Ipswich High School, Suffolk

Ipswich High School was opened as a school for girls in the Assembly Rooms in Northgate Street, Ipswich, on 30 April 1878 with 43 pupils. The first headmistress, Miss Sophie Youngman, held the position for 21 years and the school flourished and expanded under her leadership. She was succeeded by Miss Kennett and, in 1905, the Council of the Trust purchased a large private house and grounds in Westerfield Road, Ipswich. The move provided a more modern classroom standard, science laboratories and a playing field.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

Another house, Woodview House, was purchased in 1913.{{cn|date=August 2024}} Owing to the continued expansion of the school and the demands of the modern curriculum, the decision was taken in 1992 to rehouse the school at Woolverstone Hall, a Grade 1 listed building set in {{convert|80|acre|m2}} of parkland on the banks of the River Orwell, the former premises of Woolverstone Hall School for boys (1951 to 1990).{{cn|date=August 2024}}

Transition to Mixed-sex education was effected in September 2018. The change to co-education received mixed responses from parents and alumnae.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/heartbroken-parents-react-to-ipswich-high-school-losing-all-girls-status-and-admitting-boys-1-5192084|title='Heartbroken' parents react to Ipswich High School losing all-girls status and admitting boys|last=Stott|first=Matt|website=East Anglian Daily Times|date=12 September 2017 |language=en|access-date=2020-02-12}} {{As of|2020}} the school serves a wide area of Suffolk and north Essex, taking girls and boys aged 3–18 years and providing both primary, secondary school and sixth form education, where pupils take traditional A Levels in subjects such as Latin, History and Mathematics.

Alumni of the former Woolverstone Hall School are affiliated through formal recognition of its Old Boys’ Association in the alumni community.[https://www.ipswichhighschool.co.uk/alumni/ Alumni community] at official website

Following acquisition of the school by London and Oxford Group (LOG) in 2017, the principal and the chair of governors remained in their positions,Stott, Matt. "[http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/ipswich-high-school-for-girls-changes-name-to-ipswich-high-school-and-will-accept-boys-from-2018-1-5190449 Ipswich High School for Girls changes name to Ipswich High School and will accept boys from 2018]". East Anglian Daily Times, 11–12 September 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017 reporting to the ownership subsidiary Ipswich Education Limited (IEL). Members of the Senior Leadership Team are identified on the school's official website.

Mr Dan Browning started as Head in January 2023 having previously been Head at Wymondham College, Norfolk for four years. {{Cite web |last=Admin |first=I. H. S. |date=2022-05-26 |title=New Head of Ipswich High School is Announced |url=https://www.ipswichhighschool.co.uk/new-head-of-ipswich-high-school-is-announced-2/ |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=Ipswich High School |language=en}}

The school was ranked 16th in the ‘East Anglia independent schools’ category in the 2023 `Sunday Times parent power rankings.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

{{See also|Category:People educated at Ipswich High School, Suffolk}}

• Ruth Ainsworth, writer
• June Brown, actress
• Enid Blyton, author
• Jade Holland Cooper, fashion designer{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/how-i-made-it-jade-holland-cooper-founder-of-holland-cooper-dgmw3htsw|title=How I made it: Jade Holland Cooper, founder of Holland Cooper|first=Liam|last=Kelly|date=27 May 2018|access-date=19 August 2018|via=www.thetimes.co.uk}}
• Frances Hardinge, author{{cite web|url=http://www.franceshardinge.com/town_crier/2016.html|title=Frances Hardinge's Twisted City – The Town Crier's House – 2016|website=www.franceshardinge.com|access-date=19 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gdst.net/article/vote-now-alumna-year-2016|title=Vote now for the Alumna of the Year 2016|date=12 April 2016|website=gdst.net|access-date=19 August 2018}}
• Susan le Jeune d'Allegeershecque, diplomat
• Sandy Lister, hockey player
• Tracey MacLeod, journalist
• Helen Oxenbury, illustrator{{Cite web|last=Russell|first=Steve|date=2018-10-28|title=We intend to fall off the perch while working, says 'Bear Hunt' illustrator Helen Oxenbury at 80|url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/book-artist-helen-oxenbury-on-growing-up-in-ipswich-and-2509874|access-date=2021-02-21|website=East Anglian Daily Times|language=en-UK}}{{Cite web|last=Russell|first=Steven|date=2008-04-15|title=How they're ruining my lovely Felixstowe|url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/how-they-re-ruining-my-lovely-felixstowe-7541924|access-date=2021-02-21|website=East Anglian Daily Times|language=en-UK}}
• Kate Riley, television presenter and journalist
• Margaret Tempest, illustrator{{Cite web |last=IPSWICH HIGH SCHOOL |first=G. P. D. S. T. |date=1954–1955 |title=School News 1954-1955 |url=http://ipswicharchive.daisy.websds.net/Filename.ashx?systemFileName=IPGRS1953.pdf#page=67 |website=ipswicharchive.daisy.websds.net}}

• [https://masters.englandhockey.co.uk/international-masters/current-womens-squads]Lizzie Wheelhouse
• Sandie Lister
• Adnan Zakir

• Independent Schools Council

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.ipswichhighschool.co.uk/ Official website]
• [http://www.isc.co.uk/schools/england/suffolk/ipswich/ipswich-high-school-gdst Ipswich High School] at Independent Schools Council website

{{Schools in Suffolk}}

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Category:Private schools in Suffolk

Category:Educational institutions established in 1878

Category:1878 establishments in England

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Category:Diamond schools

Category:Woolverstone