Streatham & Clapham High School is a distinguished historical foundation. It was founded as Brixton High School in 1887 by the Girls’ Public Day School Trust as one of its earliest member schools. In 1895, HRH Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, opened its buildings in Wavertree Road, London SW2, now the site of the Prep School. In 1994 the Senior School moved to Abbotswood Road, London SW16, into the imposing buildings of the former Battersea Grammar School.
The School offers an inspiring, enlightened and intellectually challenging education for its pupils in a lively, vibrant and warmly supportive environment. The family ethos of Streatham & Clapham High School enables its masters and mistresses to know, value and nurture each pupil as an individual. The School celebrates diversity and draws strength from its rich social and cultural mix.
The School’s core belief is that all members of its community should be inspired to outperform expectations on a daily basis. The pursuit of excellence is thus the School’s defining feature. It nurtures pupils to attain success across the widest spectrum of activity, extending far beyond the conventional ‘academic’ horizon. In so doing, they learn the beauty of reason, the allure of the aesthetic, and the vitality of the physical. The School’s pupils thus learn to navigate the landscape of the human spirit and achieve beyond the realms of expectation.
The School’s vision: to be unrivalled in empowering its young women to discover, nurture and project their unique identities and character.
The School’s purpose: to enable every girl to achieve beyond the bound of expectation on a daily basis, across the spectrum of endeavour.
The School’s salient and distinctive features:
•It nurtures, not coerces, excellence
•It is a family, not a factory, school
•It celebrates difference through its buzzy, diverse community, drawing strength from all that is great about London
•It has an unstinting commitment to innovation; the School does not stand still but is a trailblazer
•It draws strength from being part of the GDST family of schools, being pioneers in, and the shapers of, girls’ education.
General information. Streatham & Clapham High School is an independent, academically selective school for girls aged 3–18, with just under 900 pupils on the roll. Girls aged 3–11 attend the Nursery and Prep School, located in spacious buildings with outstanding facilities on Wavertree Road in Streatham Hill. The Senior School inhabits a four-acre site focused on a symmetrical 1930s building designed by J E K Harrison, FRIBA, in a delightfully tranquil and leafy oasis of south London, next to Tooting Bec Common, where the soundscape is dominated by birdsong. Many girls live locally and an increasing number walk or cycle to School, encouraged by the School’s commitment to sustainable travel. The Senior School is ten minutes’ walk from Streatham Hill National Rail station and seventeen minutes from Balham National Rail and Underground. Other pupils come from further afield, including Battersea, Clapham, Wandsworth, Dulwich, Tooting and Brixton. The School is also within easy reach of the theatres, museums and galleries of central London.
Facilities. The School has first-class facilities for learning, providing an environment that enables girls to develop their interests and strengths both inside and outside the classroom. The School keeps up-to-date with new teaching methods and innovative techniques, such as interactive online learning, and uses them to engage and extend its pupils. Its facilities include a computer room, a music suite including a dedicated music technology room, a Recital Hall and black-box theatre, two design & technology workshops, a full-size indoor Sports Hall, Dance and Art studios, and sports pitches and netball/tennis courts. In 2017, the school occupied a stunning state-of-the-art sixth form centre on a new floor of the main building (which constituted the first phase of the £13 million building project), and the final phase of the building work, an architecturally innovative and spacious new dining hall and a striking new reception at the front of the school, together with a fountain atrium, was completed in March 2018. The new facilities have won a number of architecture awards, including the Building Design Awards, a RIBA Award, and the Architects’ Journal Retrofit Awards (School Project of the Year).
Academic matters. The ability profile of the school is significantly above the national average, with a proportion of pupils being far above the national average. The school is in the top tier of independent schools in terms of its public examination results. Pupils do well: in 2023 at GCSE, over 22% of results were Grade 9 and 68% were Grades 9 to 7.
At A Level there has been a commendable upward trend in performance, with the percentage of A*–B grades rising from 68% in 2019 to an impressive 73% in 2023.
A significant milestone was reached with 88% of grades attaining A*–C. 11% of grades attained the highest accolade of A*, reflecting a subset of exceptional individual achievements. Continued success in STEAM subjects with over a third of pupils going on to study STEAM related subjects, including Biochemical Engineering at University College London, Maths and Statistics at the University of Newcastle and Biomedical Science at the University of Surrey. Physical Education (PE) stands out with an exceptional achievement, where a remarkable 100% of students secured A*–A and 75% A* grades, reflecting their dedication to excellence in this field.
