The school was founded in 1634 in accordance with the terms of the Will of John Whitson, an Alderman of the City and County of Bristol, and is the oldest girls' school in the country. It is a Day and Boarding School providing a grammar school education for girls ages 10.5 to 18 with a separate junior school for day girls aged 7 to 11. It was on the Direct Grant List of the Department of Education and Science and has now become fully independent. There are school Assisted Places. A new Science/Technology/Creative Design Extension has been built and was officially opened in October 1990. A new Sixth Form Centre was opened in September 1994. A new Sports Hall was ready for use for the Autumn Term 1997.
Examination Results 1997:-
GCSE - 98.6% overall pass rate with 59% of passes at Grades A* and A
'A' Level - 99% overall pass rate with 65.5% of passes at Grade A & B and 84.5% of passes at Grade A, B & C.
There are superb facilities for Art and Design, Music, Science and Sport. A wide range of extra-curricular activities is provided within the caring and supportive environment.
The majority of girls stay on into the Sixth Form where a very flexible choice of A level subjects is provided. There are good recreational facilities in the Common Rooms and a lively social life is also organised. Considerable emphasis is placed upon careers and great care is taken to ensure that each girl has the opportunity to obtain correct requirements for her chosen career.
