Our name in highlights

Annual review 2012 Schools Heads & Principals

1 Blackheath High School Lisa Laws 2 Brighton & Hove High School Jennifer Smith 3 Bromley High School Louise Simpson 4 Central Newcastle High School Hilary French 5 Croydon High School Debbie Leonard 6 Heathfield School, Pinner Anne Stevens 7 Howell’s School, Llandaff, Cardiff Sally Davis 8 Ipswich High School Elaine Purves 9 Kensington Prep School Prudence Lynch 10 Northampton High School Sarah Dixon 4 11 Norwich High School for Girls Jason Morrow 12 Nottingham Girls’ High School Susan Gorham 13 Notting Hill & Ealing High School Lucinda Hunt 14 Oxford High School Judith Carlisle 25 15 Portsmouth High School Jane Prescott 26 18 6 16 Putney High School Dr Denise Lodge 12 20 19 11 17 The Royal High School, Bath Rebecca Dougall 10 13 9 18 Sheffield High School Valerie Dunsford 8 1 19 Shrewsbury High School Michael Getty 14 16 21 23 20 South Hampstead High School Jenny Stephen 7 17 3 24 21 Streatham & Clapham High School Dr Millan Sachania

4 15 2 22 5 22 Sutton High School Katharine Crouch 23 Sydenham High School Kathryn Pullen 24 Wimbledon High School Heather Hanbury

25 26 18 6 Academies 12 20 19 11 10 13 9 25 The Belvedere Academy, Liverpool Peter Kennedy 8 1 14 16 26 Birkenhead High School Christine Mann 21 23 7 17 3 Schools in 24 London 15 2 22 5 As at March 2013 Contents

Location of schools and academies Inside front cover “Hooray for the Girls’ Day School Trust” At a glance 2 Good Schools Guide Advice Service blog, Back to the future 4 Looking back... 6 March 2013 ...and looking forward 7

Our name in highlights 9 Enabling access 13 Investing for the future 17 Financial summary 20

Structure and governance Back cover fold in Notable GDST alumnae Inside back cover

ANNUAL REVIEW 1 At a glance

A Level – Percentage of A*/A grades Nearly 20,000 pupils in 24 schools Over 3,500 staff Results 60 and two academies 50 GDST schools Independent Nursery Catering 40 schools 6th Form: 30% ofA LevelA* / A – gradesPercentage at A ofLevel A*/A - 2012 grades Years 12-13 Juniors: Reception - Administration Teaching 20 National average Year 6 60 5010 GDST schools Independent 40 schools Premises 30 20 National average 10 58.4% of exams gained an A* or A 84.3% of exams gained an A*, A or B

Seniors: Years 7-11 GCSE – Percentage of A*/A grades % of A* / A grades at GCSE - 2012

The GDST educates nearly 8% of girls in Our size and scope allows us to develop 80 independent schools, more than any other and promote talented teachers throughout 70 organisation. our network. GDST schools 60 GCSE – Percentage of A*/A gradesIndependent 50 schools 40 80 30 70 GDST schools Non-stereotypical subject choices for girls Bursaries and scholarships 6020 National average Independent 5010 GDST A Level students 2012 Last year the GDST spent over £10.5 million on schools 40 bursaries and scholarships. Almost 20% of girls 73.6% of exams gained an A* or A 30 in our fee-paying senior schools receive financial assistance. 20 National average 47.6% 10 Other bursaries, prizes took one or more science subject & scholarships HSBC bursary awards “It seems that (Helen) GDST bursary fund Fraser isn’t exaggerating: 36.9% her girls really are bright took maths and brilliant” The Spectator Guide to Independent Schools, 20.4% September 2012 took one or more language

Central GDST funding

2 GDST ANNUAL REVIEW 3 Back to the future

“There is a GDST culture – a girls-can-do-anything self-belief coupled with principles of service,

cheerful collaboration and zest for achievement As I write, the Girls’ Day School Trust is nearing It has been a year of great achievements for the the end of celebrations to mark the 140th Girls’ Day School Trust. Our exam results have – that characterises its anniversary of its foundation, and in these pages continued to be outstanding, the university alumnae... from which- you will read of the many wonderful ways we places our Sixth-Formers have attained have been found to make it a special year. equally impressive, and as this Annual Review ever school they hail” shows, achievements by individual schools and An anniversary as significant as this gives us reason to individual girls have also been remarkable. Good Schools Guide Advice pause, and to reflect. We can look back with pride on Service blog, March 2013 the determination of our founders to give girls the best There have been other successes. Several GDST education, and on the successes of our schools and alumnae participated in the Olympic Games, and one of thousands of our alumnae down the years. We can of them, Hannah Mills, won a silver medal. Pupils look back, too, on decisions made and developments excelled in national and international competitions – undertaken that have helped to shape the GDST into and early in 2013 we were told that GDST pupils had what it is today. been successful in setting a Guinness World Record for the greatest number of people to take part in a But anniversaries shouldn’t just be an occasion for simultaneous practical science lesson at venues across nostalgia. They shouldn’t be end-points – they should the country. be something that helps us shape ‘work in progress.’ So while, yes, we should look back, it is even more It’s fitting that all these achievements took place in this, important to look forward. We need to invest in our our anniversary year. In part, they’re a demonstration future, ensuring the GDST continues to lead the way in of continuity, of our abiding commitment to excellence; girls’ education. but they’re also a testament to the extent to which we don’t stand still. Recent debates on education have rightly focused on the need to improve standards, and to stretch students It’s only right, therefore, that this Annual Review also by making more demands of them in the subjects covers our investments for the future. Many of them they take and the exams they sit. GDST schools and are concrete, and in some cases, literally so: the Trust academies set a good example: the number of our funds major developments to our school estates to pupils focusing on core academic subjects sought by ensure we provide superb facilities. Many others are Russell Group universities is significantly higher than also investments of our determination: for instance, the national average, and the results they achieve our commitment to develop as a high-performing continue to be outstanding. organisation and, importantly, our resolve to extend our ability to enable access to a GDST education to as At the Girls’ Day School Trust, we have a past of which many girls as we can. we can proud – and a future we face not just with determination, but with enthusiasm. As Lorna says, we look back, but we also look ahead. That’s why we invest so much of our energy in laying foundations for leadership – not just for the GDST and its role in national education, but for our heads and teachers as they push the boundaries of their roles, Lorna Cocking Chairman and also, of course, for our girls. We want to see them taking active roles in helping to shape the Trust – and in adult life, we also want them playing leading parts in the world beyond our gates.