Curriculum. The School offers a wide range of subjects. Pupils in the Upper Third, Lower Fourth and Upper Fourth (Years 7 to 9) study the core disciplines of English, Mathematics, and Science. Other subjects offered include Art, Mandarin and Sinology, Computing, Design & Technology, Drama, French, Geography, History, Italian, Latin, Music, Philosophy, Religion and Ethics, Physical Education, and Spanish. All of these subjects, as well as Ancient Greek, are available at GCSE or IGCSE in the Fifth Form (Years 10 and 11). The School offers a range of subjects for study at A Level, including Art & Design, Biology, Chemistry, Classical Civilisation, Latin, Critical Thinking, Design & Technology, Drama & Theatre Studies, Economics, Engineering, English Literature, Geography, Government & Politics, History, French, Italian, Spanish, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology and Religious Studies. The majority of sixth-form students also pursue the Extended Project Qualification to extend their interests and knowledge. Virtually all sixth-form students proceed to the most competitive Russell Group universities (including Oxbridge).
Enrichment programme (‘Kinza’). Kinza, an Arabic term meaning ‘hidden treasure’, is the School’s unique enrichment programme of which there are timetabled weekly sessions throughout the year. Every Kinza course is designed to encourage a love and respect for learning for its own sake, utilising the interests and expertise of staff. The activities cover an extremely broad range of activities. In recent years, these have included Anthropology, Art History, Engineering, Crime Fiction, Fashion, Film and Society, Islamic Art, Young Money and much more. Opportunities to deepen aspects of the broad knowledge acquired through Kinza are afforded through individual research and collaborative working processes. Each girl participates in several different activities during the course of the year. At the same time of the week, the sixth-form students engage in the School’s community service programme, ‘Lux’.
Activities. The School has a thriving co-curricular life, with over 100 societies and clubs, ranging from academic fields to more specialised activities. There are a very large number of activities in the performing arts; pupils having the opportunity to perform in a number of dramatic productions during the school year or to belong to around 15 music ensembles, including choirs and orchestras, which annually lead the School’s Carol Service at Southwark Cathedral. Pupils may belong to a legion of sporting clubs (including hockey, netball, gymnastics, rowing, cricket, football, badminton, athletics and many more), and have the opportunity to participate in a number of outdoor educational activities, such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. A busy programme of trips and expeditions is scheduled, for instance a cultural trip to China, a flagship sixth-form expedition to Cambodia, geography trips to Iceland, sports tours and language trips abroad. The School’s proximity to central London makes possible many excursions to concerts, museums, art galleries and theatres.
Pastoral care. The School does not view outstanding pastoral care as an ‘add-on’ to its academic programme. Neither does it believe that a ‘hothouse’ atmosphere is desirable or healthy. The School’s core belief is that girls achieve best if they are happy and settled in their social relationships. Hence the ‘family’ ethos of the School, which holds that the way in which individuals are nurtured and valued is intrinsic to the pupils’ progress and success. All pupils are under the care of one of five Heads of House, and all members of staff, up to the Head, are easily accessible to pupils. To ensure that the School’s social and emotional care is comprehensive and alert, the School has a Deputy Head (Pastoral) with oversight of pastoral matters. In conjunction with the work of the Heads of House and the sixth-form mentoring scheme, this enables the School to identify challenges or problems early and then work with pupils and where necessary their parents to overcome them. It also helps the School to encourage and celebrate real progress and achievement every day. The strong prefectorial system and school council under the leadership of the Head Girl ensure that the pupil voice has suitable influence in shaping the life and work of the School.
Admission. There are six principal admission stages: by assessment for the Nursery (3+ years), 4+ and 7+, and by competitive entrance examination at 11+ and 13+ and at Sixth Form level. Occasional places sometimes arise at any age; interested parents are advised to contact the Registrar. 11+ candidates will undertake an interview and creative writing session. Applicants for 13+ entry will have individual interviews after the 13+ entrance examination. Applicants for 11+ entry sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test, comprising English, Mathematics, verbal and non-verbal reasoning exercises. Applicants for 13+ entry sit papers in English, Mathematics and Science. The transfer of a pupil from the Prep to the Senior School is contingent on the School’s assessment of the pupil’s suitability for admission into the Upper Third Form (Year 7).
Fees per term (2023-2024). Senior School: £7,001, Prep School: £5,441, Nursery: £4,114. The fees are inclusive of non-residential trips and extras, but exclude the cost of lunch.
