant Head): Mr D Evans, BA Coventry, MA Wales
Director of Sixth Form (Assistant Head): Mrs G Peace, MA, BA Belfast
Director of Boarding (Assistant Head): Mr A Peace, BSc Wales
Head of Wellbeing (Assistant Head): Miss S Fowler, BSc Swansea
Assistant Head Extra-Curricular Activities & Adventure: Mr G Stentiford, BSc, MSc Durham
Chaplain: Reverend C Swartz, BA Hons Trinity College, Connecticut, Anglican Ministry Training Cambridge, MA Cambridge
Art:
*Mr C Beer, BA, PGCE
Miss B M Jones, BA, PGCE
Miss C Rushe, BA, PGCE
Business Studies:
*Miss M C Attrill, BTEC Dip, Cert Ed
Careers:
Mrs D Gray, BSc
Classics/Latin:
*Mrs L J Beech, BA, PGCE
Dr C H Geisz, BA, MA, PhD
Computing:
*Mr J Childs, BEng, PGCE
Economics:
*Miss M C Atrill, BTEC Dip, Cert Ed
Mr D R Evans, BA, MA, PGCE
Drama & Speech:
*Mr P Griffin, BA
Mrs A Baker, BPhil, Cert Ed
Mr D Murray, MA, PGACA
Mr S Riordan, Professional Acting FdA
Mr A Shakeshaft, BA
English:
*Mrs Z Harvey, BA, PGCE
Ms K Bourne, BA, PGCE
Mrs J Harper, BSc, PGCE
Ms J Knight, BA, MA, PGCE
Dr R Thompson, BA, MA, PGCE, PhD
Ms S White, BA, PGCE
Ethics and Philosophy:
*Miss J Johnson, BSc, PGCE
Dr H Whately, BA, MSc, MA, PhD, PGCE
Mrs M Wilkes, BA, PGCE
Geography:
*Mr N Meek, BA, MA, PGCE, MEd
Mrs J Harper, BSc, PGCE
Mr E B Morgan, BSc, PGCE
History:
*Mr M Seaton, BA, PGCE
Mr P Grant, BA, BA, PGCE
Mrs K Whiteman, MA, PGCE
Mathematics:
*Mr A Skailes, BSc, PGCE
Miss J Griffiths, BSc, PGCE
Dr S Lawlor, BSc, PhD, PGCE
Mrs J Morris, BSc, PGCE
Mrs V Price, BSc Ed
Mrs C Skailes, BEng, PGCE
Modern Languages:
*Mrs A Hutchings, BA, PGCE
*Mrs H English, BA, PGCE (Spanish)
Mrs R Jenkins, MA, PGCE
Mrs R Rees, BA, MEd, PGCE
Mrs H K Small, MA, PGCE
Mrs C Takeuchi, MA, PGCE
Mrs K Wellings BA, PGCE
Miss S Williams, BA MA
Music:
*Mr D Harris, GRSM Hons, DipRCM, PGCE
Mrs R Friend, LRAM, LRAM TD
Personal, Social and Health Education:
*Miss S Williams, BA, MA
Psychology:
*Mrs K Smith, BSc, DipTeach
Miss J Johnson, BSc, PGCE
Science:
*Mrs S L Mulcahy, BSc, PGCE (Biology)
*Miss D Crichton, BSc, PGCE (Chemistry)
*Mr G Dunn, BSc, MSc, PGCE (Physics)
Mr M Coffey, BSc
Mr P Jefferies, BSc
Ms C Levick, BA, PGCE
Mrs V Lyons, BSc, PGCE
Mrs H Moreby, BSc, PGCE
Mrs C Natt, BSc, PGCE, MA Ed
Dr C Skailes, BEng, PGCE, PhD
Mr I Westlake, BSc, PGCE
Sport, Physical Education & Dance:
*Mrs C Jones, BSc, MSc, GTP
*Ms R V Parry, BA, PGCE (Dance)
*Mrs K A Callaghan, BA (Rowing)
Mr R Fletcher (Rowing Coach & Boatman)
Mrs R Harris, BSc, PGCE
Mrs S Morgan, BSc, PGCE
Ms Z Pritchard, Teaching Certificate Royal Academy of Dance, Teaching Associate Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance, Dip Dance Education
Mrs S Rossiter, BSc
Mrs A Shields, BSc, PGCE
Mr K Williams, BA, IPGCE (Rowing Coach)
Mrs S Wilson, BA, PGCE
Mr D Wood, BA
Technology:
*Mr S McCluskey, BSc, PGCE
Mrs K Lewis, BEng, PGCE
Mrs R Nieuwoudt, BSc, PGCE
Learning Support:
Mrs M Dorman, BSc, PGCE, PGDip SEN SpLD
Mrs J Jefferies, BEd, PGCE SpLD
EAL:
Mrs C Bown, BA Jt Hons, PGCE
Miss T May, BA, PGCE TESOL, MA TESOL
CCF:
Mr A White, BA (Contingent Commander)
Mr Nathan Davison (SSI)