As the final days of the academic year draw to a close and having just read and commented on over 600 school reports, my eyes are slightly blurry, but my heart is incredibly full. Seeing what our girls achieve every single day is a masterclass in inspiration. At our annual Prize Giving, I felt I could genuinely have awarded a prize to every single girl in the school. There is something uniquely brilliant about each one of them.

Whenever people ask me what it takes to be the Headmistress here, I usually tell them my main job description is simply trying to keep up with the girls. This is truly the busiest school I have ever encountered, bursting with energy, intelligence, and – if we are being perfectly honest – the occasional chaotic scramble for a misplaced hockey stick. Yet, it never feels overwhelming. There is a profound sense of purpose here because we aren’t just educating pupils; we are cultivating leaders.

When we hear the word ‘leadership’ it’s easy to picture global CEOs or Prime Ministers standing at a podium. But true leadership isn’t a title or a badge pinned to a blazer. It is a mindset. It is the willingness to step forward when it’s easier to stay seated. It is the courage to speak up for what is right, even if your voice shakes.

We see this of leadership every single day in our corridors:

  • The Leadership of Empathy: When a Year 7 pupil notices someone sitting alone at lunch and quietly goes over to join them.
  • The Leadership of Encouragement: When a sports captain cheers louder for the teammate who missed the goal than the one who scored it.
  • The Leadership of Staying Power: Displayed beautifully by our Year 11s and 13s as they navigated their GCSE and A-Level exams.

Of course, leadership can be daunting, and true leaders are never perfect. If you want a masterclass in resilient leadership, look no further than our recently rescheduled Junior sports days and summer productions during the heatwave. Behind the scenes, it was a form of beautifully organised chaos. PowerPoints failed, coach companies cancelled at the last minute, and half the cast of our Summer Showcase was missing for the final run-through due to a GDST sports rally! But what did our girls and colleagues do? They adapted, they laughed, they solved the problem, and the curtain went up anyway. That is the leadership of sheer willpower.

This spirit is exactly why our school community continues to thrive, a fact recently validated by our exceptionally strong ISI inspection. The report identified that our pupils gain excellent GCSE and A Level results through an ambitious curriculum, our strong STEM/industry links, and how girls benefit from diverse leadership roles. ISI stated that reflective leadership and rigorous safeguarding ensure an exceptionally safe, trusting environment. They added that our school is grounded in a positive learning culture and dedicated pastoral care, so our pupils build the resilience and confidence to be well-prepared for the future.

This environment becomes even more potent as our girls transition into the senior years. I recently spoke with our Year 10 parents as their daughters prepare for the exciting leap into Sixth Form – a transformative two-year bridge between childhood and adulthood. During this event I explained how the data speaks for itself. The national ‘Girls’ Futures Report’ shows that between the ages of 14 and 18, girls’ confidence across the UK tragically plummets. Yet within GDST schools, that confidence drop simply does not occur. Instead, 96% of our students report that our culture actively supports their confidence. Free from co-educational social pressures, our girls take intellectual risks. They dominate the classroom and the playing field. In our STEM departments, nearly half of our Sixth Formers study a science, and 40% take mathematics. Here, leadership isn’t something girls aspire to; it’s something they have already practiced.

Backed by the Girls’ Day School Trust, our girls enjoy an unparalleled advantage. Whether they are designing products for GDST LEAD in partnership with the LSE, or aiming for the stars via our pioneering Space Technology Diploma with NASA, we are preparing them for a rapidly changing world.

Thank you to our phenomenal girls, dedicated staff, and supportive parents for making this year so spectacular. I wish everyone a very happy Summer and a restful, wonderful holiday. I look forward to welcoming you all back refreshed, reflective, resilient and ready for the next academic year!

Mrs Emily Codling, Headmistress