Portsmouth High School, Southsea
Portsmouth High School is an independent day school for girls in Southsea, a district in the southern coastal city of Portsmouth, England. Founded by the Girls' Public Day School Trust in 1882, it is one of the Trust's smaller schools.
Portsmouth High School | |
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![]() Entrance to the school | |
Address | |
Kent Road , , PO5 3EQ England | |
Coordinates | 50.788°N 1.094°W |
Information | |
Type | Independent day school |
Established | 1882 |
Founder | Girls' Public Day School Trust |
Chairman of Governors | Mrs Anne McMeehan Roberts |
Headmistress | Mrs Jane Prescott |
Gender | Girls |
Age | 4 to 18 |
Enrolment | ~500[1] |
Houses | Dolphin, Warrior, Nelson, Vernon at Junior School. Gaskell, Austen, Bronte, Eliot at Senior School. |
Colour(s) | Maroon and gold |
Affiliation | Girls' Day School Trust |
Former Students' Association | GDST Alumnae via the School |
Website | http://www.portsmouthhigh.co.uk/ |
The Good Schools Guide described the school as "a super no-frills choice: big enough to appeal to almost any girl, but not at the expense of the personal touch".[2]
History
Portsmouth High School was founded by the Girls' Public Day School Trust (now the Girls' Day School Trust) in 1882. The school moved to its present premises on Kent Road in Southsea in 1885, when the building was opened by Princess Louise. Dovercourt, the house built and lived in by the Southsea architect Thomas Ellis Owen, was acquired for the Junior School in 1927. During World War II the school was evacuated to two country houses in Hampshire, Hinton Ampner (Junior Pupils) and Adhurst St Mary (Senior Pupils), and became a boarding school for six years. After the war, the school became a direct grant grammar school under the Education Act 1944 and became independent during the mid-1970s when the scheme was abolished.
Academics
Portsmouth High has an excellent academic track record in examinations.[3] In 2016 percentage number of A levels graded A or A* was 43% and the number of A Levels graded A* to B was 80%. In GCSEs 68% of all grades were A*/A, 91% were A* – B and 100% were A* – C.
Notable former pupils
- Samantha Davies, yachtswoman
- Kirsty Dillon, actress[4]
- Nancy Edwards, Professor of Medieval Archaeology
- Anjana Gadgil, BBC reporter and presenter[5]
- Meg Hillier, Labour MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch[6]
- Rachel Lloyd, sex trafficking abolitionist and founder of Girls Educational and Mentoring Services
- Sarah McCarthy-Fry, politician[7]
- Gemma Spofforth, Olympic swimmer
- Dr. Frances Saunders, Senior Civil Servant and scientist
- Jane Collins, Chief Executive, Marie Curie Cancer Care[6]
- Jane Hill, writer
- Charlotte Jackson British journalist and television presenter[6]
- Margaret Rock (1903–1983), Bletchley Park codebreaker[8]
References
- http://www.isc.co.uk/schools/england/hampshire/southsea/portsmouth-high-school-gdst, Portsmouth High School GDST on the independent schools Council website.
- "Portsmouth High School, Southsea - The Good Schools Guide". The Good Schools Guide. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- "GCSEs: Portsmouth High School". The News. 26 August 2009.
- "Midsomer Murders star is proud of her Pompey roots". The News. 16 March 2011. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- "BBC Presenter tells girls 'choice is a luxury; say 'yes' to as many opportunities as you can.' - Portsmouth High School". portsmouthhigh.co.uk. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- "Alumnae - Portsmouth High School". portsmouthhigh.co.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- "'I did believe I could win. So although losing was not a surprise it was disappointing". The News. 29 May 2010.
- "Margaret Rock - Bletchley Park Codebreaker - Bletchley Park Research". archive.org. 29 October 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
External links
- Official website
- Profile on MyDaughter
- Profile on the ISC website
- ISI Inspection Reports
- Profile on the GDST website