City of London School for Girls – A Comprehensive Review
City of London School for Girls stands as one of the most academically distinguished girls’ schools in the country, combining exceptional results with a culture that is, by its own description, “academic yet unstuffy.” In this review, we examine what City of London School for Girls actually delivers in practice, across academics, admissions, school life and pastoral care, to help you decide whether it is the right school for your daughter.
Table of Contents
Key Features of City of London School for Girls
- Boarding: Not offered (Day School)
- Local authority: City of London
- Established: 1894
- Pupils: 764, sixth formers: 196
- Co-ed: No (Girls School)
- 2026/27 Fees: From £10,611 per term (including VAT, excluding school lunches)
- Results: 95% 9-7 at GCSE, 81% A*/A at A Level
Established in 1894 through the bequest of William Ward, a Brixton merchant who left a third of his fortune specifically to transform the lives of young women through education, City of London School for Girls opened in 1894 on Carmelite Street with just 53 pupils on the register. Over 130 years later, it has grown into one of the most respected independent girls’ schools in the UK, governed by the City of London Corporation and drawing pupils from across Greater London and beyond. Its central location gives it a distinct character: an urban, outward-looking school that uses the capital itself as an extension of the classroom.
Academically, the school consistently places at the very top of national league tables. It ranked second in The Times 2025 independent schools league table and third for A Level results in 2024. Over 80% of leavers go on to Russell Group universities, with strong representation at Oxford and Cambridge. However, what sets City apart is not just the numbers. The school embraces a philosophy of relaxed excellence, rigorous in its standards but free from the stuffiness that can characterise schools of this calibre.
City of London School for Girls Results
City of London School for Girls delivers academic results that place it among the very best schools in the country, consistently and not by chance.
A Level Results 2025
- 81% of papers graded A* or A
- 96% awarded A* to B
The school ranked third in The Times A Level league table in 2024 and second in The Times overall independent schools league table in 2025, reflecting a track record that goes well beyond a single good year.
GCSE Results 2025
- 58% of papers awarded grade 9
- 86% awarded grades 8 or 9
- 95% awarded grades 7 to 9
University Destinations
The Class of 2025 secured places at some of the world’s most competitive institutions. Standout destinations include:
- 10 to Oxford and 10 to Cambridge
- 13 to UCL, 8 to Imperial and 4 to the LSE
- 10 each to Bristol and Warwick
- International placements at Bocconi, UC Berkeley, Rice University and the University of Toronto
The range of subjects is just as impressive as the destinations, spanning Medicine, Engineering, Computer Science, Classics, Philosophy and the Arts. These are young women who leave City with both exceptional results and a clear sense of direction.
Teaching and Learning in City of London School for Girls
City of London School for Girls does not fit neatly into any single educational mould, and that is precisely the point. The school describes its environment as one of “relaxed excellence,” a phrase that sounds simple but reflects something genuinely distinctive. Academic standards are exceptionally high, yet the atmosphere is notably free from the pressure and self-importance that can characterise schools of this calibre.
What Drives Learning Here
Teaching quality consistently draws praise from inspectors and parents alike. Staff bring specialist enthusiasm that makes learning feel curiosity-led rather than target-driven. Furthermore, girls are expected to question what they are taught, engage with complexity and arrive at their own conclusions.
The school’s central London location actively shapes the learning experience. Close ties with the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, including joint music scholarships, give the arts genuine weight. Languages are taught ambitiously, with exchanges to France, Spain, Germany and China. Meanwhile, STEM is equally well served, with multiple Arkwright Engineering Scholarships awarded annually.
Access and Diversity
Additionally, with 15% of pupils on full bursaries, City draws talent from genuinely across London. Consequently, the classroom is richer and the culture more grounded than at many schools with comparable results. This is a place where being clever is completely unremarkable, and what you do with that intelligence is what really counts.
Extracurricular Activities in City of London School for Girls
City of London School for Girls offers a co-curricular programme that reflects its broader ethos: ambitious, diverse and unapologetically urban. The school’s location gives its extracurricular life a distinctive energy, with London itself serving as a backdrop for much of what happens beyond the timetable.
Performing Arts
The arts hold a particularly prominent place at City. The school’s close relationship with the Guildhall School of Music and Drama sets it apart from almost every other school in the country, offering joint music scholarships and regular collaboration with one of the world’s leading conservatoires. Drama is equally strong, with the annual Moat Fest festival, running since 2005, giving girls a dedicated platform to write, direct and perform their own work.
Sport
Sport is well embedded in school life. Girls compete across netball, swimming, athletics and tennis, among other disciplines. Additionally, the school has an all-weather playing field, a swimming pool, an indoor gym with a climbing wall and two netball and tennis courts on site.
Clubs and Societies
The breadth of activities on offer reflects the school’s commitment to intellectual life beyond the classroom:
- Debating and public speaking, with girls competing at national level
- STEM and robotics, including VEX Robotics competitions
- The Kids’ Lit Quiz, which City has won twice internationally
- Model United Nations and current affairs
- Community volunteering and charitable fundraising through the house system
- Duke of Edinburgh Award
Admissions Process: Entering City of London School for Girls
City of London School for Girls admits girls at three key entry points: Year 3 (7+), Year 7 (11+) and the Sixth Form (16+). The most sought-after entry point is 11+, where competition is intense. Around 800 girls apply each year for approximately 80 available places in the senior school, making it one of the most competitive admissions processes in London.