Helen Fraser CBE Chief Executive

4 GDST Looking back...... and looking forward

2012 was a big year for the UK – and as it was also the 140th anniversary In our anniversary year at the GDST, we are looking forward to our future of the GDST’s foundation, it was a big year for us too. as much as we’re celebrating our past – and one of the best things we can do to prepare for that future is to foster a sense of leadership.

To mark the occasion, GDST schools Creative Writing Prize: GDST girls We aim to lead the education • To develop as a high Our immediate priorities collectively and individually organised in three age categories – Senior, debate, making sure our voice is performance organisation: a number of events and activities, Middle and Junior – were invited to heard on matters of importance to us committed to long-term • Supporting GDST schools to celebrating the achievements of write submissions up to 1,500 words and to the country as a whole – on sustainable delivery of the best ensure the education they offer pupils from when the first of our long and submit them by February delivering academic excellence, for education for girls; greater forms a coherent whole and schools opened its doors in 1873 2013. Submissions could be on instance, on promoting educational autonomy and accountability provides the knowledge and skills right up to the present day. any subject or topic, either fictional innovation, and on the benefits of for heads; transparent key that girls and young women will or factual, addressing a theme of single-sex education. performance indicators (KPIs) and need to thrive over the coming Then & Now Exhibition: a mobile ‘Celebration’, ‘Girls’, ‘Anniversary’, performance management; all decades exhibition toured our schools, ‘Birthday’ or ‘Trust’. The results will We work to develop leadership skills schools and academies in top 200 displaying insights into the history be announced in the summer term within the GDST, giving our heads of league tables or equivalent; • Analysing and re-energising of the Trust, as well as some of the of 2013. greater autonomy and accountability increased pupil numbers; our schools’ and academies’ key events over the last 140 years as well as recruiting and developing reinvesting a healthy surplus in Sixth Form provision, re-defining that have helped to shape the role of Short Film Competition: films of up teaching and administrative talent educational provision; recruiting what makes a GDST Sixth women in society. to three-and-a-half minutes in length to help us deliver the best education and developing talent; and Form distinctive and special, GDST Bake Off: hundreds of GDST were invited in three age groups, we can. maximising the potential encompassing both curricular Athletics Rally and Day of Dance: girls competed to win one of six covering Junior, Senior and Sixth and impact of our people and extra-curricular components at an exhilarating event in the places in the final of this bakery Form. Each age group was given a We also develop leadership skills summer, GDST girls from across the competition. Finalists were asked choice of theme: for example, Junior in our girls. Yet hand in hand with • To extend our role as an • Focusing especially on our Junior country demonstrated the breadth of to design and bake cupcakes on School entrants could make a film leadership goes the ability to work access enabler: schools, ensuring that we make talent we have in sport and dance. a 140th anniversary theme. Their on a theme either of ‘friendship’ in teams. Just as teams need leaders providing the opportunity of the most of the all-through efforts were judged by GDST alumna or ‘happiness.’ to provide direction and focus, an excellent education to the education our schools offer Mel Giedroyc, presenter of BBC TV’s so leaders need the support and largest possible number of girls Great British Bake Off. Entries were judged by GDST challenge of a good team. through increased provision • Delivering our major estates alumnae in the film and media of bursaries and scholarships; developments on time and on Women in Science Day: over industries, and the results announced Here are some of our strategic seeking out the best and the budget to provide the superb 2,200 GDST girls aged from 10 to at a London screening in April 2013. objectives and priorities for the brightest, most deserving girls; facilities our girls deserve 15 at all 26 of the Trust’s schools In addition, films were uploaded to coming year: school engagement with local and academies took part in a the GDST’s social media channels and communities and the broader • Completing and assessing the simultaneous experiment to pupils, parents, alumnae, and others Our goals for 2015 world; and increasing income pilot phase of the Aspiring measure gravity – and in doing so invited to vote on their favourite for from fundraising activity Leaders Programme, which set a world record for the world’s an audience award. • To achieve recognition as started in September 2012. biggest multi-venue practical leaders in educating girls: This one-year developmental science lesson. ‘140 for 140’: to celebrate our focusing on single-sex education, programme aims to encourage 140th anniversary we have been delivering academic excellence talented staff to develop showcasing 140 outstanding and all-round development; their senior management and voluntary and charitable fundraising promoting educational leadership skills as part of their efforts undertaken by pupils, staff, innovation; and raising the profile own professional development parents, supporters and stakeholders of the GDST and our individual and within the context of the across the GDST on our ‘140 for schools and academies GDST, embodying our vision and Foreign Language Spelling Bee: 140’ webpages. values and reinforcing consistent students competed in French, messages. This, in turn, will German, Spanish, Latin or Mandarin increase the pool of potential Chinese, translating and spelling heads and senior leaders across words. Regional rounds in January “We want to prepare our girls the Trust, as part of the Trust’s and early February were followed to claim their achievements, emerging talent management by a national final held at Howell’s to be brave, to take risks” strategy School, Llandaff, in March 2013. Helen Fraser, GDST, on the Today Programme, BBC Radio 4, September 2012

