Girls become the author of their own story at Woldingham

As one of the UK’s oldest schools for girls, Woldingham School has helped generations of young women worldwide to #WriteYourOwnStory since its inception in 1842. Many of their graduates have gone on to become CEOs, award-winning actors, scientists, politicians, and entrepreneurs, thanks to the school’s enriching environment.

The Woldingham experience is truly unique as there is no “typical” Woldingham student or Woldingham school experience. Here, each student is supported, guided, and nurtured to find out what her life story can be. This is achieved by offering students a supportive environment to help them achieve their goals.

An unparalleled learning environment

Woldingham is a day and boarding school set in Surrey Hills, a mere 25 minutes away from London by train. The school is nestled on 700 acres of beautiful grounds, with stunning buildings serving as the perfect backdrop for students study, explore their interests and talents, and, ultimately, become the author of their stories.

Woldingham prides itself on its academic excellence — the school boasts of an excellent track record of GCSE and A Level results. Their curricula stretch students to reach their potential; little wonder why many have gone on to study at leading universities worldwide.

Sisters Sofia, Mia and Isabella can attest to Woldingham’s prowess. All three attended Woldingham in recent years and are fantastic examples of students who started their journey to #WriteYourOwnStory.

Youngest sister Sofia, who was Deputy Head Girl in 2020-21, is currently reading theology at the University of Cambridge and is considering a career in human rights and international relations.

Mia, the middle child, started Sixth Form with an A Level subject combination of English, classics, and history of art, before settling on biology, psychology and English. This was the result of the school being flexible to her changing interests and goals. About to complete a degree in neuroscience at the University of Leeds, Mia hopes to enrol in a graduate medical programme next year.

Eldest sister Isabella has a BA in English and an MA in Gender, Sexuality and Culture from the University of Manchester. Currently working as a freelance writer, Isabella has set her sights on carving herself a career in the charitable sector.

Each sister didn’t just thrive academically at Woldingham — they were also encouraged to follow their passions. Isabella explored her creative side with art and film while Sofia shone in debate and took a leading role in Rethink, Woldingham’s theology and philosophy society. Mia formed some very strong friendships, many of whom she is still close to.

“For all three of us, although we studied different subjects and enjoyed a range of extracurricular activities, we’ve been very happy with the choices we’ve made and that Woldingham supported us to make decisions that were right for us. I really do think we were able to ‘Write Our Own Story’,” the sisters enthused.

A platform for girls of all backgrounds to shine

Boarding is truly international at Woldingham, with students from more than 30 nationalities calling the school home. Its location is also strategic — the school is located less than 30 minutes from Gatwick airport and 45 minutes from Heathrow, making Woldingham the perfect location for international students.

A Woldingham education is holistic and develops students both in and out of the classroom. Source: Woldingham School

It is set in a rural, safe and peaceful environment, yet easy enough to London, arguably one of the world’s most exciting cities home to art galleries, museums, and theatres. Woldingham’s boarding facilities are also first-rate, with students from Year 10 upwards having their own study bedroom, an uncommon feature in UK boarding schools.

So, whether you want to follow in the footsteps of former Woldingham students such as award-winning actresses Emma Corrin and Carey Mulligan, or be an author and journalist like Ore Ogunbiyi, or a global CEO like Sarah Scholefield at Grayling, at Woldingham, you’ll get the opportunity to decide what to put on the cover of the book of your life story.

For more details about Woldingham School, click here.

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