Single sex and co-education
The GDST has pioneered the education of girls and young women since 1872. It stands by its belief that a girls-only education remains a robust proposition, against a background of rapidly evolving parental choice and increasingly sophisticated thinking on education – whether single-sex or co-educational. In our context, this applies at junior, preparatory and sixth form levels, where socially and culturally there may be circumstances where girls and boys benefit from learning together.

Today’s education environment in the UK is focused on choice. Increasingly sophisticated and carefully thought through expectations from parents see them basing their considerations on a wide range of issues, from faith and gender to academic subjects and social interaction. While remaining true to its fundamental beliefs in education, the GDST, as the UK’s leading educational trust, must inevitably move forward to meet the needs of 21st century education.

Today, diversity is fundamental to the GDST’s strategic plan. The GDST has grown considerably since its early days. It has most recently undertaken to develop a group of excellent preparatory schools. It is this scale and flexibility that enables it to maintain its leadership position and fundamental beliefs, with the well-being, success and benefits to all pupils remaining the highest priority for all its schools.