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Nottingham Girls' High School is an independent selective day school for girls aged 4-18, situated just north of Nottingham city centre. The school was founded in 1875 and forms part of the Girls' Day School Trust.

History

Nottingham Girls' High School was founded on 14 September 1875 by the Girls' Public Day School Company it was the beginnings of change as one of the first all-girls schools outside of London.

Before the 1870s, education for girls in Nottingham was fixed by ridged social class, with limited opportunities for working-class girls to receive any post-primary schooling. Much of the development in girls' education was due to the work of feminist reformers. Nottingham Girls' High School was originally on Oxford Street, with Mrs Bolton as Headmistress, before relocating to its current location on Arboretum Street, in a building formerly a lace manufacturer's house. When the school first opened, it had only 34 pupils, but by the time of its relocation it had expanded and grown to 146.

The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 forced the school to move to two separate locations: Ramsdale Park and Daybrook. The Arboretum Street buildings accommodate the South Notts Hussars. However, by 1944–45 the school was able to move back. Just ten years later, as the school celebrated its 80th anniversary, the number of pupils reached a great 800.

The 1970s saw significant building expansion at the school and in 1975 the school marked its centenary. On 18 May 1973, the brand new Milford Building was officially opened and graced by HRH the Duchess of Gloucester and in 1978, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh opened the bountiful Edinburgh Library.

In 1995, the House system was introduced and named after the first four headmistresses of the school: Bolton, Hastings, Luxton and Skeel. The Bowering Sports Hall was opened by Richard Bacon in 1998 and eleven years later, in May 2009, the spanking new Sixth Form Centre opened.

In 2016 when the Old Dining Hall building was demolished and replaced by a fully functioning professional performing arts centre known as The Space and named The Squire Performing Arts Centre, after an alumna, Dame Rosemary Squire.

Over its history, the school has been overseen by 13 headmistresses and one acting headmistress. Today's Head is Julie Keller, the youngest head in the GDST.

Facilities

Nottingham Girls High School accommodates a wide range of passions and interests with its state of the art and ever growing facilities. In a body of a Victorian household, beautiful architecture and modern additions it’s a school that creates the perfect working environment. The classrooms are all fitted with smart boards and apple technology and all pupils (above year 4) and staff are issued with individual iPads. Departments are supplied with the technology to support the curriculum such as microscopes, a 3D printer and cameras. In hope of keeping up with the fast rate of technology and best prepare girls for the world of work. The school also includes many specialised classrooms including a food room, science labs, music studios, drama studio, a multi-purpose dining hall and student designed lower and upper common rooms. Fully stocked libraries are within the school, one in the junior school and the other in the senior, allowing access to all of the interests of the girls. These are all used on a daily basis by students in lessons and extra-curricular activities, giving the girls a chance to better experience working conditions. The Space is the newest addition to NGHS and is nothing less than a success story. It is a fully functioning professional theatre, along with two studios, a green room, bar and dressing rooms. It is also not short of modern lighting equipment, orchestra space and backstage teams. With the theatre in high demand to not only the students but the local community as well, the venue is available to be hired by external companies for conferences, meetings and performances. The sixth form centre is an attraction of NGHS, creating its own community alongside the school. Its own dining facilities have been installed and new common rooms to give relaxed atmosphere which is much needed during exam times. The school takes pride in its sports department and have many teams and individuals reaching high levels. The all-weather courts can be used year round from hockey to cricket along with the gym, sports hall, and fitness suite for gymnastics dance that are used especially in wet weather. A climbing wall has been recently introduced to expand the curriculum but can also be used during lunchtimes as extracurricular activities. Upnah wood is new outdoor learning facility that includes a trim trail for team building and bonding of all ages. As well as a fire pit and pizza oven for the girls to literally have a taste of the outdoors. The school also has an external field less than five minute drive from the school where lacrosse and hockey are played in the winter and athletics in the summer. These playing fields are also available for outside hire and local club use.

Houses

The four school houses are named after the four first headmistresses of the school; Bolton, Hastings, Luxton and Skeel. In recent years, the Junior School has also adopted the House system, so that girls can be in the same House as siblings further up the school. The House system is essential to build team spirit, healthy competition and determination. For instance through inter-house competitions and sports events the girls compete in a wide variety of activities to give everyone a chance to show their talent.

Academic structure

The school can accommodate around 900 girls aged from 4 to 18. The Sixth Form makes up nearly 30 per cent of the Senior School and is overseen by a Head of Sixth Form, Erin Skelton. There are usually around 280 girls in the Junior School, which has its own Head, currently Laura Fowler. The Head of whole school is Julie Keller. As one of the largest of the 23 schools and 2 academies run through the Girls' Day School Trust, Nottingham Girls' High School is part of an organisation which has promoted and specialised in the education of girls since its foundation in 1872.

Student executive

The Sixth Form elects a group of 16 girls, including a Head Girl and two Deputy Head Girls, who organise social events. There is also a senior prefect team to aid the Head Girl in her duties. Three House Captains are also appointed per House to run house events and participation.

Notable alumnae

• Gina Birch, bass player with The Raincoats
• Helen Cooper, literary scholar
• Helen Cresswell, children's author
• Janice Elliott, novelist, journalist and children's writer
• Helen Karagounis, née Thieme, Olympic athlete
• Sudha Kheterpal, percussionist
• Clare Hammond, concert pianist
• Julie Myerson, author, and writer in the Financial Times
• Stella Rimington, former Director-General of MI5
• Indhu Rubasingham, theatre director
• Molly Whittington-Egan, writer
• Rosemary Squire, theatre owner and entrepreneur

References

1. Carter, James (2002). Talking Books: Children's Authors Talk About the Craft, Creativity and Process of Writing, Volume 2. Routledge. pp. 114–29. ISBN 9780203025178.
2. ""Notable GDST Alumnae", Annual Review 2011 – More than an education" (PDF). Girls' Day School Trust (courtesty of Times Educational Supplement).

External links

• School Website
• Profile on the ISC website
• Profile on the GDST website
• Profile at MyDaughter

• Girls' schools in Nottinghamshire
• Educational institutions established in 1875
• Schools of the Girls' Day School Trust
• Member schools of the Girls' Schools Association
• Independent schools in Nottingham
• 1875 establishments in England
• People educated at Nottingham Girls' High School