Brighton Girls

Brighton Girls, formerly Brighton and Hove High School, is an independent day school for girls aged 4-18 in the city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England.

Brighton Girls GDST
Address
Montpelier Road (High&Sixth);
Temple Gardens (Prep)

Brighton and Hove, East Sussex
,
BN1 3AT (High&Sixth);
BN1 3AS (Prep)

England
Coordinates50.828°N 0.152°W / 50.828; -0.152
Information
TypeIndependent day school
MottoVeritas est via
Established1876
FounderGirls’ Public Day School Company
Head teacherRosie McColl[1]
GenderGirls
Colour(s)Dark green and turquoise
Websitewww.bhhs.gdst.net

Brighton Girls is ISI rated ‘Excellent’. Founded in 1876,the school now educates some 450 students and is at the heart of the vibrant and creative community of Brighton. The school comprises a Prep School (Early Years, Key stages 1 & 2), High and Sixth Form, making it the only all-through girls’ school in Brighton.

Brighton Girls is one of the schools of the GDST (Girls' Day School Trust), the largest group of independent schools in the United Kingdom, with 25 member schools nationwide. Its main site is at Montpelier Road and includes the iconic Temple building in the Montpelier area of the city with the Prep School opposite on Temple Gardens. In addition to netball courts, sports hall, gym and dance studio, the school also has its Astroturf playing field and further sports facilities on nearby Radindon Manor Road.It has a strong co-curricular programme of 100+ clubs and activities.

The Head of Brighton Girls is Rosie McColl, who started in the autumn term of 2019; the Head of Prep is Laura Comerford.

The Good Schools Guide describes Brighton Girls as a school that is “certain of its own value and ethos, with individual encouragement producing fantastic results and grounded girls”.[2]

History
The main part of the school is housed in The Temple, Thomas Read Kemp's former home situated in the heart of Brighton.

Brighton Girls School is the seventh oldest school founded under the Girls' Day School Trust (1876). Its founders had radical ideas of education for women. Upon leaving, pupils are invited into the 70,000-strong GDST Alumnae network. The school founders' names are now used as the houses, Stanley, Lyttleton, Grey and Gurney. Their Latin motto is translated as "Truth is the way".

Academics

Entrance examinations consist of: 11 + Maths, English & VR; 13+ Maths, English, Science, MFL; 16+ Minimum of 5 GCSE passes (including English Language & Maths) with 8/7 s in subjects to be pursued; applicants are also interviewed.

Pupils can take part in a large number of societies and extra-curricular activities. School pupils are divided into four Houses: Grey, Gurney, Lyttelton and Stanley; the Houses compete in a series of events and competitions to earn points, which go towards the House Cup, also known as the Banfora Cup, at the end of each academic year. Charity work is an important feature of the school's outward-looking ethos, with events such as the Senior Citizen's Tea Party and Guild as central parts of the school's traditions. An annual November Fair is a popular community event, bringing together students, parents and local artists.

In 2021, 26 per cent of the school's GCSE grades were grade 9, the highest, and another 26 per cent were grade 8.[1]

Creativity

The school is renowned for being artistically gifted, partly due to its location in the vibrant community of Brighton and Hove, and partly due to the importance placed upon the arts. Since 2018, the school has had an artist-in-residence, Crimson Trebar, and has been host to numerous open houses and art displays.

The school is equally strong in dance, as it has had a resident dance company, Penny & Jules Youth Dance, for many years. This company, alongside the school's own dance clubs and groups, work towards the annual dance show, 'Momentum', which is held at the Old Market in Brighton.

Rebranding

The school underwent a rebranding in late 2019, including the change of name (from 'Brighton and Hove High School' to 'Brighton Girls'), as a well as an updated logo. The launch of an advertising campaign, designed to highlight the school's passion for creativity and exciting learning, was a big success.

Notable former pupils

Notable staff
  • Gabrielle Lambrick (1913-1968), civil servant, educator and historian taught at the school.

See also

References
  1. Henry Tomlinson, "GCSEs: Brighton Girls Headmistress slams grade critics", The Argus, 12 August 2021
  2. "Brighton and Hove High School, Brighton | The Good Schools Guide". The Good Schools Guide. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
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