Close

Setting off sparks: Co-curriculum

We are proud to be a busy, buzzing school with a lot going on. Alongside every girl’s timetable of lessons there is a busy calendar of talks, trips, clubs and community activities that complement her formally-taught subjects. They are not just optional extras – we see them as critical to academic and life success.

The range of clubs and societies lets each girl create her own programme of activities before, during and after school. From Debating and Doctor Who to Symphonic Orchestra and Space Society, the options give everyone the chance to have fun and excel. We actively encourage girls to try their hand at new things and engage with people from other year groups, as well as launch and lead societies themselves.

Our Speaker Series events aim to open minds for both pupils and parents, and we’ve been helped with an array of inspirational and influential guests. Recent high-profile speakers have included Professor Alice Roberts, Dame Stella Rimington, former director-general of MI5, and Michael Gove, who was duly quizzed in characteristic South Hampstead style! During lockdown, we hosted a virtual event, inviting Dr Pragya Agarwal and Angela Saini to speak to our pupils, staff and partner schools about racism and unconscious bias, while alumna Katya Adler joined us live from Brussels via Zoom.

We open hearts, too, with a flow of opportunities for community and charity work within school, coordinated by the student-led charity team, as well as the friendly (and rather competitive) House events. South Hampstead girls have an outstanding record in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, too, learning a great deal from participating in the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards.

Staff stories

Dr Steve Collisson
Director of Music
A genius and absolutely inspirational.
This is how Dr Collisson is described in the Tatler Schools Guide 2021, and our pupils and parents would agree. Our music maestro previously lectured at The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal College of Music before joining South Hampstead. He has performed at many of the UK’s most prestigious venues, including the Royal Albert Hall, Festival Hall and on BBC Radio 3. Despite his busy job overseeing a thriving whole school music department, he still finds time to be principal cellist of the Southern Sinfonia, to coach adult string players, and to travel the globe as an ABRSM examiner.

A thriving school that succeeds in educating girls on all fronts, guiding well-rounded individuals to becoming the female leaders of the future.

Talk Education review
Sport