6 GDST ANNUAL REVIEW 7 Our name in highlights “With more young people staying on in education to 18, do we need exams at 16 at all? Before replacing GCSEs, we need to be sure that Excellence... whatever takes their place better serves the needs of learners, and of the country as a whole” • Academically, students at GDST schools • The spirit of 2012 was reflected across the continue to outperform their independent and GDST. Schools in the Get Set Network and others maintained sector peers at all ages and stages, incorporated Olympic values into lessons and Dr Kevin Stannard, GDST, The Guardian, and several GDST schools again featured near assemblies. Alumnae, girls and staff were among September 2012 the top of the media league tables for their the torch-bearers and participated in the opening students’ performance at GCSE and A Level and closing ceremonies. The Olympics inspired topics ranging from a study of the marketing of • Almost all our Sixth Formers continue to go previous Olympics, to a link-up with a school in on to higher education at their first choice of Atlanta (1996 hosts), an art competition, a cultural destination, the majority at leading universities. Olympiad in drama, and an analysis of the impact In 2012 over 200 GDST A Level students went on of the regeneration of East London in economics to study medicine, dentistry or veterinary science

• We also continue to enjoy an exceptional record for our students’ take-up of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects and languages, which have a recognised national shortage. In 2012 47.6% of our A Level students took one or more science subjects, 36.9% maths and 20.4% studied one or more languages

• Music, singing, art, drama, dance and other creative and performing arts continue to play a vital role in school life. Sixth Formers from GDST schools – 35 in total – went on to some of the UK’s top music, art, drama and dance colleges and institutes

School and individual achievements

• As part of Portsmouth High School’s Academic Fortnight, Professor Jim Al-Khalili took students and staff on a brain- stretching tour of statistical probabilities, even to the possibilities of parallel universes. And a team of Portsmouth High School girls have reached the final of the UK Space Design Competition; students will develop a space-based infrastructure that requires complex, challenging, and imaginative thinking, and the winning team will enjoy a trip to NASA.

• There may be news reports about a dearth of science opportunities for girls, but at Wimbledon High School in the past year, 33 students studied Physics at AS (42% of Year 12) and 18 at A2 (27% of Year 13). A total of 104 girls (72%) opted to take at least one science subject in the Sixth Form. The school has also this year opened its new (third) biology lab, following a successful fundraising campaign and a swift building project.

ANNUAL REVIEW 9 Our name in highlights

Recognition...... and plans for the coming year

• Media interest in the GDST has grown • The Alumnae Network Facebook page was • Launching the first tranche of ‘subject • Developing teacher standards against which the significantly and our communications have re-launched, engaging with alumnae on the social champions’ in English, drama, music, junior qualities of a GDST teacher can be defined and focused on the benefits of a girls-only, all-through networks they already use daily and publicising the creative curriculum, Mandarin, classics and the developed education, promoting GDST schools to prospective latest news and events. The e-zine is now emailed extended project qualification, who will own parents, and contributing our experience and directly to the inboxes of over 12,000 alumnae and lead collaboration areas on the GDST portal • Working with schools to put in place a modular expertise to the national education debate. Helen every term and contribute to the development of subject development programme for all middle leaders Fraser’s speech at the GDST’s annual conference knowledge and teaching practice across GDST in June was extensively covered in a wide range • The new GDST website was launched, highlighting schools • Developing an educational strategy for digital of media outlets, including television, radio and the benefits of a GDST education, and fully learning to make the most appropriate use of ICT print. In September, Helen was also interviewed integrated with social media. A GDST schools • Holding the first meeting of the GDST Student in teaching and learning for the Friday boss slot on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Today’ prospectus iPhone app has also been developed, Council with representatives from all the GDST programme. Kevin Stannard, our Director of giving prospective parents mobile access to details senior schools, giving students a voice and an input Innovation & Learning, was widely quoted on of all our schools and academies into the GDST’s vision and values A Level and GCSE results and proposed exam reforms. Earlier in the year, Wimbledon High • Re-launching the GDST Masterclasses to increase School generated a lot of positive coverage for the range of schools and staff involved and its ‘Failure Week’ initiative subjects covered, and developing the programme to incorporate a bank of ‘best practice’ video clip • Our second ‘Alumna of the Year’ award again resources for teachers across the Trust attracted a very high calibre of entries and many more votes for the shortlisted nominees than in its first year

• Central Newcastle High School received two major awards: the Artsmark Gold for its excellence in arts provision across • The Laureate Programme was launched at Northampton High School in partnership with the Northamptonshire Chamber both the Junior and Senior School, and the prestigious Eco Schools Green Flag in recognition of its environmental excellence of Commerce. On leaving Sixth Form, students will be awarded one or more of five Laureateships having demonstrated and sustainability and work by the school’s Go Green group. And following a multi-million pound investment, the Junior academic independence, intellectual creativity and leadership ability. School has opened superb new facilities with a focus on indoor and outdoor learning. • Three Sutton High School students have been recognised for their hard work and dedication to sport: Eloise Stenner was • For an unprecedented third year in a row, Sheffield High School won an award at the Independent School Awards, this selected for the U16 England Hockey Squad; Clare Marsh for the U16 Surrey Hockey Squad; and Saidhanya Raviendrakumar time for ‘Outstanding Community Initiative’. One of its aims in Olympic year was to make the year a memorable one for the U16 Surrey Cricket Squad. The school also became the first independent school in the country to be awarded for all students, focusing on the Olympic and Paralympic values, but at the same time developing links with the local and ‘Gold’ Career Mark status in recognition of its exceptional careers programme. global community which would be sustainable into the future. • Following on from the incredible success of The Belvedere Academy’s first Year 11 mixed ability cohort, who achieved an • Madeleine Jablonowska, in Year 5 at Kensington Prep School, was inspired by the school’s 140th anniversary celebrations amazing 98% five A*-C grades including English and maths, The Belvedere featured strongly in the Department for and tribute to the suffragette and former pupil, Emily Wilding Davison who famously died 100 years ago at the Epsom Education’s national performance tables for all schools in England in January 2013. Out of 907 non-selective Academies, Derby. Her article about what she thought Emily would be campaigning for now if she were alive today was published Belvedere came 4th for GCSE performance. In terms of its Sixth Form performance, Belvedere featured in the top 3% by the Daily Telegraph. out of 2,024 non-selective schools and FE Colleges. To quote Lord Adonis, The Belvedere Academy is now officially a ‘national beacon of excellence’!

