Wallington High School for Girls (WHSG) is a selective academy for approximately 1500 girls aged between 11 and 18. The school first opened in 1888 and moved to its present site in 1965. The school is heavily over-subscribed with more than 2000 applications each year for the 210 places in Year 7. Our sixth form has expanded over recent years and although our retention rate is very high, many external students also apply and gain places into our sixth form. We are a multicultural community with an increasing percentage of minority ethnic groups. Over 47 different first languages are spoken and this brings a rich diversity to our school.

Our students achieve at the highest level academically. In 2023, 82% of our GCSE entries were awarded 9/7grades. At A level, 50% of our entries were awarded A*/A grades putting us in the 97th percentile of the country when it comes to attainment at KS5. The vast majority of our students move from WHSG into higher education. Eleven students gained places at Oxford or Cambridge in 2023, with over 65% gaining places at Russell Group universities or medical schools and 89% achieving their first or second choice university. Our students are highly able, motivated and a delight to teach. Students enjoy positive and co-operative relationships with staff and it is very rare if an external visitor to the school does not comment on the high calibre of the students.

Our Pastoral System

We are particularly proud of our strong pastoral system and girls enjoy a comprehensive programme of PSHCE throughout their time at school. This is taught by form tutors and ensures that strong relationships can be built and maintained. Form tutors remain with their group from Year 7-11 or in 12 and 13 and this further fosters this relationship. We encourage our students to be active and responsible citizens through a variety of charitable and community activities. The school operates a very successful House system, led by student House Leaders, which encourages integration between the year groups and provides leadership opportunities for students. Similarly, a strong Head Girl and Senior Prefect team and School Council ensure that the student body has a voice within the school and that younger students are supported. We have an extensive student mentoring and tutor programmes and many of our KS5 students help local primary schools with a range of outreach activities.

Outside of the classroom we are fortunate in having staff who provide a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities for students, which is central to our ethos. Sport plays an important part in the life of the school and we are successful at national and regional level in a number of sports including. Similarly, we have many opportunities for students to showcase and develop their talents in Music, Dance, Drama and the Arts, including an annual school production and gym and dance showcase. We enjoy a successful Combined Cadet Force (CCF) partnership with Wilson’s School, involving over 50 of our students and an equally successful Duke of Edinburgh scheme, involving 250 students. Our commitment to this ethos is reflected in our curriculum provision where a number of enrichment days are set aside, the timetable suspended, and students take part in a number of activities and events that allow them to develop and prepare for life beyond the school.

The Sixth Form

We are proud of our thriving and ever growing Sixth Form that has an excellent academic reputation and provides first class guidance and support so that students enjoy a positive and successful post-16 experience and leave us well prepared for life beyond school.

With over 500 students in the Sixth Form, we offer an extensive choice of A Levels taught in excellent facilities by subject experts. 83% of our students chose to stay with us for Sixth Form in 2023 and we also warmly welcome a large number of external applicants who meet our entry requirements.

In addition to A Levels, all students in Year 12 will take an elective intended to develop their communication skills and build their cultural capital. There are a number of options available, including the Extended Project Qualification which develops skills of analysis and independent research, vital for success in undergraduate study. Students follow a wellbeing programme, including PSHCE and Physical Education provisions. 

WHSG Sixth Formers continue their education at some of the most prestigious universities in Britain and abroad. To support our students in achieving this, we run an extensive Higher Education programme that includes Oxbridge preparation as well as clear guidance on ‘informed choices’, Russell Group Universities and the UCAS process as well information about other pathways they may suit some of our students.

However, our Sixth Form is about so much more than excellence in academia and we offer a wealth of leadership and extra-curricular opportunities. The prefect team are an integral and highly valued part of the Sixth Form. Lead by our two Head Girls they are a dynamic team who coordinate a large amount of activities giving them brilliant leadership opportunities. In addition, Our Sports Leaders run clubs and undertake outreach work with local primary schools. Furthermore, it is Sixth Form students who run some of our most successful clubs and societies, including those that build upon our inclusive commitment to school life. All lower sixth students are actively involved in our local community as part of our volunteering programme, this includes working in charity shops, visiting nursing homes and working in local primary schools.

Curriculum

We run a three-year KS3, although students begin their GCSE courses in Science in Year 9 allowing them all to do 3 separate sciences at GCSE.   Our KS3 students, study two modern foreign languages alongside the other national curriculum subjects.  At KS4, students study for ten GCSEs, which includes a Language option and a Humanities option. In the sixth form most students study 3 A Levels, with the most able being given the opportunity to study 4. This is supplemented with the range of opportunities detailed above.