Futures
“We give each girl the very best opportunities to find her strengths, explore the whole breadth of subject options, and tailor all that we do around her needs as she develops into a young woman.”
ALISON SEFTON HEAD OF NORWICH HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
WELCOME P.5
MADE BY GIRLS P.6
OUR ENVIRONMENT P.8
GDST P.10
ACHIEVEMENTS P.12
SIXTH FORM
FUTURES MADE BY GIRLS___P.14
WHY GIRLS ONLY?___P.16
A-LEVEL COURSES OFFERED___P.17
FINDING THE RIGHT PATH___P.18
ONE OF A KIND___P.19
PASTORAL CARE___P.20
OPPORTUNITIES___P.20
ALUMNAE___P.23
JOIN OUR SCHOOL
VISITS AND OPEN DAYS__P.24
HOW TO JOIN___P.25
SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES___P.26
ADMISSIONS___P.27
Welcome to Norwich High School for Girls
At Norwich High School for Girls, we believe passionately in putting girls first. We give each girl the very best opportunities to find her strengths, explore the whole breadth of subject options, and tailor all that we do around her needs as she develops into a young woman. We are a large enough school to provide rich opportunities, but yet small enough that every girl is known and valued.
How girls grow and how they learn is different.
Girls and boys are equal – but they’re not the same. Co-educational environments can place a huge pressure on girls, whose confidence and curiosity can suffer as a result.
Negative impacts on girls during their education can have much longer repercussions as they navigate Higher Education, careers and the decisions they inevitably face around balancing the demands of modern life.
Our school exists to rebalance the odds in your daughter’s favour. We create an environment where they are free to be themselves and can learn without limits.
Where they support each other to be curious and confident, where there are no limits to what they can discover about the world – and themselves.
Our girls leave us resilient, passionate, and unapologetic – ready to lead, ready to explore what makes them happy, ready to follow their own paths.
What I believe really makes Norwich High School for Girls special is the exceptionally strong sense of community; a community which lasts throughout their time here and long after girls have left the school.
Alison Sefton HEAD OF NORWICH HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
CONFIDENCE
is our way of celebrating the bold, curious and confident young women who make our school what it is.
FRIENDS
We believe that our role as a school is to PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENT for your girls to be themselves – and that their successes are testament to what happens when they have a PLACE OF THEIR OWN in which to THRIVE.
Where they are SUPPORTED by each other, CELEBRATED by each other, PUSHED FORWARD by each other.
Where they can SPEAK UP without fear of judgement – PLAY without fear of ridicule LEARN COMPLETELY WITHOUT LIMITS.
When you visit us we are sure you’ll feel the difference it makes to be in a place for girls, of girls, and
Our environment
Our expansive site gives each girl the space to grow, explore and develop a healthy approach to their life.
Eaton Grove, the home to our senior girls, celebrates all that is truly special about an education at Norwich High School for Girls. A beautiful regency building, surrounded by 14 acres of expansive woodland, green space and many original features such as our Crinkle-Crankle wall, there is always something to inspire or excite every girl within our community.
Our classrooms have all been developed into dynamic educational spaces, designed to facilitate best educational practice.
Lanchester House is home to our Sixth Form Centre – a superb and spacious environment where girls can commit to their learning, but also relax in a space where they can work collaboratively and socialise with new friends. In 2023, the ground floor of the Sixth Form Centre had a complete makeover, with new organic and natural interior design elements creating a modern workplace cafe-vibe feel.
Sports provision is extensive and comprehensive. Sporting facilities include a 25m indoor heated swimming pool, two on site multi use games areas and an astro turf hockey pitch, tennis courts, a dedicated sports hall, rowing gym and fitness suite.
Performance and music is extremely well catered for with a state-of-the-art theatre space, a picturesque outdoor theatre and a dedicated Music School building for rehearsals and music lessons.
Outdoor learning areas surround the main buildings of Norwich High School for Girls – there is a dedicated Forest Schools area as well as many large open spaces and pitches. Dingly Dell is home to the heritage orchard, a pond, House allotments and open space for outdoor activities. It has even been used for an archaeological dig using tools made by the girls in a Product Design workshop.
