Ipswich High School for Girls was founded in 1878 as part of the Girls’ Day School Trust. Early pupils were among the first women to obtain university degrees and to enter professional work. Today, although we have grown and changed immeasurably, the pioneering spirit and commitment to education for women remains.

Our philosophy is to create an inspirational environment in which our girls - be they in our Nursery, Junior School, Senior School or Sixth Form - can flourish as individuals.

We provide an extraordinary breadth of education and as a single-sex school there is no gender stereotyping in the choice and enjoyment of subjects. It is not considered unusual to excel in Maths, Science or Design & Technology any more than in Languages, Arts or Humanities. We have high standards and expectations of all our pupils in every subject and that is reflected in our outstanding exam results at all age ranges.

We spend time with our pupils in extra-curricular activities such as sport, music and drama to enhance their personal development. This helps them develop not just academic skills, but social skills as well - preparing them for their life ahead.

We are privileged to have the magnificent Woolverstone Hall as our home. With 80 acres of beautiful parkland and splendid buildings it enriches us with a stimulating and inspiring environment in which our girls can learn, explore and grow.

Above all though, at Ipswich High School no girl is silent. Even those who lack confidence when they join us soon find the space and encouragement to discover their voice. Our girls act as inspirational role models for each other. They are ambitious, enthusiastic and have a real zest for learning and life. And when the time comes for them to leave us, all our girls go forward with the confidence and courage not to be held back by social stereotypes, but to take themselves to new levels of success.

Ms Elaine Purves

Head