学校概况

Academic Results

ANOTHER YEAR OF OUTSTANDING A LEVEL RESULTS AT
HABERDASHERS’ MONMOUTH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

The A Level results for 2005 have again highlighted the achievements of the pupils at both Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls and Monmouth School with 100% pass rates at the two schools.  84.5% of grades at HMSG were either A or B, the highest level ever achieved at the School and at Monmouth School 46.2% of the passes achieved were at A grade.

Both schools expressed how delighted they were with this year’s results and how much had been achieved through the pupils’ hard work and the teachers’ dedication.

Outstanding successes at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls included 37 girls who achieved at least three A grade A levels, with 4 of them achieving 4 A grade A levels.

Katrina Jacks who gained 3 A grade A levels and a distinction in her extended A level Chemistry paper and who also has the distinction of having rowed for Great Britain, will take up her place at Imperial College to study Chemical Engineering.

Isabella Jarrett is the last of 4 sisters to have gone through HMSG and, having gained straight As, she will take up her place at Oxford to study geography.

Anne Bastille also achieved straight As and spent most of the summer while waiting for her A results in Africa working in an orphanage.  Anne will go on to Bristol University to read Classical Studies in the autumn.

Dr Brenda Despontin said,

“As Headmistress of Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls, I am enormously proud of all the students and their achievements.  This year the A Level results are outstanding, with 37 girls achieving at least 3 A grades.  Some of these girls are Grade 8 musicians, row for Britain, achieve Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards or are involved in a range of other extra-curricular activities.  They are now about to launch into exciting university courses such as medicine, engineering, law, business or archaeology. It is such a privilege to share their well-deserved success, and to see them leave us as confident, positive young women.”

OUTSTANDING GCSE RESULTS AT THE HABERDASHERS’ MONMOUTH SCHOOLS

This year’s GCSE results at both Monmouth School and Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls have been outstanding, with a 98.5% pass rate at both schools.  The percentage of A^*/A grades at HMSG is an impressive 67.9% and 63.7% at Monmouth School.  Over 90% of the grades were A^* to B at the two schools.

Rebecca, Elizabeth and Camilla at HMSG and Oliver, George and Eric at Monmouth School all gained at least 10 A^* GCSEs. In addition, 20 girls and 21 boys achieved 10 A^*/A grades.

The following pupils have the added distinction of scoring one of the top 5 marks in the country for their examining board:

Camilla scored among the top 5 marks for AQA Spanish and French.

Oliver, Jessica, Emma-Jane and Katrina scored top 5 marks for AQA French out of 138,508 candidates.

Anna and Jessica both scored one of the top 5 marks for AQA Home Economics (Textiles).

Eric was in the top 10 for Edexcel music out of 23,579 candidates

Scholarships and Bursaries

Both academic and music scholarships are available for entrants at 11+ (year 7), 13+ (year 9), and 16+ (year 12).  Special awards are available for service families.  Please contact the Admissions Secretary for further details of all scholarships, bursaries, and assisted places.

Entrance Tests

This school is selective.  All girls must complete our entrance tests and have a short interview with a senior member of the teaching staff.  Pupils at 13+ can opt for the common entrance route.  With your permission, we will also contact your current school, so that we get a complete picture of your daughter.  The decision to offer a place and/or a bursary will be made on the basis of ALL the information we are provided with, not just the test results.

Entrance test dates for entry in Autumn 2006 –

• 7+   28th February & 2nd March, registration by 17th March

• 8+   7th March, registration by 28th February

• 9+   & 10+ 9th March, registration by 2nd March

• 11+ 28th January, registration by 21st January

• 13+ 2nd March, registration by 21st February
                or Common Entrance Examinations 6-9th June

• 16+ 15th February, registration by 8th February

What it’s like
Founded in 1892, it has handsome buildings in delightful semi-rural surroundings high above the attractive town of Monmouth, where the school enjoys a high reputation. The site affords splendid views across the Wye Valley. It retains links with the Haberdashers’ Company. It is sister school to Monmouth School, with which it shares a range of activities, including musical and dramatic activities and some A-level teaching. It has its own preparatory department, Gilbert Inglefield House. Being a Christian (non-denominational) foundation, there is some emphasis on religious instruction. It has a favourable staff:pupil ratio of about 1:10 and very good exam results. Music is very strong indeed, with a number of ensembles. Art and drama are also very vigorously supported. Considerable emphasis on sport, games, dance and physical education, with an impressive number of representatives at county, district and national level (particularly at lacrosse, rowing, swimming and athletics). There is a wide variety of clubs and societies and a substantial commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme.

School profile

Pupils & entrance
Pupils: Total age range 7–18, 675 girls (586 day, 89 boarding). Senior department 11–18, 559 girls.
Entrance: Main entry ages 7, 11, 13 and 16. Own entrance exam used; for sixth-form entry, 6 GCSEs at least grade C including English and maths (grade B in sixth-form subjects). No special skills or religious requirements. State school entry 47% senior intake, 50% sixth-form intake.