GDST
Girls’ Day School Trust
We are proud to be part of the Girls’ Day School Trust, a family of 26 girls’ schools across England and Wales, established 150 years ago. As experts and pioneers of girls’ education, GDST schools are designed for girls who go on to design the future.
The GDST works closely with schools to ensure they are at the forefront of innovation, ensuring an outstanding education for your daughter.
In all GDST schools, and as we will talk to you about here at Norwich, academic excellence is a given, but we are also focused on developing character beyond the curriculum.
Schools are designed to create environments where girls thrive, where physical and emotional wellbeing is paramount.
Throughout the academic year, the GDST runs a series of events and initiatives for girls at all ages, so they can come together to collaborate and learn from each other – from the Junior Maths Conference to Leadership initiatives for our Senior and Sixth Form students.
GDST Undivided represents the GDST commitment to diversity and inclusion and is a golden thread that runs through everything we do at the GDST and in each school.
Achievements and recognition
A LEVEL RESULTS 2024
94% A*-C / 26% A* / 66% A*-A / 80% A*-B
GCSE RESULTS 2024
23% 9 / 40% 9-8 / 58% 9-7 / 76% 9-6 / 97% 9-4
Sunday Times Schools Guide
Norwich High School for Girls was ranked as the Best Independent Secondary School in Norfolk in the Sunday Times Parent Power League 2024. The Parent Power League is the guide to the best national and regional schools of the year. We were ranked as fourth overall in East Anglia and 116th nationally.
ISI Report
Following our ISI routine inspection in April 2024 by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, the inspectors judged Norwich High to be meeting the required Independent School Standards in every area and commented positively on all aspects of the provision covered by the report.
Independent Girls’ School of the Year Finalist
Norwich High School for Girls was named as a finalist in the Independent Girls’ School of the Year category and shortlisted in the Independent Pre-Prep School of the Year category in the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2024.
Muddy Stilettos Best Schools Awards
In 2024, Norwich High School for Girls Senior School was Highly Commended in two categories in the Muddy Stilettos 2024 Best Schools Awards: Passionate About Sport and Most Inclusive School.
Norfolk Education Awards
Norwich High School for Girls were selected as a finalist for ‘Outstanding Support for Students’ in the 2024 EDP Norfolk Education Awards.
Futures
In Sixth Form thoughts turn towards the FUTURE – about life after school.
But what’s really important is DEFINING what YOUR FUTURE holds, not anybody else’s.
The lives our girls go on to lead are DIVERSE, RICH, EXCITING and UNIQUE. It’s part of the reason why we don’t place a huge emphasis on how many of our girls go to Oxbridge – because not all of them want to and there are OTHER PATHS to take.
Our role is to do EVERYTHING WE CAN to help you continue on the path YOU choose YOUR role is to work with us to EXPLORE it, ENJOY PREPARING for it, and give as much as you can to ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS.
Why girls only Sixth Form?
If a girl has been equipped with confidence by the age of 16 shouldn’t that be enough? We would argue not.
Evidence suggests that the best environment to promote gender equality to age 18 is a single sex one. A single sex education only seems artificial if girls are seen as one dimensional and if formal schooling constitutes the totality of their lives. But girls have lives outside school. A single sex Sixth Form is not here to protect girls from the real world, its purpose is to prepare them for it.
In an all-girls Sixth Form, all the leadership posts are taken by girls; with so many opportunities to lead or create groups, you will grow and thrive in our Sixth Form, and have the opportunity to make an impact on the whole school.
Belonging to the strong network of the Girls’ Day School Trust with its alumni network of over 100,000 ensures that there are exciting opportunities for collaboration and mentoring beyond the physical school, which will last long after you leave.
GDST Sixth Formers are eligible to apply for a range of prizes and scholarships covering everything from gap year travel to celebrating our poets and budding authors.
City Socials provide an opportunity for Year 13 students to meet others from across the GDST studying in the same location and to connect with one another ahead of starting university.
Our GDST-wide Oxbridge on Track programme offers a residential weekend at an Oxbridge College, experience of subject seminars, support throughout the application process and the chance to meet others following the same path.
For students interested in making an US college application then you can take part in the GDST American universities preparation workshops providing an overview of the American college system, advice and support throughout the application process and information and top tips on student life across the pond.
