Motto | Cœlesti Luce Crescat (May she grow in Heavenly light) |
---|---|
Established | 1853 |
Type |
Independent school Boarding and day school |
Principal | Eve Jardine-Young |
Location |
Bayshill Road Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL50 3EP England |
DfE number | 916/6036 |
Staff | 215 |
Students | 870 |
Gender | Girls |
Ages | 11–18 |
Colours | Green |
Website | www.cheltladiescollege.org |
Cheltenham Ladies' College is an independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.
In the Financial Times' secondary school ranking, Cheltenham Ladies College was placed at no. 34 in 2011 and no. 14 in 2010. Having introduced the International Baccalaureate in 2010, school rankings have yet to reflect this change. The college topped the UK rankings for the International Baccalaureate Diploma in 2012.
The Tatler's School Guide 2012 noted that the school is "a rigorous academic place". The Good Schools Guide described the school as a "famous and strong traditional girls' boarding school".
The school was founded in 1853 after six individuals, including the Principal and Vice-Principal of Cheltenham College for Boys and four other men, decided to create a girls' school that would be similar to Cheltenham College for Boys. On February 13, 1854, the first 82 students began attending the school, with Annie Procter serving as the school's Principal. In 1858, upon Procter resigning from her position, the Principal's post was taken by Dorothea Beale, a prominent Suffragette educator who founded St Hilda's College, Oxford.
The school crest depicts two doves, taken from the Cheltenham town shield, above three stars, which are in turn above a daisy, a school symbol.
Girls in the Lower and Upper College wear a specially designed kilt, with light blue shirt and dark blue blazer. Sixth formers wear a green tweed jacket, choice of dark blue skirt or trousers, with a light blue shirt. There are occasional days when girls are allowed to wear their own choice of clothes in return for a donation to charity. Girls use their own bag or carry their school equipment in their arms. Until recently girls had to use a college rucksack, but this rule has now been changed.
The school gives pupils a choice in what they study. A range of subject combinations is available to girls at GCSE, A Level. The school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma at Sixth Form. Tutors are full-time academic members of staff and advise girls on matters relating to their academic work and progress, including university advice and applications. Most students go on to continue higher education. An alumnae association of over 9,000 former pupils keep in contact and offer work placements and careers advice.
According to Vicky Tuck, the school's Principal in 2011, the school's students succeed in "chemistry, physics, economics and maths."