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What it's like

Founded in 1881 under the scheme for the management of the Perse Trust, it is well sited in the centre of Cambridge, in agreeable and very well-equipped buildings. More recent developments include a music wing, science and technology facilities, all-weather sports pitches and an impressive visual arts centre. The junior school, newly rebuilt and refurbished, is nearby. The sixth form reopened in 2008 as a co-educational sixth-form college, The Stephen Perse Sixth-Form College, offering the International Baccalaureate alongside A-levels. It has exceptionally strong international links: six modern languages are offered; a creative arts project is undertaken with partner schools in Portugal, Finland and Hungary; and there are several cross-curricular ventures with an international dimension. The school as a whole has a high reputation academically; it prides itself on providing a first-class, balanced education which celebrates achievement in all aspects of school life and the opportunity to develop talent and individuality. The results in public examinations are consistently excellent. A high proportion of sixth-form leavers goes on to Oxbridge. Music, drama and art flourish; the school has a variety of orchestral, choral and other music groups, including jazz. Sports and games are played to a high standard (the playing fields are ten minutes from the school), with a number of representatives at county, regional and national level. Numerous extra-curricular activities are well supported, including archery, football, Young Enterprise and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. Extensive use is made of Cambridge's cultural amenities.

Pupils & entrance

Pupils: Total age range 7-18; 700 day pupils (mostly girls plus sixth-form boys). Senior school 11-18, 570 pupils. Entrance: Main entry ages 7, 11, 13 and 16. Own entrance tests used; for sixth-form entry, 8 GCSEs at least grade B (grade A in sixth-form subjects). All-round ability looked for; no religious requirements. Significant state school entry. 50+% of senior intake is from its own junior (enquiries to Head of Junior School, The Perse School for Girls, St Eligius Street, Cambridge CB2 1HX; tel 01223 346140).

Scholarships & bursaries

8 pa academic scholarships at age 11 and 13 (value £250); 15-20 pa sixth-form scholarships (various academic and music). Also 35-40 pa bursaries. Parents not expected to buy textbooks; charge of £196 for individual music lessons, £95 for group speech training.

Head & staff

Headmistress: Miss Tricia Kelleher, in post from 2001. Educated at Grays Convent and Palmer's Sixth Form College and at universities of Oxford (history) and Sussex (MA). Previously Deputy Headmistress at Brentwood, Head of History at Brighton and Hove High School, and history teacher at Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls. Teaching staff: 66 full time, 20 part time. Annual turnover 5%. Average age 40.

Exam results

GCSE: 90 pupils in Year 11, 100% gaining at least grade C in 5+ subjects. A-levels: 35 in upper sixth, passing an average of 3.9 subjects.

Pupils' destinations

All sixth-form leavers go on to a degree course (7% after a gap year), 30% to Oxbridge. 15% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 17% in science and engineering, 10% in law, 30% in humanities and social sciences, 2% in art and design, 26% in other subjects eg textile design, maths, economics.

Curriculum

GCSE, AS and A-levels, IB. 19 GCSE subjects, 26 at AS/A-level. Sixth form: Some take the IB, others take 4-5 subjects at AS-level, 3-4 at A-level; in addition, all take Creativity, Action and Service programme. 5% take science A-levels; 95% both sciences and arts/humanities. Vocational: Work experience available in Year 10 and in the sixth form. Special provision: Any necessary provision arranged on individual basis. Languages: French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish offered at GCSE, AS and A-level; Japanese offered from Year 11. All take French, some Spanish, from age 8; majority take 2 or more languages at GCSE. Regular exchanges and visits (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Russia); sixth-form European work experience schemes. ICT: Used across the curriculum at all ages and taught as a discrete subject (including compulsory sixth form course). 100+ computers for pupil use (7+ hours a day), 40 networked and with email and internet access. Some pupils take 2-year ICT course leading to ECDL; AS/A-level computing also offered.

The arts

Music: Over 75% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams may be taken. Some 30 musical groups including 4 choirs, 3 orchestras, jazz, percussion, wind, chamber and recorder. Several groups winners of National Chamber Music Competition for Schools; recent Oxbridge choral awards; 1 member National Youth Orchestra, several of National Children's Orchestra. Drama: GCSE drama, A-level theatre studies, Poetry Society and LAMDA exams may be taken. Many pupils are involved in school productions and in house/other productions. Medal successes every year in Cambridge Festival; regular medals in LAMDA and Poetry Society exams. Art and design: On average, 18 take GCSE, 10 AS-level, 8 A-level. Design, pottery, textiles, photography, costume, jewellery, sculpture etc also offered.

Sports & activities

Sport: Gymnastics, dance, swimming, hockey, netball, tennis, rounders, athletics compulsory. Optional: aerobics, archery, badminton, basketball, fencing, fitness, football, jazz dance, rowing, squash, tag rugby. Sports leadership awards and BAGA exams may be taken. Regional tennis players; several county netball and hockey players; success at national level. Activities: Pupils take silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Community service optional; close involvement with local old people's home. Over 20 clubs, eg bridge, debating, dance, gymnastics, IT, DT, science, Christian Union, photography, creative writing.

School life

Uniform: School uniform worn, except in sixth form. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Head girl and deputies (serve in year 11), head of house and house sports captains, elected by the school. School Council and 9 student committees. Religion: Non-denominational. Attendance at assembly compulsory, except for conscientious objectors. Social: Language exchanges with schools in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia and Japan; cultural exchanges with Portugal, Finland, Hungary; organised trips abroad for history, art, design technology and other cross-curricular ventures; ski trips. Pupils allowed to bring own bike. Meals self-service.

Discipline

Pupils failing to produce homework once would expect discussion with relevant teaching and year staff; those in possession of, or under the influence of, illegal substances or alcohol on the premises could expect to be expelled.

Association of former pupils

Old Persean Guild, c/o the School Office.

Former pupils

Vicki Butler-Henderson (racing driver and TV presenter); Stephanie Cook (Olympic pentathlete); Bridget Kendall (BBC diplomatic correspondent); Philippa Pearse (children's author); Phyllis Starkey (MP, biomedical researcher); Christine Hamill (mathematician); Anne Atkins (novelist, broadcaster and journalist), Margery Allingham and Jean Rhys (authors).