Courses offered
Art – Fine Art
Art – Textiles
Biology
Business
Chemistry
Classical Civilisation
Computer Science
Drama / BTEC Performing Arts
Economics
English Literature
Extended Project Qualification
French
Further Mathematics
Geography
German
Government and Politics
Greek History
Latin Mathematics
Music
Physics
Physical Education / BTEC Sport
Politics
Product Design
Psychology
Religious Studies: Philosophy and Ethics
Spanish
Finding the right path
The best advice we can give is for you to be ambitious about your future and to work hard now.
Our aim is not to mould you into any particular future version of yourself but to give you the experiences and opportunities you need to recognise and define your own pathway. Our students strive to be the best that they can be and we are delighted to be able to support them in doing so.
We have a very experienced tutor team who work closely with pupils throughout their time in the Sixth Form. We use A Level Mindset, which is a form of coaching and is applied to groups but also in meetings with individuals.
The GDST is a great source of support. Through our family of 26 schools, we are able to gain a competitive advantage in a variety of ways. For instance we secure excellent and broad ranging speakers and events to inspire our students. Through GDST Rungway, we have a platform that can harness the advice of thousands of alumnae.
The GDST Alumnae Network is also a wonderful resource of over 100,000 GDST ‘old girls’. In addition the GDST runs university preparation days and industry ‘Insight Days’ to support our girls to make sure their next steps are right for them. Colleagues from universities provide advice on preparing strong applications, student finance and other professionals provide sessions on gap years, apprenticeships and more. We also provide sessions on CV writing, building an online profile and interview techniques as well as individual Careers interviews with an accredited professional and mock interviews to anyone who might need it.
One of a kind, part of a family
Our network is our superpower – a family of 26 schools collaborating and sharing expertise to help girls learn without limits and, after school, a 100,000 strong alumnae network.
The GDST alumnae network is one of the largest of its kind anywhere in the world – a community of women from all walks of life and around the globe, who are there to support and inspire each other. It offers a host of opportunities to its members including one-to-one and app-based mentoring programmes, business networking, self-development and social events – a professional network unlike any other.
1. COURSES
A selection of short courses offering a chance to broaden and/or deepen the A-level programme. This includes GDST Lead (a leadership and enterprise advanced diploma), the GDST Space Technology Diploma, the GDST MiniMBA, University preparation and Career Start.
2. CONNECTIONS
GDST Student council, GDST Visits and GDST Societies.
These cross-school societies include:
Undivided Society
What is my part in ensuring an undivided community? How can we work for change that will have a lasting impact on social harmony?
Eco Society
How can I make an impact as an environmental activist? How can we use the scale of the GDST to amplify our voices and bring about positive change?
Active Citizen Society
The world feels like it is breaking: where do I even start to make a difference? How can we influence decisions, improve communities, and solve problems together?
Wellbeing Society
Mental health is increasingly in the spotlight. How do I keep my head in the perfect storm of current challenges? And how can we best look after and support each other?
3. PLATFORMS
The GDST Alumnae Network connects Sixth Formers and alumnae. It’s your gateway to a community of women from all walks of life and around the globe, there to support and inspire each other. Rungway is the GDST’s bespoke mentoring app where every Sixth Former can connect with our 100,000-strong alumnae family to ask the key questions they have. Rungway ensures they are never alone when making big decisions about their study life, career and future.
Pastoral care and wellbeing
The Sixth Form community is warm and caring.
Students look out for each other and notice when things aren’t quite as they should be. There is a strong emphasis on wellbeing and just as the Sixth Formers offer support to their younger peers, there is plenty of pastoral support for them too. The experienced Sixth Form team - their tutors, Heads of Year and pastoral mentors ably support the community and individuals. The school nurse and counsellor are also on hand to help with more sensitive pastoral issues or concerns.
We understand that we get the most out of our students when they are happy and able to give their best to their lessons. With this in mind we do try to have fun too. Social events such as the annual sleepover, or Big Night In, evenings out and ‘Fun Fridays’ bring the community together.
Opportunities beyond the classroom
The careers lunchtime talks programme gives students the opportunity to gain insight into a wide range of possible futures.
Our SIX+ lecture programme affords the opportunity to hear from wide-ranging experts in their field; one week you may be hearing about antibiotics in nature and the following week, about multilateral negotiation at the UN.
