Royal High School Bath students are confident. The leading independent day and boarding school is one of 26 girls’ schools in the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST), and the excellence shows. According to the Girls’ Futures Report, girls from non-GDST schools across England and Wales experienced a fall in confidence between the ages of 14 and 18. But GDST girls are different — they reported greater confidence in achieving their goals and preparing for the future.
This makes sense when you know the legacy of strong women behind Royal High Bath. It was founded over 160 years ago with the involvement of Queen Victoria, and the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale — two women whose influence stretched far beyond their time. Today, their impact is strongest in this school’s hallways, across its Nursery, Prep, Senior School, and Sixth Form, and even among its 70,000+ alumni making their mark across the world.
“We are a proud member of the GDST, making our offer even richer in possibility and opportunity,” Heidi-Jayne Boyes, Headmaster. “Over the years, alumnae of both the school and across our family of GDST schools have contributed significantly to all sectors, with great success in traditionally male-dominated areas such as STEM and sports.”
The GDST comprises 23 independent schools and two academies across the UK, and now has a global network of over 100,000 alumnae. Source: Royal High School Bath
Nurturing students to reach their full potential
Surrounded by green open space in Bath, Royal High Bath looks like something from a film. Its boarding houses feel warm and comfortable, yet contemporary. It’s the kind of place where girls feel safe and secure enough to start becoming more independent.
But they never have to do that on their own. The school brings together students from around the world and gives them a strong support system. Teachers and staff work closely with each girl, as well as with families and industry partners. Guidance is personalised, attention is keen.
With such approaches in place, success often follows. In 2024, 69% of the A Level cohort gained acceptance to Russell Group universities to study subjects ranging from literature and languages to medicine and food science at top institutions like the University of Oxford, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and University of Glasgow.
This is in no small part due to Royal High School Bath offering a girls-only education. Evidence shows that girls who attend all-girls schools are not only more confident, but perform better academically than those at co-ed schools, with students able to achieve more when given a dedicated space to grow — especially one free of gender stereotypes.
A new future-focused Sixth Form curriculum builds on this legacy. Designed to equip students with 21st century skills, the curriculum allows students to choose up to four A Level subjects from a wide-ranging catalogue. Think biology, further mathematics, psychology, history of art, and Spanish. Through this, they’re able to fulfil their academic goals and interests, whether they’re looking for a more specialised experience, something broader, or purely something to feed their passion.
Research shows that girls-only education often leads to higher academic achievement. Source: Royal High School Bath
The flexibility of Sixth Form doesn’t stop there. Royal High Bath offers a wide range of academic electives that students can take alongside their A Level courses, providing an excellent way to add depth and diversity to their portfolios. They take the form of AS Level courses, including subjects such as Physics, Latin, Music, and Politics, or further qualifications in areas such as cookery and Mandarin.
To create a truly holistic experience, Sixth Form here includes a “Future-Skills” programme. Running once every fortnight, this is where girls will engage in societal and female-focused topics, from health and well-being to issues around social media, as well as taking part in career-focused and networking opportunities.
And should students want to compose and perform, the Steinway Music School hosts multiple recording studios and workshops led by internationally renowned artists such as Charles Owen and Lise de Salle. If a girl is more into sports, the school has teams in hockey, cross-country, tennis, and more, all supported by state-of-the-art facilities like an astroturf pitch or the sports hall. Over at the Discovery Centre, anyone can dive into the digital world, exploring coding, creativity and collaboration.
“At the heart of what we do is a desire to educate and empower a school of curious young people by equipping them with the skills, confidence and compassion to live a life unlimited,” says Heidi-Jayne Boyes, Headmaster. “Every girl has the freedom to express herself individually and collectively, explore what excites her and experience new interests, independence, friendship, and sisterhood.”
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