Scholarships, bursaries & extras Some 6 pa scholarships include academic and music, value up to 50% fees. Variable number of bursaries, awarded on financial grounds to able pupils. Parents not expected to buy textbooks; average extras £80 per term.

Head & staff
Headmistress: Dr Brenda Despontin, appointed 1997. Educated at Penarth Grammar School and Cardiff University (psychology). Previously Principal of Girls’ Division, King’s School Macclesfield.
Teaching staff: 70 full time, 23 part time. Annual turnover 3%. Average age 43.

Exam results
GCSE: In 2003, 84 pupils in Year 11: 99% gained at least grade C in 9+ subjects. Average GCSE score 72 (64 over 5 years).
A-levels: 70 in upper sixth: 4% passed in 4+ subjects, 91% in 3 subjects. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 332.

University & college entrance 99% of 2003 sixth-form leavers went on to a degree course (16% after a gap year), 8% to Oxbridge. 10% took courses in medicine, dentistry & veterinary science, 25% in science & engineering, 61% in humanities & social sciences, 4% in art & design.

Curriculum GCSE, AS and A-levels offered. 20 GCSE subjects, 30–32 AS/A-level. Some sixth-form subjects taught with Monmouth School.
Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level (wide range), 3 at A-level; general studies not taken. 18% take pure science A-levels; 40% arts, 30% science/arts and 12% science/languages. AS-level critical thinking offered in Year 13. Key skills taught as discrete units; all entered for communication and IT.
Vocational: Work experience programme. RSA text-processing available in English, French, German and Spanish.
Special provision: Special help for dyslexic girls.
Languages: French and German (both compulsory aged 11–14) offered at GCSE, AS and A-level; also Spanish, Italian and Russian to A-level (some under reciprocal arrangement with Monmouth School); Latin and Greek GCSE, Latin AS and A-level. Regular exchanges (France, Germany and Italy).
ICT: Taught as a discrete subject. 250 computers for pupil use (9 hours a day), all networked and with e-mail and internet access. All pupils take GCSE ICT (short/full course).

The arts
Music: Nearly 50% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Musical groups including 3 orchestras, 4 choirs, 2 bands (with Monmouth School), jazz ensemble, variety of chamber groups. Chamber choir recently 3rd in international festival and issued CD; harp trio won prize at National Chamber Music Competition.
Drama: On average 30 pupils take GCSE, 15 A-level drama and theatre studies; LAMDA exams may also be taken. Some pupils involved in school and other productions. In last six years, 5 have gone to drama school and 4 in the National Youth Theatre.
Art & design: On average, 30 take GCSE, 8 A-level. Design, textiles, ceramics, photography also offered. Many pupils go on to art foundation and other courses in architecture, design etc. Various successes in DT: 2 finalists in Panasonic Innovation Award, 2 Conti Board finalists; former pupil winner of De Beers Diamonds International Award. Several winners of the Arkwright Scholarship for Engineering.

Sport & activities
Sport: Lacrosse, netball, tennis, athletics, rowing, dance, basketball, softball, fitness activities, swimming, trampolining, gymnastics, life-saving, badminton, volleyball, golf and fencing. Sixth form only: Canoeing, aerobics, water polo, aqua-fitness, body conditioning, self-defence. National representatives in lacrosse, tennis, golf, rowing, fencing; many district and county representatives in lacrosse, athletics and tennis; successful rowing teams (U16 fours title holders, GB rowers), tennis, athletics and fencing, lacrosse teams.
Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Community Service optional, including visiting old people in the community. St John’s Ambulance first-aid course offered. Up to 30 clubs including photography, debating, chess, classics, history, junior quiz, public-speaking, life class, environmental, modern languages, Harris Society (sixth-form science society); successful school newspaper.

School life
Uniform: School uniform worn throughout, modified in sixth form.
Houses & prefects: Competitive houses. Head girl, school and house prefects and heads of houses, elected by staff and sixth form. School Council.
Religion: Boarders encouraged to attend places of worship of their own religion.
Social: Musical activities, theatrical productions and debates joint with Monmouth School. Exchanges to Carbonne and Berlin; Italian exchanges on an individual basis. Sixth form may bring cars to school. Meals self-service. School uniform shop. No tobacco or alcohol allowed.

Discipline Serious misdemeanours are treated on an individual basis, with suspension and expulsion as a possible sanctions.

Boarding 90% of sixth form have own study bedroom; 85% in dormitories of 2–4; 5% in dormitories of 5+. Junior house (of 20+) and senior (100+). Resident health care staff. Pupils can provide and cook snacks. Exeats any weekend. Visits allowed to local town (ranging from escorted visits for first years, to unlimited shopping visits in sixth form).