10 GDST ANNUAL REVIEW 11 Enabling access

Our charitable mission at the GDST is to extend GDST academies the benefits of the education we provide to as wide a range of girls as possible. The GDST currently sponsors two academies – The Belvedere Academy in Liverpool and Birkenhead High We do this in three ways: by sponsoring and School Academy. supporting two academies; by giving financial assistance to enable access to our fee-paying schools; There are strong links between them and our fee- and by forming partnerships between our schools and paying schools, with staff and pupils from the their local schools and communities. academies participating in cross-GDST activities and sharing best practice. Academy staff form part of We are an equal opportunity organisation. Entrance to the GDST’s extensive staff training and development our schools is by assessment of ability and aptitude. An programme. The 1,500 girls in our academies have applicant’s economic status, ethnicity, race, religion or access to the same benefits of being part of the GDST disability do not form part of the assessment process. network that students in our fee-paying schools enjoy.

Bursaries and scholarships Community and educational links

Able girls whose families are not in a position to pay All our schools feel themselves to be part of a wider the full fees can benefit from financial assistance via community and are keen that staff and pupils engage our bursary scheme. with their local communities in a number of ways. Academic, sporting, artistic, cultural and pastoral We would like to acknowledge the generous support activities – and more besides – all form part of this of HSBC, Leverhulme Education Trust, the Catherine commitment. Cookson Charitable Trust and John Lyon’s Charity for our bursaries.

Scholarships are awarded locally by schools to reflect academic, sporting or artistic distinction.

School and individual achievements “I want to bring back thinking – • For schoolchildren in Nankesido, Ghana, a smart uniform is a real luxury, but Bromley High School was delighted to help and I think a lot of what happens by sending them its own former school uniform kindly donated by parents. The school paid the transport costs of the on the internet is antipathetic final shipment as its Christmas charity donation for the year.

to thinking and suggests there • At Notting Hill & Ealing High School, A Level Latin students ran an introductory Latin course for Year 4 girls in the Junior is no alternative view” School and Year 5 and 6 pupils in a local maintained primary school, and helped them write and stage a play, performed in Latin, which won first place in the Group Category of the national Minimus Mythology Competition. Also, the cross- Helen Fraser, GDST, BBC News online, June 2012 country teams were borough champions, winning both the girls’ Primary and High School Shields of the Ealing Schools Cross Country Champions.

• In 2012, over 600 South Hampstead High School pupils walked 10K to raise £50,000 for Plan UK’s ‘Take the Vow’ campaign, which aims to break down barriers to education for girls in the developing world. Three pupils were also awarded Gold in the 2013 British Biology Olympiad, one awarded Silver and two Commended.

ANNUAL REVIEW 13 Enabling access

Highlights of 2011-2012 Partnerships • A ‘Super 7s’ tag rugby and netball event at Howell’s • Year 10 students from three maintained schools Many GDST schools share their facilities with local School, Llandaff, involved Year 5 pupils from six attended a ‘Women in Science’ day at Shrewsbury Academies schools and with community groups and sports clubs, local maintained schools, and a further rugby 7s High School • Of the first non-selective cohort who joined The often free of charge or at reduced rates. They regularly event saw nearly 50 boys aged 16+ from local Belvedere after it became an academy, 98% of run joint taster and enrichment days in specialist maintained secondary schools taking part • Oxford High School is the named educational the girls achieved five A*-C grades including maths subjects with local schools. And GDST senior schools partner for Tyndale School, a new free school in East and English routinely open up talks and advice events exploring • Brighton & Hove High School runs free annual Oxford, with the Head of Oxford High Juniors on career and higher education options to students from masterclasses in all subjects for local junior school the steering group and involved in the appointment • Our two academies continue to be very popular, other schools. children, and free hockey coaching sessions on of the Head reflecting the high demand for a GDST education Saturday mornings for children from a range of in the communities they serve GDST schools’ partnerships with local maintained local primary schools • Composer Dr John Eacott’s composition Flood schools and communities include: Tide, a musical sonification of the tidal flow of Bursaries and scholarships • A research project into low confidence and self- the River Orwell, inspired a collaborative project • A three-year programme with HSBC to fund • Wimbledon High School runs the local Royal esteem and their links to underachievement and between Ipswich High School, University Campus bursaries for Sixth Form students from maintained Geographical Society group which includes several raising aspirations by girls from Central Newcastle Suffolk (UCS) and Northgate High School. Students schools in 11 of our schools was announced this local maintained and independent schools High School’s Sixth Form and Park View School responded to Flood Tide and its themes through year, on top of existing HSBC-funded bursaries. We in Durham will evaluate the impact of different music, visual arts, film, poetry and geographical are very grateful for the ongoing support of HSBC • Putney High School runs ‘The Challenge’ jointly initiatives to tackle these issues mapping over the past ten years with local state schools. Students attend a Saturday school preparing for a Personal Challenge, • Heathfield School for Girls developed a Forest Our plans for the coming year • Over £10m was allocated to bursaries and Team Challenge and Real Challenge: School initiative with a neighbouring school and ran scholarships, which meant over 2,100 pupils www.the-challenge.org Mandarin taster sessions in local primary schools as • Providing increased and tailored support for all benefitted from financial support well as ICT lessons for older people schools embarking on capital fundraising campaigns • Pupils from seven local primary schools attended • Nearly 18.9% of girls in our fee-paying senior a maths activities day at Portsmouth High School, • Sheffield High School’s extensive range of • Introducing legacy marketing initiatives to support schools receive financial assistance designed in conjunction with the UK Mathematics partnerships led to it winning the Independent alumnae who want to give back to their schools or Trust to promote girls in maths School Award for Outstanding Community Initiative, the GDST in this way Fundraising having won the award for Best Independent- • Donations received for bursary and scholarship • Northampton High School’s enrichment day for Maintained School Collaboration two years running • Further increasing the number of girls on bursaries funding included: Year 10s from its own and other local secondary of 50% or more • £88,000 for the Prizes and Scholarships Fund schools covered ‘Presentation and thinking skills for • Six local primary schools, parents and the wider • £516,000 for the Minerva fund, including a GCSE and beyond’ community attended Norwich High School for • Revitalising our central bursary fundraising substantial contribution from the HSBC Girls’ week-long Mapland events, interacting with programme to better engage with individuals, Global Education Trust the largest ever map of Britain national companies and grant-making organisations • £47,000 for the Howell’s Restricted and and help enable wider access Endowment Funds

