St David's School is an independent School for Girls founded originally in London in 1716. Moving to Ashford in 1857 it now has plenty of room to breathe and play, in an oasis of 30 acres only 35 minutes by rail from the City.
The central 150 year old building and a wealth of even longer tradition are loved and respected, while all special facilities and educational principles are forward looking.
St David's offers all the benefits of an 'all through' school, catering for girls from age 3 to age 18. The Junior School goes up to age 11. Full weekly boarding and flexi boarding are available.
The School maintains a close dialogue with parents about their daughters' successes and problems, believing that praise and positive thinking are possibly the most powerful influences it exerts.
What about courtesy and consideration for others? We care about these as well as about progress in work, self presentation, and communication through performance. Knowing something or knowing how to do something is not enough - we realise we need the ability to convey the fact or the skill to others. This communication skill is encouraged by the work of the Drama Department and LAMDA examination which have achieved 100% pass rate for many years.
We appreciate that we are European. Girls learn French from age 4 and add German from age 11; they may then choose Spanish as well for GCSE and A Level. Business Studies, Theatre Studies and Technology are among the list of 20+ GCSEs, from which girls usually choose 9. Maths and Sciences attract equal attention and achieve equal examination success. Average pass rate at A level is nearly 90%, as is our A-C grade average at GCSE.
A highly developed Careers Programme operates throughout the Senior School, with the support if ISCO and the Surrey Careers Office.
There is a long-standing commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, because it rewards initiative, survival techniques, public service and the spirit of adventure.
The girls are also sports-minded. There is particular pride in the teams which compete with great success at regional and national level and which include sports acrobatics and cross country.
We have recently undertaken to support high level gymnasts: our support may be financial but is always educational and psychological: we help these girls towards the security of having qualification for paid employment and for a satisfying life after gymnastics. One of the two woman Great Britain team in the Olympic Games 1996 has been with us, together with two more National level girls who train locally.
St David's loves singing (something to do with its Welsh Foundation) and all forms of instrumental music, and revels in creative, artistic work.
The one hundred strong Sixth Form runs on co-educational lines through a consortium arrangement with Halliford Boys' School, Shepperton. 20+ A levels are on offer: Economics, Government and Politics and Computer studies appear in this list.
Girls of many nationalities are already enjoying their education here and our location encourages a cosmopolitan approach to life.
