Chapters
It's not uncommon for students of all stripes to wonder why they have to go to school. After a certain age, school stops being fun, doesn't it? And isn't that right around that time that all the adults in your life start telling you what a serious business education is?
If you've ever wondered what the point of sitting in school all those years is, look no further than Godolphin School. Their philosophy states that academics are important but not more so than their students' characters. And there, with just a few keystrokes, we've laid out the point of going to school year after year. It's about character-building, pure, plain and simple. And no school does it better than Godolphin. What makes it so remarkable?
- Godolphin School has been educating female students for nearly 300 years
- It was founded by an amazing woman whose life was one loss after another.
- She was ridiculed for having the temerity to want to educate girls.
- The Dean and Chapter of Westminster refused her request to administer the school
- today, Godolphin School still welcomes pupils ages three to 16.
Godolphin School might not have the longest history of all English schools but it is certainly one of the oldest girls' schools in the UK. And it's certainly older than Cheltenham Ladies' College, which got its start in 1853 - notably by male educators. So pull up a seat and take a peek at our quick guide to Godolphin School.
About Godolphin School
Godolphin School was founded by Elizabeth Godolphin in 1726. Since then, the Christianity-based school has added a library and science blocks. They've also built new boarding houses, fitness spaces, and a prep and Sixth Form centre to fit their new site in Milford Grove. Godolphin School encourages “each girl to find her unique talents and abilities, develop her own perspective, and realize her full potential.”
Godolphin School believes in guiding girls’ growth towards becoming independent and forward-thinking young women. Many of this school's alumni, Catherine Steadman and Mary Spender included have gone on to build careers on the international stage. Others have pursued their dream to work in countries around the world, from the United States of America to Kenya. Regardless of whether they are aspiring artists or engineers, Godolphin recognizes the potential in all its students.
About Elizabeth Godolphin
In this article's introduction, we touched on Mrs Godolphin's tragic life. Her circumstances bear examination in detail because they strongly influenced her drive to establish this school for girls. Indeed, her devotion in the face of adversity should serve us all as an example to live up to.
We can guess her birth year by the date on her baptism certificate: 1663. Her mother died when she was four years old; her father remarried but he too died when she was just seven. His second wife apparently did not keep his children. Their uncle, Sir William Godolphin became their guardian. The children had an estate left to them but their uncle passed it to his son.
He died in a duel so the fortune passed to Elizabeth's older brother, Francis. When he died by suicide, it was finally her time to receive her father's monies. She used this capital, as well as some money from her deceased husband's estate to start Godolphin School. But she wasn't done losing loved ones yet.
Elizabeth married her cousin in 1687 when she was 24 years old. The couple lost both of their children at a young age. They then adopted a young girl named Frances. Their marriage lasted just 33 years before Elizabeth suffered yet another loss.
This short biography gives us clues as to why Mrs Godolphin may have been so insistent on educating girls. She suffered so much loss so early in her life and was passed over for inheritance until there was nobody left to inherit her father's estate. She might have wanted other girls to have the education and social standing to manage their affairs.
Though well-positioned socially and certainly religious, few would accept her proposal to open a girls' school. In those days, the idea of formally educating girls was unheard of. The Westminster Dean and Chapter rebuffed her, stating that the very idea of educating girls was "... mere foolery and dreaming". Unlike Miriam Badock, who founded the Badminton School, Ms Godolphin had to endure humiliation for hoping to do a good deed.
The school dates its founding to the year of Mrs Godolphin's death in 1726 but it didn't actually welcome its first pupils until 1784. Her papers make clear the school was to accommodate eight girls and leave them with a small sum of money "not to exceed £400". Today's Godolphin School welcomes more than 50 times the originally planned number of students. And though they don't offer a small fortune, the school does offer bursaries and scholarships.
How to Know if Godolphin is Right for You
Snapshot mornings replaced Open Events at Godolphin. This gives parents and prospective students a chance to see what the school is like on an average day. You can choose your Snapshot visit from the school website's 'Book a Visit' page. They are very generous with their dates but careful in planning by student level. Spaces fill up quickly as only 10 families may attend each event, so it is advised that you book well in advance.
All girls (and/or their parents) who want to get into Godolphin School will complete and return a registration form. They may request theirs during their Snapshot mornings, during private visits or by request. All registrants should also submit a copy of the student's birth certificate and a written report from her current school. Registration fees (between £50-100) should be paid at that time; they are non-refundable. That fee is only half as much as registering with Downe House School!
For Preparatory Admission, you should visit the school twice. Once as a family, and once when your daughter can experience what the school would be like on her own. Girls entering at 11+ will complete the new 11+ Assessment Programme, as well as an interview with senior staff and outdoor team-building activities with other pupils.
Similarly, girls entering at 13+ will complete the new 13+ Assessment Programme about a year and a half before her proposed entry. She will also complete an interview with a senior staff member. If your daughter currently attends a school that requires her to write the Common Entrance exam, her results will be used to contextualize core subjects. Lastly, if your daughter is entering Sixth Form, she will be assessed through an interview and two to four written papers on her proposed A-Level subjects. If she is taking I/GCSEs, your daughter must receive at least five grades at B or above.
Godolphin School Interviews and Examinations
Preparatory School assessments are informal and structured to imitate your daughter’s typical school day. No preparation is required. However, Godolphin is more than happy to field any questions to help lessen your or your daughter’s nerves.
11+ and 13+ exams comprise a one-hour English paper (reading comprehension and creative writing) and a one-hour Maths paper (based on the KS2 National Curriculum). And then, she will submit to a 15-minute interview with a senior staff member. 13+ students will further be required to sit a 20-minute Verbal Reasoning paper ( word-based problems and puzzles). Again, no preparation is required, but your daughter is encouraged to bring her a book or another favourite possession to discuss during her interview.
Sixth Form assessments focus on your daughter’s performance at A Level and GCSE. While Godolphin does not provide further resources, your daughter may benefit from speaking with the school’s Registrar or studying with the number of resource centres available online.
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