City of London School for Girls
City of London School for Girls is an independent day school for pupils aged11-18 situated in the heart of the Barbican. Opened in 1894, the school provides an outstanding education for able students from all backgrounds, cultures and faiths. We capitalise on our location to attract students from all over Greater London and beyond, and give them access to every learning opportunity our capital has to offer.
Academic yet unstuffy, modern yet acutely aware of its history, diverse yet with a strong sense of identity, our school defies easy categorisation. This is best demonstrated by our unique geography, nestled between the brutalist Barbican and looming Roman walls. Ours is an intellectually edgy, unassuming and unpretentious environment, unshackled by tradition, and imbued with a relaxed excellence. This is a refreshing and modern place in which to learn.
This is a place of brave academic enquiry, of intellectual wonder and of fiercely independent thinkers. It’s hard to convey the excitement of the learning in this school, but whether it’s recent year 7 projects on freedom, a year 12 bounding excitedly into my office with news of her publication in a national medical periodical or hearing about the sixth form genetic engineering project or the pupil talking about her published fanfiction, I am daily struck by its scholarly energy. This is a place where ideas in these rooms become almost become bigger than the people in them, where the structures of learning can become an escape from the self and identity. City is a school which never places any artificial division on our formal academic and co-curricular provision, but celebrates the wild adventure and the fun of learning wherever it is found.
It does so though without posture, or pose. We are a kind and compassionate place too, and our values of respect, responsibility and resourcefulness course through the concrete of our famous Barbican site. We are proud of our outstanding and individualised pastoral care, which encourages pupils to understand themselves and take considered and reflective ownership of their lives. We nurture an inclusive and kind community, which embraces the cultural and social mix in the school and world around us.
Pupils care about each other and the things that matter in life. They take themselves and their ambitions seriously and have a great deal of fun. We are so proud of all that our pupils achieve and contribute, finding opportunities to experiment and grow in confidence and serve the communities around them.
Jenny Brown - Headmistress
Places Available at 11+
100
Admissions contact
Website
Boys / Co-Ed / Girls
Girls
Age range
11-18 years
Type of exam
11+
Part 1; CEM Online assessment
Part 2: Written assessment in English, Maths plus a taster lesson,
Interview follows
16+
Part 1:6 full GCSE or IGCSE passes at grade 8/9
Part 2: Written assessment in 4 chosen subjects for A level
Part 3: CAT4 test (online)