St George’s Ascot provides an ambitious, connected, relevant and future-facing education, tailored for girls, to realise their potential both at school and in fulfilling adult lives.
The rich history of St George’s masterfully illustrates how education for women developed and flourished throughout the 20th century. Founded as a prestigious boys’ prep school in 1877, the turn of the century brought a new owner and a new identity, as a finishing school for girls, famous for their red cloaks and boater hats. In 1923 the School was acquired by Miss Anne Loveday, which heralded the commencement of the School becoming an academically focused institution, and is the emergence of the modern school we know today.
Throughout the 20th century, St George’s grew in stature and reputation, developing a strong academic provision and a remarkably broad co-curricular programme with an extensive range of facilities to offer girls an all-round education.
The School’s motto, ‘Vincent Qui Se Vincunt’ speaks of those who conquer as they do battle to conquer themselves. Over recent years, this foundation motto has developed into our aspirations to enable our pupils to become Confident, Capable and Connected
Today, St George’s retains the benefits and legacies of a wellestablished, esteemed independent boarding and day school for girls, with a diverse pupil body of around 270 girls aged 11 to 18. With impressive facilities, numerous co-curricular opportunities and, for our boarders, a home-from-home experience, we are perfectly sized to provide an ambitious, challenging and personalised education. Teaching, learning, innovation, facilities, and broader enrichment have evolved to deliver a holistic and unique experience which prepares Georgians to play to their strengths and achieve their goals.
We know that the diverse and enriching experience of being educated at St George’s harnesses our pupils’ abilities to both think and live independently. Georgians make a positive impact in a dynamic world that they are shaping, but that is not yet wholly designed for women.
We have a strong reputation for entry into the most academically competitive and demanding university courses and specialist creative arts, drama and music colleges. We are equally proud of those pupils who choose to pursue exciting and versatile apprenticeships and employment opportunities. We aim to ensure that our pupils leave St George’s world-ready, to excel in their chosen area of talent, interest and specialism.
Liz Hewer, MA(Hons) (Cantab) PGCE Head Alistair Mackintosh Chair of GovernorsWhenever I do tours for prospective families, I always emphasise the strong relationships between girls across the School. It’s not weird for Sixth Formers to sit with someone from a different year group at lunch or say hello in the corridor. Isabel, Upper Sixth
11 year old me would never have thought that I would have the confidence to be standing in front of you all today.
Lucy, Lower Sixth in the Head Girl Hustings
There’s something our Head, Mrs Hewer, really focuses upon and that’s the idea of balance. When you go out into the real world, life isn’t just about your work, your job. You do need to have that balance, you need to connect with people, see your family, see your friends, do sport and do the things you love as well. That balance is something you learn from a young age at St George’s.
Grace, recent alumna
St George’s Pupils’ Promise, Upper Sixth Prefects 2021-22Our shared commitment to St George’s girls is to enable them to develop in three crucial ways. Throughout their education and co-curricular experiences at our School, they become:
St George’s pupils thrive in an all-girls environment; they make the most of many opportunities, grow in confidence as ambitious individuals throughout their time at our School, thereby developing a strong sense of self.
St George’s girls experience a broad range of opportunities and excel in a range of academic, sporting, musical, dramatic, artistic and creative disciplines, with the ability to tailor their interests and aspirations, and nurture their talents.
St George’s girls have an enriching and carefully curated programme of local, national and global experiences, shaping their perspective and impact on the world. They are encouraged to look upwards and outwards, and know what it is to be truly connected to oneself and to those around them.
St George’s Girls Are:
The following strategic pillars enable our School to deliver our Confident, Capable and Connected ethos:
CONFIDENT | CAPABLE | CONNECTED
Our future-facing academic curriculum is broad, balanced, flexible, relevant and contemporary, and increasingly focuses on individual abilities, talents and interests as a pupil progresses through the School, with the Sixth Form as St George’s flagship centre of excellence.
• Small class sizes and strong teacher-pupil relationships stretch the most able whilst allowing for individual support where required
• The early adoption of innovative educational technology ensures we remain leaders in this field, as evidenced by industry awards and Google for Education Reference School status
• Academic progress and achievement is celebrated with a focus on value added in public exams
• University and employment destinations and outcomes are tracked and shared as demonstrable metrics of academic success
Each girl is known and supported as an individual and develops strong relationships with girls of different ages and between girls and staff, within our thriving House System and with our diverse mix of day pupils and boarders bringing different life experiences, cultures and beliefs.