Scholarships. A number of scholarships, worth up to a maximum of 25% of fees, are available for 11+ and 16+ entrance. They are not means-tested. Academic scholarships are awarded on the basis of individual candidates’ performance in the entrance examination and interview. A number of sixth-form academic scholarships are also available, on the basis of a written assessment and interview. Specialist scholarships, in Art, Drama, Music and Sport, are also available for 11+ entrance.
Bursaries. A small number of means-tested bursaries are available at 11+ and at 16+ for students applying for the Sixth Form. All requests are considered in confidence and application forms are available from the Registrar.
Governors & Staff:
The Board of Local Governors:
Mr Angus Wrixton, BSc Hons (Chair)
Miss S Campbell, BA, MA
Mrs R Chowdhury, BA, MSc, CMRS
Mr Dan Clay
Mrs E Gibson, BA, LLB
Mr Simon Packard
Head: Ms Cathy Ellott, BA Oxon, MA London, PGCE Cantab
Deputy Head (Academic): Mr M Weatherhead, BEng De Montfort, MA St Mary’s, NPQH
Deputy Head (Pastoral): Ms A Smith, BSc Glamorgan, PGCE Science
Director of Finance & Operations: Miss A Bullock
Director of Marketing & Communications: Mrs D Young, BA Northampton, MSc Surrey
Assistant Head (Co-Curricular and Community): Mrs T Philipsen-Allen, BA AUB, PGCE French, NPQSL
Assistant Head (Sixth Form): Miss Camilla Simpson, BA Oxon, PGCE
Acting Assistant Head (Teaching & Learning and Staff Development): Mrs S Elliot, BA Cantab, PGCE Classics
Head of Prep School: Mrs H Loach, BEd Cantab
Deputy Head of Prep (Academic): Ms Z Simpson, BA Roehampton, PGCE, NPQSL
Deputy Head of Prep (Pastoral): Mrs J Hayes, BA Oxon, PGCE
Teaching Staff (Senior School):
* Head of Department
Ms Sharon Akintunde, BSc UCL, MSc, GTP (*Chemistry)
Miss Leah Anderson, BA Brighton, PGCE (Assistant Director of Sport)
Miss Fouziah Arshad, BSc Kingston (Mathematics)
Mr Paul Baker, BA Colchester, PGCE (English)
Miss Rebecca Baker, BA Falmouth, PGCE (*Art)
Miss Emma Barnard, BA Keele, MA Sussex, PGCE (English)
Miss Grete Barzdenyte, BSc Canterbury, PGCE (Physical Education)
Mrs Anusha Burton, BA Birmingham, PGCE (Philosophy, Religion & Ethics)
Mme Catherine Casset, BA Paris, MA, PGCE (French)
Ms Mengmeng Cheng, BSc Bath, MSc Loughborough
Dr Sadaf Choudhry, MEng QMW, PhD, PGCE (Chemistry, Physics)
Mrs Laura Cooper, BA Nottingham, QTS (*Futures & Aspirations, French)
Mrs Jennifer Crane, MA Cantab, MSc London, PGCE (Biology)
Mr Andrew Doddridge, BSc UCL, PGCE (*Geography)
Mrs Sarah Donnan, BA Durham, PGCE (Deputy Head of Sixth Form, English)
Mrs Susannah Douglas, MA London, PGCE (Art)
Mrs Elizabeth Esser, BA Cantab (Director of Music)
Ms Hannah Evans, BA Kings College, PGCE (English)
Mrs Mary Evans, BA Exeter, PGCE (House Mistress, Drama)
Mrs Ciara Eves, BA St Mary’s London, QTS (Director of Sport)
Mrs Katherine Ferguson-Burke, MA Glasgow, PGCE (*Biology)
Mrs Rachel Ferguson, BA Manchester, PGCE (English)
Miss Sarah Fitzgibbon, BSc Leeds, PGCE (*Science, *Physics)
Mrs Jane Flanagan, BA Nottingham, MSc, QTS (House Mistress, Geography) [maternity cover]
Mr Paul Frost, BA Lancaster, ACMA, PGCE (*Digital Learning and Computing)
Miss Carmen Garcia-Gomez, BA Southampton, PGCE (Second in Modern Foreign Languages, Spanish) [maternity cover]
Mr Matthew Gibson, BA Oxon, PGCE (*Academic Music)