• Sydenham High School has been celebrating its 125th anniversary in style. Not only has the school achieved some of its best • Blackheath High School has been active in its community on behalf of local maintained school children. Educational ever academic results, but pupils raised over £15,000 for the anniversary charities: Teenage Cancer Trust, The Bone Cancer initiatives included running a ‘Shine – serious fun on Saturdays’ (www.shinetrust.org) programme, offering extension Trust and Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. The money was raised through a range of activities devised by pupils, including classes in English for Year 6 pupils, funding a GCSE Astronomy course at The Royal Observatory, and providing GCSE a mass outdoor cereal breakfast, a balloon race, and a charity calendar featuring art by girls from across the school. Latin and Greek classes for local maintained school pupils.

• Sophie Hinson, in Year 9 at Nottingham Girls’ High School, was awarded a professional diploma in violin – an exceptional • The Forget Me Not Fund (Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research) was founded in memory of former Croydon High School achievement, usually not attainable before the second year at university. Also, two Year 13 girls, Bea Perks and Emmy pupil Nicole Favre, who died aged eight in 2004. Her classmates, now in Year 13, wanted to remember her – which they Wilcock, secured gap-year internships with two of the UK’s top 100 blue-chip companies. After a rigorous selection did with a spectacular fashion show that raised over £16,000. And as part of a major refurbishment of the Junior School, procedure they won positions on the Accenture ‘Horizons’ Scheme and the Deloitte Scholars Scheme. girls are enjoying a highly innovative 4D room, which uses remarkable technology to create an immersive learning space, encouraging creative thinking and learning through light, sound, projection and space. • At Brighton & Hove High School’s Momentum event, 170 girls from Years 5 to 13 performed to parents and friends. Talent-spotters in the audience invited five girls from Years 8 and 9 to go up to Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and • Oxford High School celebrated as its A Level students achieved 44% A* grades among the 80% A* & A grades and 96% Dance and a further five girls from Years 11-13 to join Brighton and Hove Youth Dance Company. Also, in October, A*-B grades across all 26 A Level subjects. The 100% pass rate included 15 girls who achieved three or more A* grades Hanna Ward-Penny, who is in Year 11, was elected as Brighton’s Youth Mayor. (including one outstanding result of five A*s in biology, chemistry, physics, maths and further maths). Twelve girls were offered Oxbridge places, and seven were accepted to study medicine.

14 GDST ANNUAL REVIEW 15 Investing for the future

As 2012’s medal-winning Olympians would With the size of our network, the Trust is responsible doubtless agree, no one gets to the top, or stays for managing a great deal of infrastructure. In addition there, without preparation and effort. At the to classrooms and offices, every school has science labs, GDST, we pride ourselves on the excellence of sports facilities, spaces for creative and performing arts, the education, facilities and pastoral care we and much more besides. A business case is made for provide – but we have no intention of resting each investment, either by the school itself, usually for on our laurels. the enhancement of existing facilities, or by the Trust’s Estates Department for larger-scale projects. That’s why we invest time and money to ensure we continue to meet and beat the standards we set The money for such significant projects is found in ourselves. We engage teaching and support staff a number of ways. Mainly, it is from funds accrued in training and career development, to keep them from school fees, from the Trust’s investments, and abreast of current trends, and to equip them not only from donations made centrally at Trust level – but a to contribute to the development of our schools and substantial proportion comes in at a more local level, pupils, but to help their own progression within the from the school community. Trust. Each school is also provided with a range of services to share expertise, provide support, enhance The level at which such generous donations take place efficiency, improve performance and reduce costs – is a testament to the vital role each school is clearly including payroll, finance, fees collection, HR advice perceived to have had – and that it continues to have and more. – in serving the educational needs of bright, ambitious young women. For capital investments, the Trust is planning a programme of highly transformational and visionary projects over the next five years.