• The best support programmes and facilities are in place for girls’ physical and mental wellbeing and safety and are developed in partnership with our families
• Our extended day and flexible approach to boarding builds confidence and character, with the space and time to enjoy an exceptional, broad and balanced curriculum and co-curricular programme, including plentiful opportunities for informal social interaction
• Flexible boarding (full, weekly and flexi) is tailored to support busy family life, links with existing and proposed new school bus routes, and deepens the attraction for London, regional and local pupils
• An inclusive and supportive boarding community grows in popularity and number as girls move into the senior years and helps prepare Georgians for independent life beyond school
An abundance of experiences inside and outside the classroom enable Georgians to develop the qualities of collaboration and leadership to ensure that they are confident to seize opportunities and take on responsibility as they grow through their senior school years and beyond.
• A wide-ranging academic enrichment programme touches every pupil and is adjusted with respect to maturity and relevance in line with the personal development of each cohort
• An exceptional range of co-curricular opportunities embraces a variety of interests including sport, swimming, music, drama and the creative arts
• A first-class careers programme develops skills for life, encourages innovation, creativity and employability and enables mutually beneficial connections between current and past Georgians
• Pupils develop meaningful partnerships with others outside St George’s, working with charities and local, national and international communities
We attract, appoint and retain capable and committed staff, who share our values, and who work together to deliver an exceptional school experience for St George’s pupils.
• Staff are innovative, diverse and high-performing and leaders at all levels are effective, trusted and embrace challenge
• A strong professional development programme for all staff returns an enhanced educational and co-curricular experience to the pupils, and leads to an engaged staff body who consistently demonstrate high morale and role model the strong sense of community within St George’s
• Pastoral and boarding staff are trained to develop their expertise in supporting pupil wellbeing and provide an exceptional, warm and homely boarding environment
In 2023 we celebrate St George’s centenary as a leading girls’ school and we remain committed to educating and developing current and future generations to ensure that we nurture a strong understanding of St George’s and Georgians’ place in the world, to be a power for good now and in the future.
• Philanthropy supports development projects and allows as many pupils as possible the opportunity to experience a St George’s education through transformational bursaries
• Our facilities, expertise and experience are carefully managed so that the School can continue to invest in its future and provide access for the local community to what St George’s has to offer
• A strong network of strategic partners and professional relationships create mutual benefits for them and for the School
FacilitiesPupils have frequent access to excellent facilities including the theatre, swimming pool, library, food technology and cookery room, sports hall and fitness suite, which are enjoyed by all within the curriculum and enable pupils to be both aspirational in their performance and eager in their participation.
• Through our extended day, all pupils have access to our facilities during the evening and at weekends as part of a fulfilling boarding experience
• A future-facing schedule of works ensures that facilities remain high-quality, contemporary and of a standard expected from a leading UK independent senior girls’ school
• Further development of the School site and facilities is strategically prioritised, prudent and forward-focused as we anticipate the evolving needs of our pupils
Sustainability is at the heart of our educational values, with the whole St George’s community committed to a shared understanding of environmental education, leading and informing others, alongside a healthy culture of challenging the status quo.
• Environmentally conscious enhancements, such as the installation of solar panels, LED lighting, tree planting, wildflower meadows and reducing food waste, set us on the path to greater sustainability in the future
• Partnership programmes include an environmental thread as we exert influence on all stakeholders, including within the local community
• Environmentally sound strategic decisions lead us to select partners and contractors who share our commitment to follow an environmentally sustainable approach
From prospective pupils through to those enjoying retirement, Georgians develop lifelong intergenerational networks, retain their place within the St George’s community, and feel a sense of belonging to, and ownership for, its ongoing success.
• Alumnae are actively involved in the ongoing evolution of St George’s, ensuring the successful and relevant legacies of the School remain and past knowledge and experience are woven into the fabric of our present and future School
• Links between current and former Georgians ensure that all benefit from academic, professional and social networks, and above all, life-long friendships that bring together multiple generations of Georgians
• Georgians make invaluable contributions to the governance and future of the School as we engage with alumnae of all ages, backgrounds, life experiences and fields of employment.
Our public face clearly tells the story of the everyday excellence at St George’s and the benefits this brings for everyone within our field of influence, so that we seamlessly recruit a diverse range of the very best young people and staff to our School.
• St George’s leads the way in digital media which amplifies and widely celebrates the inspiring experiences of our pupils, the exceptional work of our staff within and beyond the classroom and the broader role the School plays in the community
• The lifelong benefits of a St George’s education are demonstrated within professional, local, regional and global communities and recognised by associations and experts
• A growing awareness of St George’s beyond our gates encourages greater participation and engagement with the School and publicises bursary and scholarship opportunities for future Georgians
St George’s is a place where girls flourish academically, creatively, physically and morally, a place where risks can be taken, lessons are learnt, and challenges are welcomed.
There is no such thing as a typical St George’s girl as each of our pupils arrives with her own set of talents and interests; what binds us are our values and vision. It is our privilege to encourage and challenge each and every Georgian within our strong community to develop a genuine understanding of who she is and support her to achieve the future of her choice.
Liz Hewer Head
