Norwich High School for Girls


Norwich High School for Girls is a private day school for girls aged 3 to 18 in Norwich, England. The school was founded in 1875 by the Girls’ Public Day School Company, which aimed to establish schools for girls of all classes by providing a high standard of academic, moral and religious education. The school is a member of the Girls’ Schools Association and the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference. The school consistently has one of the best academic results in East Anglia.
Entry into the school is selective at 4+, 7+, 11+, 13+ and 16+.

History and location

Norwich High School for Girls was founded in 1875 as the first GPDST school outside London. Originally situated at the Assembly House, Norwich, the school moved to its present location Eaton Grove, 95 Newmarket Road in 1933. Eaton Grove is Grade II listed. The school occupies several buildings, all of which were originally private houses; Stafford House, Eaton Grove and Lanchester House.

Year naming

Norwich High School uses its own nomenclature for the year groups.
Stafford House
  • Nursery
  • Reception
  • Kindergarten
  • Lower I
  • Upper I
  • Lower II
  • Upper II
  • Lower III
Eaton Grove
  • Upper III
  • Lower IV
  • Upper IV
  • Lower V
  • Upper V
Lanchester House
  • Lower VI - Sixth Form
  • Upper VI - Sixth Form

    School Life

In Upper III and below all pupils study a broad curriculum including Latin and two modern languages. Pupils are required to take at least nine General Certificate of Secondary Education and IGCSE subjects in Lower V and Upper V. In the sixth form, pupils usually study four or five AS-Level subjects for one year and most continue with three subjects to A-Level. Many students take the Extended Project Qualification. In total, there are 24 subjects offered at A-Level. Academically, the school is one of the highest performing independent schools in East Anglia.

Facilities

The school's facilities include a sports hall, performing arts studio, main hall, junior school hall, rowing gym, outdoor theatre, lecture theatre, boardroom, 25-metre swimming pool, 13 acres of playing fields, fitness suite, 8 tennis courts and 1 astro turf.

Scholarships

Academic scholarships and means-tested bursaries are offered upon entry to Upper III and Lower VI. The scholarships offered in Upper III are music scholarships based on the performance of the candidate in an audition and academic scholarships on their performance in the transfer or entrance to the senior school examination, whereas the scholarships offered in Lower VI are based on the performance in an optional examination based on English, Mathematics, Science and a foreign language of the candidate's choice from French, German or Spanish.

Notable former pupils

Academia
Literature
Music
Media
Performing Arts
Politics
Sports
World War One
  • Edith Cavell – nurse, executed by Germans in 1915

    Headteachers

  • Miss Ada Benson
  • Miss Wills
  • Miss A. M. Tapson
  • Miss Lizzie Gadesden
  • Miss Gertrude Mary Wise JP
  • Miss Elsie Pringle Jameson
  • Miss Prunella Riviere Bodington
  • Miss Dorothy Bartholomew
  • Miss Rhoda H. M. Standeven
  • Mrs Valerie Bidwell
  • Mr Jason Morrow
  • Mrs Kirsty von Malaisé
  • Miss Alison Sefton

    Controversy

In July 2017, Robin Malton, who taught at the school in 2000–2016, was given an indefinite prohibition order by the National College for Teaching and Leadership for sending inappropriate messages to young vulnerable students.
In 2021 the school faced an industrial dispute over plans to withdraw from the Teacher's Pension Scheme. National Education Union members within the Girls Day School Trust balloted for strike action after an alleged “fire and rehire” ultimatum being out to staff. The GDST eventually agreed to allow current staff to remain in the Teachers Pension Scheme.