Mrs Rachel Grant, BSc Loughborough, PGCE (House Mistress, Physical Education, Science)
Miss Jennifer Green, BA Swansea, PGCE (Classics)
Mr Christopher Haynes, PGCE (*DT & Engineering)
Ms Fiona Helszajn, BA Edinburgh, PGCE (*Modern Foreign Languages, Spanish) [maternity cover]
Dr Nazish Khan, BSc Manchester, MSc Coventry, PGCE (Chemistry)
Mr Benjamin Kirby, BSc, Msc Cardiff, PGCE (Economics)
Mrs Juliana Kirby, BA Leicester, PGCE (*Mathematics)
Mr David Lee, BA Manchester, PGCE (*History and Politics)
Miss Dior-Jade Lewis, BA Leicester, PGCE (*PSHCE)
Mr Patrick Lynch, BA London Metropolitan, PGCE (Design & Technology)
Mr Tito Newell, BA Surrey, PGCE (Philosophy, Religion & Ethics)
Ms Thu Ha Nguyen, BSc Queen Mary’s, PGCE (Mathematics, KS4 Mathematics Co-ordinator) [maternity cover]
Mrs Caroline Pearman-Gibbs, BA Oxford (*Modern Foreign Languages) [maternity cover]
Mr Phillip Powell, MSc Bristol, PGCE (Biology)
Mr Thomas Punt, BA Lancaster, PGCE (*Philosophy, Religion & Ethics)
Mr Adam Razaq, BA Kingston, PGCE (KS3 Co-ordinator, Mathematics)
Mr Duncan Reader, BA Cantab, MA, MSc, PGCE (Mathematics)
Ms Rose Ren, BA Shanghai, PGCE (Lead in Mandarin & Sinology, EPQ Co-ordinator)
Mr James Robinson, MA Oxon, PGCE (Mathematics)
Miss Ananya Sengupta, BSc Nottingham, PGDip (Physics)
Miss Jasmeet Soor, BA Nottingham, PGCE (History & Politics)
Mr Michael Spooner, BSc Bristol, MA, PGCE (House Master, Physics)
Ms Violet Tabrizi, BA Vancouver, PGCE (History)
Ms Penelope Thane-Woodhams, BA Loughborough, PGCE (Director of Drama)
Mrs Laura Tuggey, MA Edinburgh, QTS (Geography and History)
Ms Lily Vigor, BA Central Saint Martins, PGCE (Art)
Miss Hayley Walker, BA King’s College London, PGCE (*Classics) [maternity cover]
Mr Frederic Ward, BSc Leeds, PGCE (Mathematics, Science)
Mrs Carol Weatherhead, BA London, MA Warwick, PGCE (*Learning Support, History)
Mrs Florence West, MSc Cardiff, BSc Durham, PGCE (Science)
Teaching Staff (Prep School):
Miss Lucy Baker, BA Warwick, PGCE (*Upper School, Year 5)
Ms Emma Baldwin, BA Southampton, PGCE (*RE, Year 4)
Ms Rachel Barnes, BA Exeter, PGCE (*Transition, *Humanities; Year 5)
Mrs Kate Belshaw, BA Leicester, PGCE (*English, Year 6)
Mr Padraig Carr, BA Carlow College, Eire, PGCE (*Mathematics, Year 6)
Miss Taibah Cashmiri, BA St Mary’s, PGCE (Reading Lead, Year 2)
Miss Millisa Dolke, PGCE (Teacher of Prep PE)
Miss Sophie Dowler, BA Sheffield, PGCE (*EYFS/Lower School, Nursery)
Mrs Victoria Henderson-Cleland, BA Bristol (*Latin)
Mme Emmanuelle Koeb, BA London Met, PGCE (*French)
Miss Sarah McKee, BA Oxford Brookes, PGCE (Reception)
Ms Alice Markes, BSc Leeds, PGCE (Year 3)
Ms Sally Maskell, BEd Exeter (*Science & Digital Learning)
Miss Alexandra Nicholson, BA Liverpool Hope, PGCE, QTS (*Art, Year 4)
Miss Claire Pandey, BA London, BA Metropolitan, PGCE (Eco Lead, Year 1)
Ms Agnieszka Dziamalek, BSc Opole, Poland, MA, QTS (*Prep PE)
Mrs Robyn Pressley, LTCL Cape Town, SA, MA, PGCE (*Drama, Year 4)
Miss Robyn Sullivan, BA Worcester, PGCE (*Gifted and Talented, *House & Charities, Year 3)
Ms Anna Tabor, GGSM, LGSM, MMus Surrey, PGCE (*Music)
Mrs Rachael Watson, BA Brunel, CCET, PGCE (*Supported Learning Needs & Academic Welfare)
Head’s Executive Assistant: Ms Shirley Halm
Head of Admission: Mr Anatoly Reeves BA Manchester