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Bedford High School for Girls, Bedford

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Bedford High School for Girls details

Address:

Bedford High School for Girls
Bromham Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire MK40 2BS

Telephone:

01234 360221

Fax:

01234 353 552

Email:

admissions@bedfordhigh.co.uk

Website:

www.bedfordhigh.co.uk

Authority:

Bedfordshire

Gender of entry:

Girls

Age range:

7-19

Number of students:

830

Affiliation:

GSA

Gender of sixth form:

Girls

Last inspection:

February 2003. Read the full inspection report.

General information

Headteacher: Gina Piotrowska, appointed in 2000.

Background: In line with their school motto [L]lta peteus[R], Bedford High girls are encouraged to aim high. In this academic school they receive close monitoring and target-setting alongside specialist teaching. A broad curriculum encompasses the three sciences, Greek, three modern languages and classics. When girls reach the sixth form they can choose between taking A-levels or the International Baccalaureate. Introduced at the school in 2002, the IB adds to the Bedford's international feel. There are pupils from 27 countries and foreign trips are features of school life. Exchanges to France, Spain and Germany take place each year, as well as an Alpine skiing trip, historical and artistic visits to Florence and Rome, sports tours to Spain and a water sports holiday to the Mediterranean. Drama, dance and music are offered at GCSE and A-level and seen as big contributors to the development of self-esteem. Regular performances range from joint theatre productions with Bedford School for Boys to in-house recitals, concerts and plays.There are more than 30 clubs and societies, including the CCF for year 10 girls. Teams in lacrosse, hockey, tennis, netball, swimming and rowing all enjoy regional and national success. The school emphasises a family atmosphere for its boarders and the school day spills over into evenings, weekends and holidays. Flexi-boarding can take the sting out of busy extracurricular lives for those with a long distance to travel home. Dorms range from five-per-room for younger pupils to private study bedrooms for upper sixth-formers.

Alumni: Dr Stephanie Cook MBE, Olympic pentathlon gold medallist; Alison Buchanon, opera singer; Jocasta Innes, author and designer.

Higher education: 95% (0 Oxford 1 Cambridge).

Special needs: EAL support for all international students is included in the school fees. Individual support lessons are offered for pupils with dyslexia.

Inspection: February 2003: Capable teaching, good support from other staff, good provision for pupils' personal development and the pupils' own positive attitude to learning enable the school to produce high standards of academic achievement. The school recognises the potential to develop further the quality of education by implementing its monitoring systems and ensuring that all pupils benefit equally from good teaching.

Feeder schools: Pilgrims Preparatory; Polam; Acorn; St Andrew's; Moorlands Prep.

Girls' age range: 7 to 18.

Percentage admitted according to academic ability: 100.

Average class size (seniors; 11-16): 22.

Average class size (sixth form): 13.

Bedford High School for Girls Statistics

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