10 | LUXlife Magazine Private Girls’ School of the Year 2025 – UK Empowering girls aged 4-18 to create their own paths, Sydenham High School GDST offers a unique environment where girls of all talents, abilities, and backgrounds can develop their curiosity, a love of learning, and an understanding of who they are. Since it was first established by its female founders in 1887, the goal and ethos of Sydenham High has remained unchanged: to provide a first-class education for girls. Antonia Geldeard, Head, was on hand to tell us more. “We empower girls to forge their futures; opening eyes and hearts by educating the whole person: to balance the mind, body, and soul.” Comprising a prep school, a senior school, and a sixth form, Sydenham High is a part of the Girls’ Day School Trust, the leading group of independent girls’ schools in the UK. A rich heritage underpins this school, and whilst both the outlook and the opportunities for girls and women have changed massively in the 138 years since it first opened its doors, the spirit of Sydenham High – which was founded by four pioneering women determined to have an education as good as their brothers – has remained intact. Girls at Sydenham High are afforded a combination of academic excellence and remarkable pastoral care, stemming from an aspirational environment where they can be themselves and achieve anything they put their minds too. Pupils are also ambitious and open minded, well rounded and down to earth, and – most importantly – they are happy. “This is a happy community”, Antonia told us, “active and alive to the potential within each school day. Joyful voices resound in our classrooms and our corridors.” The atmosphere Sydenham High creates is conducive to nurturing the next generation of creators, independent thinkers, and trailblazers, with the girls who have graduated over the last few years going on to some of the UK’s most prestigious universities, Art Schools or corporate apprenticeships, studying everything from Global Sustainable Development to Biochemistry and Politics. Ensuring pupils are future ready is one of three pillars the school is built on, along with academic challenge and personal development, with these helping to prepare the girls for life. Exploring how these pillars translate to the day to day across Sydenham High, Antonia explained: “We believe that girls should learn without limits – there are no gender stereotypes here: all sports are for girls, all leadership roles are for girls, and all subjects are for girls.” This belief is reflected in the school’s Anglo-Saxon motto, Nyle ye drede – meaning ‘fear nothing’ – which highlights its innovative and forwardthinking nature. On the back of this, there is no ‘mould’ for a Sydenham High girl. Provisions are all personalised and there are no restrictive blocks for GCSE or A-Level subjects, meaning students can study whichever they choose through a timetable built around their specific needs. Not only does this create a diverse community, but the enthusiasm the girls have for their subjects sees them achieve a grade higher than baseline predictions on average. However, as with all the best schools, it is not just about grades here at Sydenham High. Sydenham High’s pioneering Futures Programme demonstrates a commitment to its students that goes beyond grades, with this initiative designed to equip the girls with the practical skills they need to thrive in an everchanging world. This is an area where many parents feel schools fall short, so it is refreshing to see such an established institution so focused on not only providing the tools to navigate the future, but to shape it. To this end, Sydenham High is excited to announce the recent launch of the Elevate Curriculum, which offers pupils timetabled periods where they study age-appropriate future skills, nurturing their holistic development in a way that is relevant to them at different stages of their journey. This develops the successful Power Skills Programme, which the school has been running for a decade to teach transferable employability skills. In a society where inequality between the sexes persists, there remains the need for a space where girls can learn without limits, and where they are free to both pursue their passions and have their voices heard. For the creation of such an uplifting educational offer, it is our pleasure to recognise Sydenham High School GDST – the top private girls’ school in South London – with a well-deserved award and place in our Private Education Awards 2025. Contact: Laura Hooper Email: [email protected] Company: Sydenham High School GDST Web Address: https://www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net/
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