Year 7 Entry (11+)
The process runs across two stages:
- Stage 1 takes place between November and mid-December. All registered candidates sit a one-hour computer-based assessment called Cambridge Select Insight, testing numerical, verbal and non-verbal reasoning skills. No specific practice materials are available from the school, though familiarisation content is provided on their website
- Stage 2 takes place in January. Successful candidates from Stage 1 are invited back to sit two 45-minute written papers in Maths and English, followed by an interview
Offers are sent by email in mid-February, with a deadline to accept in early March.
Key dates and details for 2027 entry:
- Registration opens June 2026, closes 30 October 2026
- Registration fee: £300
- First assessments: 13 to 18 November 2026
- Second assessments: 6 January 2027
- Offers sent: 12 February 2027
Sixth Form Entry (16+)
Girls applying at 16+ are assessed in November prior to entry the following September. The process typically involves written assessments and an interview, with offers based on academic potential and predicted GCSE grades.
Scholarships and Bursaries
At 11+, music scholarships are available worth up to £1,500 per year. Applications open after the first assessment, for candidates invited to Stage 2. Additionally, the school has a strong commitment to access, with around 20% of pupils receiving some form of financial assistance. Bursary interest should be indicated at the point of registration.
Tips for Applicants
- Attend an open event before registering. Girls who visit the school beforehand tend to be better prepared at interview and more settled when they join in September
- Prepare thoroughly for the computer-based reasoning test, even though no official practice papers exist. Familiarisation with the question format makes a real difference
- Register early. With 800 applicants competing for 80 places, this is not a process that rewards leaving things to the last minute
- If your daughter has an existing diagnosis or requires access arrangements, submit supporting evidence at the point of registration, as the school follows JCQ guidelines
City of London School for Girls is genuinely one of the hardest independent schools to get into in the country. However, the admissions process is designed to find girls with real intellectual potential rather than those who have simply been most intensively tutored. Preparation matters, but authentic curiosity and confidence matter just as much.
City of London School for Girls SEN Support
As a highly selective independent school, City of London School for Girls is primarily an academic environment. Prospective parents should bear this in mind when assessing whether it is the right fit for their daughter.
That said, the school takes additional needs seriously. SEN provision is well integrated with the pastoral system, supported by a full-time SENDCo, two full-time learning support teachers, a part-time teacher and assessor, and an ELSA-trained wellbeing adviser. Additionally, teachers can flag concerns through an internal referral system, with the Learning Support Department holding regular monitoring meetings with Heads of Year.
Support covers dyslexia, autism, ADHD and long-term health conditions, all recognised under the Equality Act 2010 and subject to reasonable adjustment. For pupils with formal diagnoses, exam access arrangements follow JCQ guidelines, and supporting evidence should be submitted at the point of registration.
A few things worth noting:
- The academic pace is fast and the school may not suit pupils with more complex learning needs
- Early communication with the admissions team is strongly advised if your daughter has an existing diagnosis
City of London School for Girls Testimonials and Reviews
My child is in year 12, so into our 6th year. Overall, the experience has been fantastic, and has really worked well for us. To start with, academics have been very good. The teachers are excellent and put a lot of preparation into the lessons. While there are high expectations, I don’t believe the school to be pushy in terms of results, and there actually is a lot of support to bring out the best performance from the students.
Saying the school is very academic would be correct, but then that would paint only half the picture… The girls are encouraged to participate in drama, music, sports and many other activities.
If I had to list the different activities she has done over the years, it goes on and on – School Play, Choir, Robotics, Tennis Team, Athletics team, Cricket team, Inter-school entrepreneurship case competition at the LSE…it just goes on and on, so any perceived lack of facilities has absolutely zero impact on opportunity.
We found the pastoral care at CLSG very good and the school is very sensitive to the needs of each child and will not hesitate to contact parents if there is an issue. There is a good mix of girls from different backgrounds at CLSG and the school takes all year 7s on a bonding week which the girls love.
Frequently Asked Questions about City of London School for Girls
Undoubtedly. City consistently ranks among the finest independent girls’ schools in the country, placing second in The Times 2025 independent schools league table. Results are exceptional, teaching is highly praised and the culture is something genuinely distinctive: academically rigorous but refreshingly grounded. Few schools at this level manage to combine elite outcomes with such an unpretentious, outward-looking atmosphere.
Yes, and access sits at the heart of the school’s ethos. Around 20% of pupils currently receive some form of financial assistance. Means-tested bursaries are available and interest should be indicated at the point of registration. Music scholarships worth up to £1,500 per year are also available at 11+. Fees for 2026/27 start from £10,611 per term including VAT.
The Class of 2025 secured places across an impressive range of destinations. Ten pupils went to Oxford and ten to Cambridge, with 13 to UCL, 8 to Imperial and 4 to the LSE. International destinations included Bocconi, UC Berkeley and Rice University.
Subjects ranged from Medicine and Engineering to Classics, Philosophy and the Arts, a breadth that reflects just how individually City girls approach their futures.
Several things. Its governance by the City of London Corporation provides exceptional financial stability. Its partnership with the Guildhall School of Music and Drama is unique among day schools.
Additionally, its genuine commitment to bursary provision creates a diverse, outward-looking intake that shapes the culture in ways that results alone cannot. This is not a school that takes itself too seriously, and that, paradoxically, is a large part of what makes it so good.
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