There are numerous clubs for the Sixth Form to join. Many of our Sixth Formers also run their own clubs. In 2023 a Sixth Former wrote and directed an adaptation of ‘The Portrait of Dorian Gray’. Our Music Captain runs multiple music groups and many pupils help with sports clubs and Prep School activities.
We do encourage all our students to take on leadership in some form. Whether they have an interest in debating, Amnesty, ecological issues, Sports, Dance, Drama, Art or anything else; there will be an opportunity for you to lead. As a result, our students are highly self aware and confident of what they have to offer. They find many ways to contribute to the school and wider society.
Through the Activities programme the students can take part in further wide-ranging activities which include writing for the school magazine, volunteering activities such as with local schools and care homes as well as on Mousehold Heath, sports and recreation.
There are also opportunities to take part in GDST groups such as the GDST student council or ecological society. This involves working with representatives across the 26 schools. A recent development by the GDST is their LEAD programme which gives girls the opportunity to set up and run a social enterprise whilst developing their understanding of what it takes to be a good leader. The LEAD programme is supported by and accredited by the London School of Economics ‘Generate’ team.
The Sixth Form Amsterdam cultural trip offers the opportunity to visit a plethora of different arts, science and history museums alongside trips to a large waterpark, a canal cruise and an excursion to visit a traditional dutch village.
Alumnae
Diverse versions of success.
There is no typical Norwich High School for Girls Sixth Former. We encourage all of our students to follow their own interests and this means that their courses and career pathways beyond school are incredibly diverse.
Whilst it is true that many of our students go on to read more traditional subjects such as medicine and law, most years students will also secure competitive Degree Apprenticeship courses (with companies such as Santander and Rolls Royce) and they are also embracing new university courses such as the interdisciplinary Human Sciences and Liberal Arts.
Visits and open days
Come and visit us!
We warmly welcome you to visit our school – either for our annual open day in the autumn or at a time that suits your family.
At our annual Open Morning
You will see exhibitions of girls’ work, practical demonstrations and have guided tours led by our Sixth Formers. The classrooms will be open and our students and teachers will be on hand to answer any of your questions. All prospective parents and students will meet with Miss Sefton, Head of Norwich High School for Girls, as part of their tour.
At our annual Sixth Form Open Evening Year 11 students have the opportunity to explore the Sixth Form Centre and Senior School and meet with subject teachers and students to find out about A Level study. They will also be introduced to the broad extra curricular programme on offer at Norwich High School for Girls Sixth Form.
You are also welcome to explore our school and facilities at a time convenient to you by arranging a bespoke tour. This will give you the opportunity to talk to current students and staff, ask any questions you have and gain an insight into what life is like at Norwich High School.
How to join
Norwich High School for Girls is a selective school where girls can achieve academic success in a safe and happy environment which offers a broad range of enrichment opportunities.
Places are awarded throughout the school on merit and potential. Assessments are made with every effort to put the girls at ease so they can relax, perform well and enjoy the experience. Where applications are made after the closing date, and vacancies exist, girls are assessed on an individual basis. Applying to join Norwich High School for Girls is straightforward. Complete the online application form which can be found on our website.
BY
MADE
GIRLS
Scholarships and bursaries
Nearly 20% of students at GDST Senior Schools receive a bursary or scholarship.
We aim to be an access enabler: seeking out talented girls who can benefit from an excellent girls only Norwich High School for Girls education. Many of our bursaries and scholarships are funded via charitable partnerships and by donations and legacies from our alumnae, their parents and other friends of Norwich High School for Girls and the GDST.
Scholarships are awarded based on an assessment of student merit without reference to family financial circumstances.
A bursary is a reduction in fees based on an assessment of the merit of a student and the financial circumstances of the family. This is a means-tested award and may be awarded in addition to a scholarship.
More details can be found on our website.
Admissions
We offer scholarships for entry into Year 7, 9 and 12 as well as means tested bursaries for Year 7 and 12. For further details please see the Admissions Guide on our website which also lists application closing dates and the dates for upcoming Open Days and assessments: www.norwichhigh.gdst.net/join-our-school
If you would like to arrange to visit, please contact our Registrar who would be happy to help you.
CONTACT DETAILS
Miss Ali Ready
Admissions Registrar 01603 453 265 admissions@nor.gdst.net