To achieve this, we have put in place a master planning exercise, prioritising investments across the Trust estate, but also in the context of each individual school, supporting its educational vision and responding to it strategically over one, three, and five-years-plus periods.

“Helen Fraser, the chief executive of the Girls’ Day School Trust, told its annual conference that girls should learn to be just as “ambitious” in School and individual achievements their relationships as they are in • Putney High School’s Junior cross country team won the English Schools Cross Country Championship on a course so muddy their careers” that girls’ trainers had to be strapped to their feet! Team GB’s Andrew Osagie presented the team’s award in a thrilling The Telegraph, June 2012 assembly. Five girls have been chosen for the National Children’s Orchestra, while four Junior School girls earned places in national music ensembles. And, for the third time in five years, the Junior School choir made it through to the final of the BBC Songs of Praise Choir of the Year competition.

• Ipswich High School celebrated the 20th anniversary of the school’s move to Woolverstone Hall with a ‘China Ball’. Over 350 guests attended the event, raising over £6,000 for a local charity, the Eve Appeal East Anglia, as well as a further £6,300 for the school’s Annual Fund.

• The Junior School girls at Howell’s School, Llandaff are enjoying their new state-of-the art playground, which was officially opened in September. It includes an outdoor classroom, a stage, attractive seating and raised beds for planting flowers and shrubs. The large play area and tennis courts have safe ‘soft pour’ surfaces, as used in the Olympic Games.

ANNUAL REVIEW 17 Investing for the future

Highlights of 2011-2012 • An enterprise wireless system was rolled out in Our plans for the coming year • Continuing to roll out the agreed changes to all schools to give seamless wireless connectivity to support staff pension schemes • Trustees actively continue to monitor progress staff and students on school premises • Developing peer mentoring among staff across against the milestones that have been identified in the GDST network • Building on an independent review of Council the GDST’s five-year strategic plan • As part of the continuing capital and maintenance performance to ensure our governance continues investment in our estate, some significant capital • Continuing roll-out of our five year capital investment to be of the highest calibre • In a pioneering move for a charity, we developed building projects were successfully completed. programme, totalling more than £120m a set of key performance indicators for Council These included: • Staff from across the organisation are taking part performance • a new dining room and kitchen at Shrewsbury • Having bought two properties adjoining in workshops to identify and agree the values High Prep School Shrewsbury High School, these will be remodelled that define the GDST and inform our approach • We produced a ‘Heads’ handbook’, outlining • the full remodelling and refurbishment – inside internally to enhance the senior school offer to our work the key elements of leadership in a GDST school and out – of Croydon High Junior School • a new playground for Howell’s Junior School • The major redevelopment of the senior school • Engaging Best Companies Limited to conduct an • The GDST’s position in a competitive market is site at South Hampstead High School will continue employee engagement and wellbeing survey being maintained, and the start of term showed • We consolidated the Junior School provision at throughout the year, with completion expected in some encouraging increases in pupil numbers, Central Newcastle High School by accommodating 2014 • Delivering email services via ‘cloud’ technology, including at Portsmouth and Streatham & Clapham all the Junior pupils onto the Chapman House a more resilient service that will provide a seamless High Schools. Ipswich High School continued its site, and bringing a beautiful Grade II listed John • Construction work at Notting Hill & Ealing High experience for staff whether they are at their desks growth, and Blackheath High School had its seventh Dobson-designed building back into full use School continues, with completion expected in or working remotely consecutive year of pupil growth. Putney, South spring 2013 Hampstead and Wimbledon High Schools all added • We successfully moved 500 girls from South • Having announced the plan for the GDST’s an extra form at Year 7, and Bromley High School Hampstead High School into a purpose-built, • Following planning approval for a performing arts Central Newcastle High School to merge with a is officially ‘full’ temporary campus on their nearby playing fields so centre at Nottingham Girls’ High School, fundraising neighbouring independent girls’ school, Newcastle the redevelopment of the main senior school site has begun in earnest to raise the capital needed to upon Tyne Church High School, we are supporting could begin fund the building the teams there to ensure the integration of the two schools goes smoothly for girls, parents and staff • The work at Birkenhead High School Academy, a • Sixth Formers at Sutton High School are helping combination of remodelling existing buildings and to design a new Sixth Form Centre from an existing new build, has been completed, and the final phase building, which will be remodelled and refurbished handed over in February 2013 • Having gained planning approval for the new Junior Overall the GDST’s capital investment in new and School for The Royal High School, Bath, work has improved buildings and facilities amounted to £26.1m begun on the Cranwell House site for completion at the end of 2013

• Distributing managers’ guides – practical guides to employment policies for all school staff with management responsibilities

• Heathfield School for Girls’ ICT provision received a NAACE Third Millennium ICT Award, was shortlisted for the Education • Streatham & Clapham High School Sixth Former Ella McLeod won a place with the prestigious Michael Grandage Initiative of the Year at the Independent Schools’ Award 2012, and won the NAACE ICT Impact Award for Early Years Company’s youth theatre, MGC Futures. She will work on productions at the Noel Coward Theatre with actors such Impact. Also, Krithi Ravi won the 2012 Zonta District and International Young Woman in Public Affairs award. as Judi Dench, Jude Law and Daniel Radcliffe. Ella also won the trophy for Best Speaker at the London District Final of the Rotary International 2013 ‘Youth Speaks’ debating competition. • Norwich High School alumna Vicky Williamson, 19, made a spectacular debut on the international sporting stage in February 2013 by clinching a medal for Great Britain at the World Track Cycling Championships in Minsk. Vicky took to • The Royal High School Bath was delighted to welcome back a special old girl, Mary Berry CBE, to film The Mary Berry the podium with fellow cyclist Becky James to collect a bronze medal in the women’s team sprint. Story, which aired on BBC TV in January and February 2013. The first programme featured Mary’s visit to Hope House (the current Junior School and home to the old Bath High School, which she attended in the 1940s and 50s), and in • Birkenhead High School Academy hosted another successful Literary Festival. During the two-week Shakespeare-themed the second Mary judged the senior girls’ ‘Treacle Sponge’ bake off. event, the girls enjoyed a book signing from author Frank Cottrell Boyce, took part in a ‘Merchant of Venice’ workshop run by actor Simon Trinder, and watched ‘Macbeth’ performed by the Manchester Actors’ Company in the Academy’s • Shrewsbury High School pupil Sophie Vingoe travelled to Melbourne, Australia to compete in the Samurai International brand new auditorium. Junior Karate Tournament as part of a 16-strong UK team. A gold medal winner in both individual and team fighting, Sophie also won two silver medals and was named ‘Best Female Competitor’ of the tournament.

