Who we are and what we do

The Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) is unique in many ways.

Our scale and structure, as an independently run but centrally supported group of schools, enables us to embrace the diverse and growing range of schools in our ‘family’.

We offer an honest educational philosophy, resulting in the highest possible standards. We also provide economies of scale, cross-GDST benchmarking, a range of expert support services and an extensive ‘in-house’ training programme.

Currently, the GDST owns and runs 29 schools which are located throughout England and Wales, with a concentration of 12 in London. This makes us the largest group of independent schools in the UK, educating 20,000 students each year.

GDST - Innovators since 1872

We were established in 1872 with the main objective to advance the education of young women. Since then, some 250,000 students have ‘graduated’ through our schools.

Our existing 29 schools are day schools, rooted in and responsive to the local communities they serve. They offer an ‘all-through’ educational approach, within distinct phases, for pupils from the age of three or four, up to age 18.

Our school in Bath has boarding facilities and attracts international students and our founder school in Kensington is a highly successful ‘prep’, as are Hilden Grange and Great Houghton. Howell’s, Llandaff offers a model co-educational Sixth Form College.

GDST schools are broadly selective and offer a rich and distinctive curriculum at each stage of the educational programme – junior, senior and post-16. They are encouraged to develop academic specialist subjects in response to student demand, based on their experience and the opportunities it may create.

The hallmarks of a GDST school are consistently high academic standards, superb pastoral support, an enviable culture and the self-evident success of the students. Ninety eight percent of our sixth formers go on to higher education, the majority of those to their university of choice.

Our ongoing charitable commitment to providing access to the very best education to as many individuals as possible is matched only by our sound financial acumen, planning and an ongoing investment in our schools.

Our size, record of achievement and unique network, set GDST apart and ensure that we maintain a leading position in education on a national level. An active and enthusiastic partner in a broad range of initiatives, the GDST is exploring new opportunities for collaboration, both in the UK and internationally.