Godolphin and Latymer School
Encyclopedia
The Godolphin and Latymer School is an independent school for 700 girls aged eleven to eighteen in London
. Ms Margaret Rudland was the head mistress of the school for over 20 years before being succeeded by Ms Ruth Mercer.
in West London. In 1905 it became an independent day school for girls, associated with the Latymer Foundation and taking the name of the Godolphin and Latymer School.
From 1906 onwards it received grants from the London County Council
and the Local Education Authorities for equipment, library books and buildings. In 1951 the school became a state Voluntary aided school
under the 1944 Education Act, and ceased to charge fees to pupils. However, in 1977, rather than becoming a non-selective school under the State system, it reverted to full independent status and resumed the charging of fees to pupils.
The Godolphin and Latymer School celebrated its centenary in May 2005 with a service at St. Paul's Cathedral.
In September 2005 the school adopted the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme as an alternative the A-level syllabus at sixth form
level, and in 2008 and 2011 came top of the British IB League Tables.
In June 2011 93% of all GCSE grades were A*/A, with 43% of girls gaining at least 9 A*s
In June 2006, 92.1% of A-level results were at Grades A and B.
The school motto is an ancient Cornish
phrase, Francha Leale Toge, which translates as "free and loyal art thou".
The Good Schools Guide called the school a "Very strong academic school with a friendly atmosphere, an outstanding head and a broad range of extra-curricular activities."
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Ms Margaret Rudland was the head mistress of the school for over 20 years before being succeeded by Ms Ruth Mercer.
History
It was built in 1861 as the Godolphin School, a boarding establishment for boys, set in fields near the River Thames at HammersmithHammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
in West London. In 1905 it became an independent day school for girls, associated with the Latymer Foundation and taking the name of the Godolphin and Latymer School.
From 1906 onwards it received grants from the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
and the Local Education Authorities for equipment, library books and buildings. In 1951 the school became a state Voluntary aided school
Voluntary aided school
A voluntary aided school is a state-funded school in England and Wales in which a foundation or trust owns the school buildings, contributes to building costs and has a substantial influence in the running of the school...
under the 1944 Education Act, and ceased to charge fees to pupils. However, in 1977, rather than becoming a non-selective school under the State system, it reverted to full independent status and resumed the charging of fees to pupils.
The Godolphin and Latymer School celebrated its centenary in May 2005 with a service at St. Paul's Cathedral.
In September 2005 the school adopted the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme as an alternative the A-level syllabus at sixth form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
level, and in 2008 and 2011 came top of the British IB League Tables.
In June 2011 93% of all GCSE grades were A*/A, with 43% of girls gaining at least 9 A*s
In June 2006, 92.1% of A-level results were at Grades A and B.
The school motto is an ancient Cornish
Cornish language
Cornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate...
phrase, Francha Leale Toge, which translates as "free and loyal art thou".
The Good Schools Guide called the school a "Very strong academic school with a friendly atmosphere, an outstanding head and a broad range of extra-curricular activities."
Notable Old Dolphins
Notable former pupils, known as Old Dolphins, include:- Sarah AlexanderSarah AlexanderSarah Alexander is an English actress, known for her roles in various British comedy series such as Armstrong and Miller, Smack the Pony, Coupling, The Worst Week of My Life and Green Wing....
, actress - W. B. Yeats, poet, graduate of former boys' school
- Franny ArmstrongFranny ArmstrongFranny Armstrong is a British documentary film director working for her own company, Spanner Films, and a former drummer with indie pop group The Band of Holy Joy...
, documentary filmmaker - Kate BeckinsaleKate BeckinsaleKathryn Bailey "Kate" Beckinsale is an English actress. After some minor television roles, she made her film debut in Much Ado About Nothing while still a student at Oxford University...
, actress - Samantha Bond, actress
- Philippa DickinsonPhilippa DickinsonPhilippa Dickinson is a former editor for Puffin Books, and chairman of Random House Children's Publishing. During her time at Puffin she was the editor of The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, and also acted for a time as the desk editor of Warlock magazine....
