Cheltenham Ladies' College: A Legacy of Female Education

Cheltenham Ladies' College (CLC), an esteemed independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 and older, stands as a beacon of female education in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. Recognized as the Southwest Independent School of the Decade by The Times and The Sunday Times in 2020, CLC boasts a rich history of academic excellence and character development. As one of the oldest and most prestigious all-girls' boarding schools in the UK, the school has often been referred to as "the girls' Eton".

Founding and Early Years

The genesis of Cheltenham Ladies' College can be traced back to 1853 when six individuals, including the Principal and Vice-Principal of Cheltenham College and four other men, envisioned a girls' school mirroring the academic rigor of Cheltenham College. The school was founded in 1853 as a girls’ school, it aimed to “provide a sound academic education for girls”. This vision materialized, laying the foundation for an institution that would shape the lives of countless young women. It’s not to be confused with the similarly named Cheltenham College which is a co-educational boarding and day school for students aged 3-18 years old.

The Guiding Hand of Dorothea Beale

Dorothea Beale became Head Teacher at Cheltenham in 1858. The arrival of Dorothea Beale in 1858 marked a turning point in the college's trajectory. At the time the school had only a moderate reputation but under Beale's leadership it became one of the most highly regarded schools in the country. Serving for almost 50 years, Beale transformed CLC from a school with a moderate reputation into one of the most highly regarded in the country. She was instrumental in the introduction of maths and science at the college, despite parental opposition that these were not suitable or necessary for girls. She championed a more academic education, moving away from the traditional emphasis on accomplishments such as music and drawing. A former pupil of Cheltenham Ladies College, wrote to Dorothea Beale about her experiences at the school in the 1850s: "The few months during which I was under your tuition more than fifty years ago were an epoch to me. Young as I was, I ever afterwards judged teaching by the standard set by yours, and very seldom indeed, I may truly say, has it been subsequently reached." In 1873, the College moved its location to the site of the original Cheltenham Spa (and this is where it remains to the present day). This new site contained only a boarding house, a few classrooms and the Lower Hall initially, but it soon grew in coming years to include music rooms, a library and laboratories. For those who wished to study further, Miss Beale also founded St Hilda’s College, Oxford, in 1893. By 1900, college had become a thriving community of over 1,000 pupils, with boarders, day girls and part-time students, studying from Kindergarten to Degree level.

Academic Structure and Curriculum

CLC is divided into three divisions, Lower College (KS3), Upper College (KS4) and Sixth Form College (KS5). The school gives pupils a choice in what they study. A range of subject combinations is available to Upper College girls at GCSE, and for Sixth Form girls at A-level or International Baccalaureate (IB).

Emphasis on Academic Excellence

For CLC, academic excellence forms the basis of College life, but the college considers the formation of character in their students just as important. The school is committed to preparing its students for life well beyond their college years, encouraging flexibility and resourcefulness in their students so that they can flourish in our rapidly changing world. The school’s academic results are high, both compared to the national average and within the independent sector. From 2014 to 2017, the school reported that over two thirds of A Level results and approximately 90% of GCSE results were A* or A grades. The school regularly boasts incredible exam results. CLC offers IB (International Baccalaureate and A-level examinations). From the class of 2024, 56% of students who sat IB examinations achieved 40+ and 31% of A-level examinations received an A* grade.

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Amy Key Clarke: Historian and Educator

Born in 1892, Amy Key Clarke was the daughter of author and educator Mrs. Henry Clarke, the first Headmistress of the Truro High School, and of lecturer and tutor Henry Clarke. She was educated St. Paul's Girls' School and at the Cheltenham Ladies' College, before reading Classics at Newnham College, Cambridge. She returned to teach at Cheltenham in 1924, becoming Senior Classical Mistress, and then (successively) Head of Classics, Head of Upper College, and Director of University Entrants. She was away from Cheltenham from 1939 to 1947, returning in that year and staying until her retirement, in 1953. Clarke wrote two histories of the Cheltenham Ladies' College, one in 1953, and another in 1979, as well as a history of the Truro High School, which included a memoir of her mother. She was much influenced by mystical spirituality, publishing a book on the subject - The Universal Character of Christianity in 1950.

Boarding and Day Life

The school is made up of around 80% boarders and 20% day girls. Girls who board live in one of eleven boarding houses. There are six junior houses for 11- to 16-year-olds, and five senior houses for sixth form girls. The junior houses are Farnley Lodge, Glenlee, Sidney Lodge, St. Austin's, St. Helen's, and St. Margaret's. At Sixth Form, all girls move to a senior house. The senior houses are Beale, Cambray, Elizabeth, Roderic and St. Hilda's. Each house is run by a housemistress and several resident staff. The junior day girl house is Eversleigh, which is a short walk from the main college site.

Extracurricular Activities and Facilities

The Music and Drama departments offer productions and concerts each year involving all age groups. In October 2009, Sir Richard Eyre opened the school's new drama building, The Parabola Arts Centre (PAC). The building was built by Foster Wilson Architects and cost over £12.5 million, funded by donations. The school is a major sponsor of the Cheltenham Music, Literature, Jazz and Science Festivals and events are hosted at the centre annually. The PAC building was awarded the RIBA award.

Sports and Wellness

Over 30 sports are offered, and students are encouraged to maintain their fitness and wellbeing through physical exercise. The main sports are Netball, Lacrosse and Hockey in the winter, and Tennis, Swimming and Athletics in the Summer. The school also has its own sports centre in central Cheltenham (around 10 minutes walk from the main college site), offering a range of fitness classes and a 25-metre pool. While facilities are useful for students who represent the school in sports, they can be used for supporting any wellness or fitness journey. Fitness classes offered include pilates, yoga and Zumba, as well as one-two-one swimming lessons.

Reputation and Rankings

In the Financial Times' secondary school ranking, Cheltenham Ladies College was placed at no. 14 in 2010 and no. 34 in 2011. The Tatler School Guide 2018 notes that "confident, resilient, clever girls flourish" at the college. The Good Schools Guide described the school as "a top flight school with strong traditional values and a clear sense of purpose". In 2020, Cheltenham Ladies' College was named South West Independent Secondary School of the Decade by The Times and The Sunday Times.

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A Glimpse into the Past: World War II

The Second World War had a major impact on the college, and in September 1939, all College buildings were requisitioned by the War Office and lessons were relocated to army huts.

Notable Alumnae

The alumni at CLC are just as impressive as the school. Old girls include fashion designer Amanda Wakeley OBE, actress Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, actress Talulah Riley, Cicely Mayhew, the UK’s first female diplomat and English tennis player Muriel Robb.

Cheltenham Ladies’ College uniform

CLC girls have a unique uniform. Younger girls wear a navy blazer with a light blue button up shirt, and a green jumper paired with a blue and green checked skirt. Sixth formers wear their choice of a pair of navy trousers or a navy skirt, a green blazer, green jumper and the same light blue shirt.

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