Despite its 169-year pedigree, and a 36-acre site at the heart of the city, Cheltenham Ladies’ would never rest on its laurels. It’s a ‘forward-thinking’ school with a ‘strong, pioneering spirit’ – attributes that are reflected in its globally-minded and diverse pupils, whose opinions are both supported and challenged. Long-standing head Eve Jardine-Young is ‘not only a big thinker but a big doer’ and a ‘fabulous person’ to be steering the ship. Respected for its academic prowess, CLC unashamedly places equal emphasis on wellbeing, and it was way ahead of the curve in 2015 with its launch of an initiative that helps students develop personal resilience. There’s a three-pronged approach to sport, delivering a programme of activities in which curricular, co-curricular and competitive opportunities work in partnership. Girls have made an electric car in the green power car club; there are more than 1,000 music lessons taught every week; and the 325-seat theatre is an impressive space for staging the five main productions every year – including open-air Shakespeare. Adapting to the needs of the pupils and parents, the school introduced flexi-boarding in September 2021, as well as occasional boarding for its day pupils. An impressive 90 per cent of UK university places are Russell Group; and the US is a popular destination, with some of last year’s leavers heading to colleges such as Yale and UC Berkeley.
Location: Bayshill Road, Cheltenham GL50 3EP
Website: cheltladiescollege.org
Head: Eve Jardine-Young, MA, since 2011; previously Director of Studies at Blundell’s School
Pupils: 870 girls: 186 day, 684 boarding
Ages: 11–18
Term fees: Day: £9,340; boarding: £13,950
Oxbridge: 12%
Admission: School’s own exams
Alumnae: Scientist Dame Mary Archer, Sweaty Betty founder Tamara Hill-Norton, former Home Secretary Amber Rudd