18 GDST ANNUAL REVIEW 19 Financial summary Structure and governance

Council of the Trust (Trustees) Senior Management Team Income and expenditure – year end 31 August 2012 Group balance sheet – year end 31 August 2012 Lorna Cocking Helen Fraser Chairman Chief Executive INCOMING RESOURCES £m FIXED ASSETS £m School fees 185.2 Tangible assets 239.4 Lady (Stephanie) North Tom Beardmore-Gray Deputy Chairman Director of Finance Other income 6.6 Investments 64.2 Stephen Dance Caroline Hoare Academy Trust Government grants 9.0 303.6 Deputy Chairman Director of People (and Company Secretary) Trading income 2.3 Mary Chapman Amanda Riddle Investment income 2.6 CURRENT ASSETS Jane Collins Director of Communications Voluntary income 9.1 Debtors 5.4 Clara Freeman Zoe Smith Total incoming resources 214.8 Cash at bank 60.7 Director of Estates Joanna Greenslade 66.1 Dr Kevin Stannard Professor Sue Iversen RESOURCES EXPENDED CREDITORS: due within one year (30.6) Director of Innovation and Learning John Jay Provision of education 186.0 Paula Nickolds Other costs* 27.3 NET CURRENT ASSETS 35.4 (from 13 March 2013) Total resources expended 213.3 Jane Richardson TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 339.0 Nick Stuart Gains on investments (realised and unrealised) 2.7 Tom Wheare CREDITORS: due after one year (54.0) NET SURPLUS 4.1 The Council of the Trust Each Committee has up to Each Council member is TOTAL NET ASSETS 285.0 (our Trustees) is responsible four Council Members, and associated with a small for the overall running of the external members may be number of schools to organisation. Its principal appointed to complement promote the exchange of Endowed funds 1.9 roles are to: their expertise. information between school Restricted funds 60.1 • set strategy governors and trustees and *Other costs include an exceptional cost of £23.7m relating to Unrestricted funds 223.0 • monitor the performance The Council delegates the day- advise on governance issues. the GDST’s withdrawal from the Independent Schools’ Pension of the Trust to-day management of the scheme on 31 August 2012. • maintain financial stability Trust to the Chief Executive The GDST Academy Trust TOTAL FUNDS 285.0 • review policies and and the Senior Management is responsible for our two procedures to mitigate risk Team. They are in regular Academies. The GDST contact with our 24 schools appoints the majority of The Council delegates some and two academies, and the the members of the GDST The GDST is one of the UK’s largest educational charities, and any surplus is reinvested in enhancing the education of its responsibilities to four heads of the schools report Academy Trust Board, and it provided by our schools. Committees: to the Chief Executive. is chaired by a GDST council • Audit member. Other members • Governance and Each of the GDST’s schools are drawn from HSBC (our Nominations has a local School Governing co-sponsors of The Belvedere • Senior Appointments and Board, whose chairmen Academy) and the Chairmen Remuneration and members support and of the Academies’ local Full audited accounts can be seen at www.charitycommission.gov.uk • Investments challenge the Heads, as well governing boards. as being vital links between the schools and their local communities.

Giving the gift of education

The GDST was founded to provide a first class education to girls and philanthropy enabled this vision to become a reality. Today, the GDST still relies on donations and legacies to help provide a great education in first class facilities, and to ensure that we are able to offer places to gifted and talented girls, regardless of financial background.

If you would like to find out more about how you can support the GDST, our bursary fund or a specific GDST school, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please call the Development team on 020 7393 6689, email Glen Fendley at [email protected] or write to the address overleaf. Design: FONDA. Print: Wellington Press. April 2013 Press. Design: FONDA. Print: Wellington You can give now by visiting online www.gdst.net/support 20 GDST Notable GDST alumnae

The GDST Alumnae Network has no equal Business Dr Miriam Stoppard OBE (Central Newcastle) Baroness Sally Morgan (Belvedere) anywhere in Britain. It brings together a worldwide Emma Bridgewater (Oxford) Author of the Children’s Medical Handbook, Chair of Ofsted, former Minister of State for community of 50,000 past GDST pupils and Pottery designer – renowned for polka dot television presenter and agony aunt Women. Life peer current Sixth Formers, providing mutual advice and designed potteryware and accessories June Whitfield (Streatham & Clapham) Dame Stella Rimington (Nottingham) practical support. Baroness Janet Cohen (South Hampstead) Actress – best known for roles in Terry and June Former Director General of MI5, and its first

