Watford Grammar School for Girls
Encyclopedia
Watford Grammar School for Girls (commonly abbreviated WGGS) is an academy for girls in Watford
in Hertfordshire
, UK.
Despite its name, the school accepts girls of all abilities, although a proportion are selected
for academic or musical aptitude.
Its GCSE results were the highest achieved by non-grammar state schools in England in 2007.
in 1704 and refounded as a secondary school in 1884.
The school has occupied its present site in central Watford since 1907.
The name Watford Grammar School for Girls dates from 1903, but the school ceased to be a grammar school in 1975.
The school site is divided in two by a public footpath, with a footbridge spanning the path to connect the two parts.
The northern part includes a former private house, Lady's Close.
Except during the First World War, when it was taken over by the Red Cross as an auxiliary hospital, the building served as the school's preparatory department until that department was closed in 1944.
Since then it has served as the home of the entry form to the school.
since 1995, though the proportion of selection has been reduced over this period.
The school also gives priority to sisters of current pupils at the school.
Prior to 2008 it also gave priority to sisters of pupils of Watford Grammar School for Boys.
Its admission area reaches out about 5 miles (8 km), including some northern parts of the London boroughs of Harrow
and Hillingdon
.
In comparison with the national average, its intake has significantly higher academic attainment, greater ethnic diversity and fewer children receiving free school meal
s.
An inspection in 2007 by the Office for Standards in Education
rated the school as outstanding in all categories.
It has long been near the top of performance tables for comprehensive school
s, but when the key measure at GCSE was changed in 2007 to include English and mathematics the school moved to the top position.
The headmistress, Helen Hyde, attributes part of their success to De Bono
Thinking Tools, for which the school was one of the first in the United Kingdom to receive accreditation as a national training school.
Watford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, UK.
Despite its name, the school accepts girls of all abilities, although a proportion are selected
Partially selective school (England)
In England, a partially selective school is one of a few dozen state-funded secondary schools that select a proportion of their intake by ability or aptitude, permitted as a continuation of arrangements that existed prior to 1997....
for academic or musical aptitude.
Its GCSE results were the highest achieved by non-grammar state schools in England in 2007.
History
The Girls' school and its brother school, Watford Grammar School for Boys, descend from a Free School founded as a charity school for boys and girls by Elizabeth FullerElizabeth Fuller
Elizabeth Fuller founded a Free School for boys and girls in Watford, Hertfordshire, England. She is often called Dame Elizabeth Fuller, as a title of respect...
in 1704 and refounded as a secondary school in 1884.
The school has occupied its present site in central Watford since 1907.
The name Watford Grammar School for Girls dates from 1903, but the school ceased to be a grammar school in 1975.
The school site is divided in two by a public footpath, with a footbridge spanning the path to connect the two parts.
The northern part includes a former private house, Lady's Close.
Except during the First World War, when it was taken over by the Red Cross as an auxiliary hospital, the building served as the school's preparatory department until that department was closed in 1944.
Since then it has served as the home of the entry form to the school.
The school today
Watford Girls has been partially selectivePartially selective school (England)
In England, a partially selective school is one of a few dozen state-funded secondary schools that select a proportion of their intake by ability or aptitude, permitted as a continuation of arrangements that existed prior to 1997....
since 1995, though the proportion of selection has been reduced over this period.
The school also gives priority to sisters of current pupils at the school.
Prior to 2008 it also gave priority to sisters of pupils of Watford Grammar School for Boys.
Its admission area reaches out about 5 miles (8 km), including some northern parts of the London boroughs of Harrow
London Borough of Harrow
The London Borough of Harrow is a London borough of north-west London. It borders Hertfordshire to the north and other London boroughs: Hillingdon to the west, Ealing to the south, Brent to the south-east and Barnet to the east.-History:...
and Hillingdon
London Borough of Hillingdon
The London Borough of Hillingdon is the westernmost borough in Greater London, England. The borough's population was recorded as 243,006 in the 2001 Census. The borough incorporates the former districts of Ruislip-Northwood, Uxbridge, Hayes and Harlington and Yiewsley and West Drayton in the...
.
In comparison with the national average, its intake has significantly higher academic attainment, greater ethnic diversity and fewer children receiving free school meal
Free school meal
A Free School Meal, provided to a child or young person during a school break, is paid for by Government. For a child to qualify for a Free School Meal, their parent or carer must be receiving particular qualifying benefits as stated by Government...
s.
An inspection in 2007 by the Office for Standards in Education
Office for Standards in Education
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
rated the school as outstanding in all categories.
It has long been near the top of performance tables for comprehensive school
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
s, but when the key measure at GCSE was changed in 2007 to include English and mathematics the school moved to the top position.
The headmistress, Helen Hyde, attributes part of their success to De Bono
Edward de Bono
Edward de Bono is a physician, author, inventor, and consultant. He originated the term lateral thinking, wrote a best selling book Six Thinking Hats and is a proponent of the deliberate teaching of thinking as a subject in schools.- Biography :Edward Charles Francis Publius de Bono was born to...
Thinking Tools, for which the school was one of the first in the United Kingdom to receive accreditation as a national training school.
Notable alumnae
- Geri HalliwellGeri HalliwellGeraldine Estelle "Geri" Halliwell is an English pop singer-songwriter, author and actress. After coming to international prominence in the late 1990s as Ginger Spice, a member of the girl group the Spice Girls, Halliwell launched her solo career in 1998 and released her album Schizophonic...
(pop singer and former Spice GirlSpice GirlsThe Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
) attended the school up to GCSE. - Leigh Driver (artist, historian and author) attended the school 1973–1980.
- Rita Simons (actress in EastEndersEastEndersEastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
). - Liz KendallLiz KendallElizabeth Louise Kendall is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Leicester West since 2010....
, Member of ParliamentMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Leicester WestLeicester West (UK Parliament constituency)Leicester West is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
from 2010
Headmistresses
(since the founding of the secondary school in 1884)- 1884 Louise Walsh
- 1884–1895 Julia Anne Kennaby (married name Rogers from 1893)
- 1895–1913 Ann Coless
- 1913–1938 Grace Fergie
- 1938–1956 Jean Davidson
- 1957–1973 Jessie Tennet
- 1974–1987 Margaret Rhodes
- 1987–present Helen Hyde