Godolphin and Latymer School

Infobox Secondary school
name = The Godolphin and Latymer School

motto = Francha Leale Toge (Free and Loyal Art Thou)
type = Independent all-female
city = London
country = England
established = 1861
grades = 7-Sixth Form
head_label = Headmistress
head = Ms. Margaret Rudland
students = 700
website = [http://www.godolphinandlatymer.com/ Godolphin and Latymer School website]

The Godolphin and Latymer School is an independent school for 700 girls aged eleven to eighteen in London. Miss Margaret Rudland is the head mistress of the school.

History

It was built in 1861 as the Godolphin School, a boarding establishment for boys, set in fields near the River Thames at Hammersmith in West London. In 1905 it became an independent day school for girls, associated with the Latymer Foundation and taking the name of the Godolphin and Latymer School. From 1906 onwards it received grants from the London County Council and the Local Education Authorities for equipment, library books and buildings. In 1951 the school became a state Voluntary aided school under the 1944 Education Act, and ceased to charge fees to pupils. However, in 1977, rather than becoming a non-selective school under the State system, it reverted to full independent status and resumed the charging of fees to pupils. [ [http://www.godolphinandlatymer.com/content.asp?content=The+History+Of+The+School The history of the school] ]

The Godolphin and Latymer School celebrated its centenary in May 2005 with a service at St. Paul's Cathedral.

In September 2005 the school adopted the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme as an alternative the A-level syllabus at sixth form level.

In June 2006, 92.1% of A-level results were at Grades A and B. [cite web |url=http://www.godolphinandlatymer.com/content.asp?content=Statistics |title=Examination Results Summary|accessdate=2006-12-23 ]

The school motto is an ancient Cornish phrase, "Francha Leale Toge", which translates as "Free and loyal art thou".

The "Good Schools Guide" called the school a "Very strong academic school with a friendly atmosphere, an outstanding head and a broad range of extra-curricular activities." [http://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/school/the-godolphin-and-latymer-school.html]

Notable alumnae

Notable former pupils, known as Old Dolphins, include:
* Kate Beckinsale, actress
* Samantha Bond, actress
* Whillemina Cooper, philosopher
* Sarah Dunant, novelist
* Sophie Ellis-Bextor, singer
* Charlotte Elder, runway model and international singer
* Emma Forrest, journalist and novelist
* Genevieve Gaunt, actress in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
* Susan Greenfield CBE, Director of the Royal Institution
* Zoë Heller, journalist and novelist.
* Hattie Jacques, actress and comedienne
* Nigella Lawson, broadcaster
* Davina McCall, broadcaster
* Jemima Rooper, actress
* Rachel Squire, politician
* Catherine Webb, novelist
* Philippa Dickinson, former Managing Director and Chairman of Random House Children's Publishing

ee also

* Latymer Upper School
* The Latymer School
* Edward Latymer

References

External links

* [http://www.godolphinandlatymer.com/ Godolphin and Latymer School website]
* [http://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/school/the-godolphin-and-latymer-school.html Profile at the Good Schools Guide]
*UK charity|312699