Former Chairman of BPP Holdings and Absolutely Fabulous female DG of MI5. Author of several spy The Network provides an outstanding opportunity fiction novels Karen Easton (Sutton) to meet old friends, do some networking, and seek Non-profit and charity Co-founder of Café Rouge restaurant chain or pass on advice. Anyone who attended a GDST Sport school is automatically a member, and there is no Beverly Hodson (Blackheath) fee. Simply submit your registration online at Former Managing Director of WH Smith Jane Collins www.gdstalumnae.net Dr Jane Collins is an alumna of Portsmouth Hannah Mills Penny Hughes (Birkenhead) High School and is CEO of Marie Curie Cancer Hannah Mills is an alumna of Howell’s School, Former Head of Coca Cola UK; Trustee of the Our alumnae are truly remarkable, and succeed in Care. She qualified as a doctor in 1978, Llandaff, and won a silver medal in sailing at British Museum; President of the Advertising many varied disciplines. Here is just a selection of and after various training posts became a London 2012. Association them and of their outstanding achievements: consultant paediatric neurologist, first at Jane Platt (Birkenhead) Guy’s Hospital in London and then at Great Hannah started sailing at Llanishen Sailing Academic and education Chief Executive, National Savings & Investments Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), where Centre in Cardiff when she was eight years old. In 2002, she was voted UK Young Sailor of the Professor Mary Beard (Shrewsbury) she had conducted research into metabolic Media Year and BBC Wales Young Sports Personality Professor of Classics at Cambridge, and Fellow of inherited disorders, gaining an MSc and of the Year. Newnham College Samira Ahmed (Wimbledon) MD. After some time as medical director, Journalist and broadcaster Jane became Chief Executive of GOSH Professor Alison Bruce (Central Newcastle) At the 2011 Skandia Sail For Gold Regatta and Mary Berry (Royal High, Bath) in 2001. Professor of Physics at University of Brighton the 2011 Weymouth & Portland International Celebrity chef; writer and journalist Frances Saunders (Portsmouth) Jane left the hospital in the summer of Regatta, Hannah won a Silver medal in the 470 President-elect of the Institute of Physics, former 2012 to take up her current position at Women class. Chief Executive of Dstl (Defence science and Mel Giedroyc Marie Curie Cancer Care, the UK charity technology laboratory) Mel Giedroyc is an alumna of Oxford High dedicated to the care of people with terminal At London 2012, with her team-mate, Saskia School and is a well-known television cancer and other illnesses. She is also a Clark, Hannah entered the final race just one Arts presenter, comedienne, actress and writer. GDST trustee. point behind the New Zealand team. With AS Byatt (Sheffield) gold in their sights, they took what seemed the Author – winner of the Man Booker Prize While studying Italian language and literature best line, and found themselves ahead – but at Trinity College, Cambridge, Mel met Sue Baroness Ilora Finlay (Wimbledon) then, at precisely the wrong moment, the wind Harriet Evans (Notting Hill & Ealing) Perkins and joined the Footlights Comedy Professor of palliative medicine, Cardiff University changed, depriving them of first place. Author of several best-selling novels Club. Forming a comedy duo, Mel & Sue, they School of Medicine and a consultant at the Velindre Anne Fine (Northampton) achieved their first television breakthrough on cancer centre in Cardiff. Life peer Children’s author, winner of the Carnegie Medal French & Saunders, and appeared regularly Karen Pickering MBE (Brighton & Hove) Dame Mary Marsh (Birkenhead) and Whitbread Award and a former children’s on BBC Radio 4. In the 1990s they hosted a Swimmer – former world and Commonwealth Former CEO of NSPCC, Director of the Clore Social laureate popular lunchtime show on Channel 4 called champion; Chair of the British Athletes Commission Leadership Programme Pippa Harris (Oxford) Light Lunch where celebrity chefs cooked lunch Vicky Williamson (Norwich) Professor Wendy Savage (Croydon) Film producer, Neal Street Productions – production for Mel and Sue’s celebrity guests. Team GB cyclist; won a bronze medal in her debut Pioneering obstetrician and gynaecologist credits include Call the Midwife and The Hollow at 2013 World Cycling Championships

Crown Mel makes regular individual appearances on British television, and most recently was a Politics, law and public service Sandy Powell (Sydenham) presenter on BBC TV’s hugely popular series, Margaret Hodge (Bromley) Costume designer – won Oscars in 1999 for The Great British Bake Off, in which one of Labour MP, Chairman of the Public Accounts Shakespeare in Love, 2005 for The Aviator, and the judges, Mary Berry, is also a GDST alumna Committee, former government minister 2010 for The Young Victoria (Royal High, Bath). Judge Frances Kirkham (Heathfield) Indhu Rubasingham (Nottingham) Senior Circuit Judge; founder member of the UK Artistic Director, Tricycle Theatre Bettany Hughes (Notting Hill & Ealing) Association of Women Judges Rosemary Squire OBE (Nottingham) Historian and broadcaster – presented television Baroness Martha Lane Fox (Oxford) Founder, co-owner and Joint Chief Executive of the Alumna of the Year series on The Spartans and Helen of Troy UK digital champion; founder of lastminute.com Ambassador Theatre Group The 2012 winner of the GDST Alumna of the Miriam Margolyes OBE (Oxford) Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller Year award was Claire Bennett, who as captain Fay Weldon (South Hampstead) Actress – best known for roles in Harry Potter (Northampton) of the England team won individual bronze Author and Professor of Creative Writing at and Blackadder Former Director General of MI5. Life peer and team gold in the 2010 Commonwealth Brunel University Caroline Raphael (Putney) Esther McVey (Belvedere) Fencing Games. Claire also devotes time to Commissioning editor, Comedy and Fiction, BBC Conservative MP, Minister for Disabled People in helping young people in underprivileged areas. Radio 4 and 4Extra the Department for Work & Pensions Girls’ Day School Trust 100 Rochester Row London SW1P 1JP

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