The GDST has over 20,000 students at its 29 schools

Nearly 9% of all the girls in independent education are at GDST schools.

24 of the GDST schools are High (senior) schools with junior schools and Sixth Forms, four (Kensington, The Hamlets, Great Houghton and Hilden Grange) are stand-alone preparatory schools, and one (The Belvedere, in Liverpool) became an Academy for girls aged 11-18 in September 2007.

Historically, the GDST has pioneered the education of girls and young women since 1872. While we remain committed to single-sex teaching at our all-through schools, particularly between the ages of 11 and 16, we have broadened our charitable objects to facilitate greater diversity in other phases.

Two GDST schools (Howell’s in Cardiff and The Royal High, Bath) have a coeducational Sixth Form Colleges, and the latter offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) as well as A Levels.

Two GDST schools (Hilden Grange and Great Houghton) are co-educational prep schools.

The GDST has over 4,000 staff.

The GDST is the third largest supporter of young people doing the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (only the Scouts and Girl Guides put more young people through the programme every year).

GDST schools are enthusiastic participants in Young Enterprise, and our teams frequently win regional and national awards for their entrepreneurial achievements.

GDST schools are non-denominational, and students have always been admitted irrespective of background or beliefs.

In 2008, nearly 9% of GDST A Level students gained places at Oxford or Cambridge. In the same year, over 35% of our leavers are doing a science, medicine, maths, engineering or related subject. A further 6% study one of these subjects as part of a combined degree course. 16% went on to study medicine, dentistry and related subjects (inluding pharmacy). Nearly three times as many of our students took a language at university as the national average.

More than 46% of our students take at least one science subject at A Level.