, former Managing Director and Chairman of Random HouseRandom HouseRandom House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
Children's Publishing - Sarah DunantSarah DunantSarah Dunant is the author of many international bestsellers, most recently Sacred Hearts, the completion of her Italian historical trilogy....
, novelist - Sophie Ellis-BextorSophie Ellis-BextorSophie Michelle Ellis-Bextor is an English singer, songwriter, model and occasional DJ. She first came to prominence in the late 1990s, as the lead singer of the indie rock band Theaudience. After the group disbanded, Ellis-Bextor went solo, achieving widespread success in the early 2000s...
, singer and songwriter - Emma ForrestEmma ForrestEmma Forrest , is a British journalist, novelist and screenwriter. Born in London, she currently resides in Los Angeles.-Journalism:...
, journalist and novelist - Susan GreenfieldSusan GreenfieldSusan Adele Greenfield, Baroness Greenfield, CBE is a British scientist, writer, broadcaster, and member of the House of Lords. Greenfield, whose specialty is the physiology of the brain, has worked to research and bring attention to Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.Greenfield is...
CBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, Director of the Royal InstitutionRoyal InstitutionThe Royal Institution of Great Britain is an organization devoted to scientific education and research, based in London.-Overview:... - Hattie JacquesHattie JacquesJosephine Edwina Jaques was an English comedy actress, known as Hattie Jacques.Starting her career in the 1940s, Jacques first gained attention through her radio appearances with Tommy Handley on ITMA and later with Tony Hancock on Hancock's Half Hour...
, actress and comedienne - Nigella LawsonNigella LawsonNigella Lucy Lawson is an English food writer, journalist and broadcaster. Lawson is the daughter of Nigel Lawson, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Vanessa Salmon, whose family owned the J. Lyons and Co. empire...
, broadcaster - Davina McCallDavina McCallDavina McCall is an English television presenter and actress, most notable as the presenter of the UK version of Big Brother up until its move to Channel 5.- Early life :...
, broadcaster - Jemima RooperJemima RooperJemima Rooper is an English actress.- Background :Born in Hammersmith, London, Rooper is the daughter of TV journalist Alison Rooper. She attended Redcliffe Primary School in Chelsea, London and Godolphin and Latymer girls' school. While working on The Famous Five, she passed eight GCSEs with A*...
, actress - Sitara Shah, actress
- Imogen Morris Clarke, fashion model
- Rachel SquireRachel SquireRachel Anne Squire was a British Labour Party politician in Scotland. She was the Member of Parliament for Dunfermline West from 1992 to 2005, and then for Dunfermline and West Fife from 2005 until her death after a long series of illnesses.-Background:Squire was born in Carshalton, Surrey, England...
, politician - Catherine WebbCatherine WebbCatherine Webb is a British author, educated at the Godolphin and Latymer School, London, and the London School of Economics. She was 14 years old when she completed Mirror Dreams, which was written during her school summer vacation...
, novelist - Zoe WilliamsZoe WilliamsZoe Williams is a British columnist and journalist.-Early life:She attended the independent Godolphin and Latymer School girls school and read Modern History at Lincoln College, Oxford.. Her parents separated in 1976 and formally divorced 20 years later.-Writing:Williams writes forThe Guardian and...
, columnist - Annunziata Rees-MoggAnnunziata Rees-MoggAnnunziata Mary Glanville née Rees-Mogg is an English freelance journalist, focusing on finance, economics, and European politics....
, journalist
See also
- Edward LatymerEdward LatymerEdward Latymer was a wealthy merchant and official in London. His will established both Latymer Upper School and The Latymer School and is associated with Godolphin and Latymer School.-Life:...
- Godolphin EstateGodolphin EstateThe Godolphin Estate is a National Trust property situated in Godolphin Cross, a few miles north-west of Helston in Cornwall, United Kingdom....
- Gelehrtenschule des JohanneumsGelehrtenschule des JohanneumsThe Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums is a Gymnasium in Hamburg, Germany. It is Hamburg's oldest school and was founded in 1529 by Johannes Bugenhagen. The school's motto is The Future needs a Heritage...
(twinned school)