Private Education Awards 2026 | 11 Independent School of the Year 2026 – UK & Excellence in Wellbeing Support & Education 2026 For more than 140 years, Bromley High School GDST has been a place where girls aged 4–18 can learn without limits. Supported by an education that champions academic results and emotional wellbeing, its girls develop the confidence, skills, and vision to shape the rest of their lives during these formative years. Emily Codling, Headmistress at Bromley High School, shared more about what makes this girls’ independent school such a standout. A terrific girls’ school that is part of the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST), Bromley High School has an exceptional reputation for academic results, sports, and music. Its setting is a green, 25-acre site filled with fantastic facilities, and this environment allows 900 of the brightest girls to flourish. During their time at Bromley High School, pupils not only develop a love of learning, but also a spirit of enquiry and independence of mind. Research has shown that girls thrive in singlesex education, enjoying higher academic results, a broader a range of subjects, and improved self-confidence, resilience, and leadership. Free from gender stereotypes, they are more likely to take risks, innovate, and express individuality, all things Bromley High School encourages. Guided by the fundamental belief that a pupil at Bromley High School can achieve whatever she puts her mind to, the team here design every aspect of school life, from learning spaces and the curriculum to the co-curricular activities, with girls and their potential in mind. The specialist facilities its Junior and Senior Schools boast reflect this, with these including science labs, digital hubs, art and design studios, performance spaces, and a forest school, not to mention a wellbeing hub and a music wing. It is here where the academic excellence Bromley High School strives for across all subjects shines through, as not only was it the World’s first all girls’ school accredited as an All Steinway School (meaning it offers students studying music the best possible instruments), but it is also recognised for its provision of STEM subjects. As this shows, whatever it is that girls have an interest or talent in, they will be nurtured. Bromley High School’s stellar academic record reflects the strengths of this approach, with its pupils consistently achieving excellent results across their GCSE and A-Level results. Last year, GCSE pupils achieved 52% grades 9–8 and 71% 9–7. A-Level pupils achieved 62% A*–A and 87% A*–B, with 97% securing their preferred universities. Outside of the classroom, girls also have access to top sporting facilities, such as a 25-metre indoor pool, a fitness suite, and a full-sized AstroTurf. The opportunities these spaces bring support physical and emotional wellbeing. “Our rich and varied co-curricular programme offers over 90 clubs and societies each week”, Emily explained. “Every girl is encouraged to discover her passions – from debating and drama to coding and cricket.” These spaces are constantly invested in, with recent upgrades including a new playground for its Junior pupils, sensory and classroom gardens, and a canopied courtyard connecting its Junior and Senior schools. A huge highlight, however, has been its middle school, launched for girls in years 5–8 as a way of bridging the gap between its existing Junior and Senior School offerings. Emily told us: “With a bespoke curriculum and specialist teaching, this initiative builds independence, self-esteem, and a love of learning. This is a genuinely distinctive offer that sets us apart as experts in providing a successful transition in a girls’ only environment.” It has been designed to support girls at what is a key phase in their development, at a time in their lives when their self-confidence often needs strengthening. Its focus on the wellbeing of girls also resulted in a new initiative being launched last year around the complexities of women’s health, helping girls to advocate for their health now and in the future. Topics covered range from menopause and mammograms to PCOS and cervical screening, raising the profile of women’s health issues in a way that is relevant and age appropriate. Led by the values of curiosity, compassion, and courage, Bromley High School GDST offers an environment where learning is warm and inclusive and where girls lift each other up. Its students grow holistically and remain part of the community long after their school journey, underpinning the lasting impact it has on its pupils, who leave with stellar results and go on to achieve great things. Contact: [email protected] School: Bromley High School GDST Web Address: www.bromleyhigh.gdst.net
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUyMDQwMA==