Croydon High School
Encyclopedia
Croydon High School for Girls GDST is a leading non-denominational independent school
for girls, located near Croydon
, Greater London
, England
. It is one of the schools in the Girls' Day School Trust
.
It is a day school with around 800 pupils aged three to eighteen, providing both secondary and primary school education, as well as a nursery and sixth form. It has a recently established Sports Club which is open to members of the public; facilities include a swimming pool, fitness suite, indoor and outdoor pitches and fitness classes.
in Northamptonshire during World War II
. The present building in Old Farleigh Road, Selsdon
, South Croydon, Surrey was opened in 1966.
Past headmistresses
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
for girls, located near Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
, Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is one of the schools in the Girls' Day School Trust
Girls' Day School Trust
The Girls' Day School Trust is a group of 26 independent schools - 24 schools and two Academies - in England and Wales, catering for pupils aged 3 to 18. It is the largest group of independent schools in the UK, and educates 20,000 girls each year...
.
It is a day school with around 800 pupils aged three to eighteen, providing both secondary and primary school education, as well as a nursery and sixth form. It has a recently established Sports Club which is open to members of the public; facilities include a swimming pool, fitness suite, indoor and outdoor pitches and fitness classes.
History
The school was founded in 1874 in Wellesley Road just north of the centre of Croydon, and the first Headmistress was Dorinda Neligan. The school was evacuated to BraddenBradden
Bradden is a village and civil parish in South Northamptonshire, England, about west of Towcester. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 179 .-Buildings:...
in Northamptonshire during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The present building in Old Farleigh Road, Selsdon
Selsdon
Selsdon is an area located in the southern suburbs of the London Borough of Croydon. The suburb was developed during the inter-war period during the 1920s and 1930s, and is remarkable for its many Art Deco houses...
, South Croydon, Surrey was opened in 1966.
Notable former pupils
- Dame Lilian BraithwaiteLilian BraithwaiteDame Lilian Braithwaite DBE , born Florence Lilian Braithwaite, was an English actress.She was the daughter of a clergyman, and born in Ramsgate, Kent. She was educated at Croydon High School, and married actor-manager Gerald Lawrence, first acting with amateur companies...
DBE (1873-1948), actress (née Florence Lilian Braithwaite). - Catherine ChristianCatherine ChristianCatherine Christian was an English novelist, known for her children’s books and retellings of Arthurian legend. She is classified as having produced 45 works in 85 publications in two languages and with 1,019 library holdings...
(1901 - 1985), novelist and supporter of the Girl Guide movement. - Dame Jane DrewJane DrewDame Jane Drew, DBE, FRIBA was an English modernist architect and town planner. She qualified at the AA School in London, and prior to World War II became one of the leading exponents of the Modern Movement in London....
DBE (1911-1996), architect and town planner (née Joyce Beverly Drew). - Jacqueline du PréJacqueline du PréJacqueline Mary du Pré OBE was a British cellist. She is particularly associated with Elgar's Cello Concerto in E Minor; her interpretation has been described as "definitive" and "legendary." Her career was cut short by multiple sclerosis, which forced her to stop performing at 28 and led to her...
OBE (1945-1987), musician, cellist - Josephine ElderJosephine ElderJosephine Elder was the penname of Olive Gwendoline Potter , an English children's author who published ten school stories between 1924 and 1940 as well as numerous short stories for annuals. She is widely regarded as one of the best writers of the girls' school story. Her most acclaimed book is...
(1895-1988), children's author (née Olive Gwendoline Potter) - Jessie GilbertJessie GilbertJessica "Jessie" Gilbert was a British chess player.-Biography:Jessica was the daughter of Angela and Ian Gilbert and was raised in Woldingham, Surrey. She attended Croydon High School. Her father was a career manager with the Royal Bank of Scotland...
(1987-2006), chess player - Barbara JonesBarbara Jones (artist)Barbara Mildred Jones was an English artist, writer and mural painter.- Biography :Barbara Jones was born in Croydon, Surrey...
(1912-1978), artist, writer and mural painter - Elizabeth LairdElizabeth LairdElizabeth Laird is an author of many books for children, including picture books and books for older children. Her novels include Red Sky in the Morning, Secrets of the Fearless and Kiss the Dust.-Biography:...
(b.1943), children's author
- Sandra HowardSandra HowardSandra Howard, Baroness Howard of Lympne is an English novelist, former model and the wife of Michael Howard, a former leader of the Conservative party....
(b.1940), novelist, former model Sandra PaulSandra HowardSandra Howard, Baroness Howard of Lympne is an English novelist, former model and the wife of Michael Howard, a former leader of the Conservative party.... - Susanna ReidSusanna ReidSusanna Reid is an English journalist and presenter, best known for presenting BBC Breakfast.-Early life:The youngest of three children, Reid was born in Croydon, London to an English father who worked as a management consultant, of Scottish ancestry, and an English mother who worked as a nurse...
(b. 1970), BBC BreakfastBBC BreakfastBBC Breakfast is the morning television news programme simulcast on BBC One and the BBC News channel. It is presented live from BBC Television Centre in White City, West London, and contains a mixture of news, sport, weather, business and feature items...
presenter - Anneka Rice (b.1958), TV presenter (née Anne Rice)
- Dame Marion RoeMarion RoeDame Marion Audrey Roe, DBE is a Conservative politician in the United Kingdom.-Early life:She went to independent Bromley High School for Girls , then the independent Croydon High School...
DBE (b.1936), Conservative politician - Wendy SavageWendy SavageProfessor Wendy Savage is a British gynaecologist, and advocate and campaigner of women's rights in childbirth and fertility....
(b.1935), obstretician and gynaecologist - Beatrice Seear, Baroness SeearBeatrice Seear, Baroness SeearNancy Seear, Baroness Seear PC was a British social scientist and politician. She was leader of the Liberal Party in the House of Lords from 1984 to 1988, and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords from 1988 to 1997...
(1913-1997), known as Nancy Seear, social scientist and politician - Jill TweedieJill TweedieJill Sheila Tweedie was an influential feminist, writer and broadcaster. She was educated at the independent Croydon High School in Croydon, South London. She is mainly remembered for her column in The Guardian on feminist issues , 'Letters from a faint-hearted feminist' and for her autobiography...
(1936-1993), novelist and journalist
Headmistresses
Current headmistress (2010)- Mrs D Leonard
Past headmistresses
- 1874-1901 Miss Dorinda Neligan (1833-1914) Anecdote The Women's Suffrage Movement
- 1902-1924 Miss Marion Leahy
- 1925 (Spring term) Miss Eleanor Roper, acting headmistress
- 1925-1939 Miss Ella Ransford
- 1939-1960 Miss Margaret F. Adams
- 1960-1974 Miss Elsa Cameron
- 1974-1979 Miss Agnes McMaster
- 1979-1990 Miss Agnes Mark
- 1990-1997 Mrs Pauline Davies
- 1998-2007 Miss Lorna M. Ogilvie
- 2007-2010 Mrs Zelma Braganza