Withington Girls' School
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Withington Girls' School
| image = Withington Girls School-geograph-1684409.jpg
| image_size =
| motto = Ad lucem
(Latin: "Towards the light")
| established = 1890
| type = Private day school
| religious_affiliation =
| head_label = Headmistress
| head = S J Haslam
| chair_label =
| chair =
| founder =
| specialist =
| address = Wellington Road
| city = Manchester
| county =
| country = England
| postcode = M14 6BL
| local_authority = Manchester
| ofsted =
| dfeno = 352/6033
| staff =
| gender = Girls
| lower_age = 7
| upper_age = 18
| houses =
| colours =
| publication =
| free_label_1 =
| free_1 =
| free_label_2 =
| free_2 =
| free_label_3 =
| free_3 =
| website = http://www.wgs.org/
}}
Withington Girls' School is a private day school in Fallowfield, Manchester, United Kingdom, providing education for girls between the ages of seven and eighteen. Withington is a member of the Girls' Schools Association{{Cite web|title=Withington Girls' School|url=https://gsa.uk.com/school/withington-girls-school/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=Girls' Schools Association|language=en-GB}} and the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.{{Cite web|title=Withington Girls' School|url=https://www.hmc.org.uk/schools/withington-girls-school/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=HMC|language=en}}
The school was founded in 1890 by a number of eminent Mancunians. It was named North West Independent School of the Decade by The Sunday Times in 2021.{{Cite web |last=Dow |first=Catherine |date=2020-11-27 |title=Withington is North West Independent School of the Decade |url=https://www.wgs.org/2020/11/withington-is-north-west-independent-school-of-the-decade/ |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=Withington Girls' School |language=en}} Withington consistently ranks as one of the top schools in the country for academic results.{{Cite web |last=Dow |first=Catherine |date=2021-12-03 |title=Withington earns Sunday Times accolade for third year in a row |url=https://www.wgs.org/2021/12/withington-earns-sunday-times-accolade-for-third-year-in-a-row/ |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=Withington Girls' School |language=en}}
History
Withington Girls' School was founded in 1890 by a group of eminent Manchester families who wanted the same educational opportunities for their daughters as were already available for their sons. Among the founders were Mrs Louisa Lejeune, the mother of C. A. Lejeune, C. P. Scott, Henry and Emily Simon, Miss Caroline Herford and Sir Adolphus Ward. There were four pupils in the beginning.{{cite book|publisher=Withington Girls' School|title=Newsletter 1936–1937|date=5 February 1937}}
Present day
Over the years, the School has aimed to remain true in essence to the founders' principles.
{{Blockquote|Pupils receive an outstanding education in accordance with the school's aims to help girls achieve an excellent standard of academic achievement, and to foster intellectual curiosity, a love of learning, independence of mind and individual responsibility.|Independent Schools Inspectorate (2013)[http://www.isi.net/schools/7258/ Independent Schools Inspectorate – Report on Withington Girls' School 2013]}}
The school suffered a serious arson attack in August 2003, but took this as an opportunity to build new science labs, and has since built a new sixth form common room and additional classrooms.{{cite news|title=Schools count the cost of arson|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/schools-count-the-cost-of-arson-1150650|work=Manchester Evening News|publisher=M.E.N. Media|date=28 August 2003|last=Haile|first=Deborah}}
=School song=
"Gaudeamus" is the school song and is sung each year at Founder's day, accompanied by the school's orchestra.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}
Academic curriculum
The following subjects are available for all third form (first year/year seven) pupils:{{cite web |title=Curriculum |url=https://www.wgs.org/seniors/curriculum-2/ |website=Withington Girls' School |access-date=29 October 2020 |language=en |archive-date=1 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001040836/https://www.wgs.org/seniors/curriculum-2/ |url-status=dead }}
- English and English Literature
- Maths
- Two of French/German/Spanish
- Latin
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Physics
- Physical Education
- ICT
- Food and Nutrition
- History
- Geography
- Religious Studies
- Drama and Theatre Studies
- Art
- Music
As the girls move up the school, other subjects are available, including:{{cite web |title=Curriculum |url=https://www.wgs.org/sixth-form/sixth-form-curriculum/ |website=Withington Girls' School |language=en}}
- Greek
- Classical Civilisation
- Computer Science
- Politics (Sixth Form only)
- Economics (Sixth Form only)
- Psychology (Sixth Form only)
- Philosophy (Sixth Form only)
Extra-curricular activities
=Sport=
Trampolinist Sasha Carter represented her country at international trampolining competitions.{{cite web | title=Trampoline trio picked for world championships | website=Manchester Evening News | date=2009-09-17 | url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/trampoline-trio-picked-for-world-championships-930103 | access-date=2021-10-30}}
Withington won its first national lacrosse title at the 2022 National Schools competition when its U14 team claimed the top position.{{Cite web |last=Hayden |first=Niamh |date=2022-03-28 |title=Withington wins first national lacrosse title |url=https://www.wgs.org/2022/03/withington-wins-first-national-lacrosse-title/ |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=Withington Girls' School |language=en}}
Notable former pupils
{{See also|Category:People educated at Withington Girls' School}}
- Kate Abdo, television presenter
- Julia Britton, playwright
- Sarah Burton, creative director of the Alexander McQueen brand and designer of Catherine Middleton's wedding dress
- Judith Chalmers, television presenter
- Mildred Creak, child psychiatrist
- Marjorie Deane (1914-2008), financial journalist{{cite web |last=Cameron |first=Sue |date=2008-11-07 |title=A journalist the financial world trusted |url=https://www.ft.com/content/9e8ff20e-ad1c-11dd-971e-000077b07658 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2021-10-30 |website=Financial Times}}
- Sarah Foot, medieval historian
- Jen Hadfield, poet (Winner of the T. S. Eliot Prize 2008)
- C. A. Lejeune, film critic
- Brenda Milner, Canadian neuropsychologist
- Joanna Natasegara, 2017 Oscar winner, documentary film-maker{{Cite journal|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/mum-britains-only-oscar-winner-12665255|title=Mum of Oscar winner tells of pride as she watched victory on TV|journal=Manchester Evening News|first=Beth|last=Abbit|date=27 February 2017|accessdate=11 April 2024}}
- Christine Rice, opera singer, mezzo-soprano
- Stephen Whittle, Professor of Equalities Law, campaigner for transgender rights
References
{{Reflist}}
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/3601126.stm Girl beats cancer in 2004]
- [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/121/121663_head_hails_heroes_of_school_inferno.html Thanking firemen in June 2004]
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2911059.stm Academic success in 2003]
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3112668.stm Arson on 22 August 2003]
External links
- [http://www.wgs.org/ School website]
- [https://gsa.uk.com/school/withington-girls-school// Profile] on Girls' Schools Association
{{Schools in Manchester}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|53.439|N|2.226|W|type:edu|display=title}}
Category:Girls' schools in Greater Manchester
Category:Private schools in Manchester
Category:Member schools of the Girls' Schools Association
Category:School buildings in the United Kingdom destroyed by arson