Wycombe Abbey, Empowering Girls for Over a Century

Wycombe Abbey is an independent boarding school for girls aged 11-18 located in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. Founded in 1896 by Dame Frances Dove, Wycombe Abbey has established itself as one of the top all-girls schools in the United Kingdom over the past century due to its strong academic performance, wide range of extracurricular activities, exceptional teaching staff and scenic 125-acre campus.

Overview and Founding of The School

Wycombe Abbey was founded in 1896 by Dame Frances Dove, who purchased the current site of the school and set up an educational institution for girls called St Mary’s School. The initial enrollment was just 29 girls. Through Dame Dove’s leadership and progressive vision, the school expanded rapidly over the years and became known as one of the pioneering girls’ schools in the country to offer students a broad liberal arts and science education.

In 1898, the school was renamed as Wycombe Abbey School. Over the next decades, its reputation for high-quality teaching and outstanding academic results continued to grow. Generations of women who attended Wycombe Abbey went on to achieve success in diverse fields.

Key Events and Developments Over The Years

Some of the major milestones and developments in Wycombe Abbey’s history include:

• 1900 – School recognized as one of the first to prepare girls for the University of Oxford women’s entrance exam
• 1914 – Temporary relocation during World War I to Abinger Hall in Surrey
• 1925 – “Mary Dove” house built as new accommodation for junior girls
• 1935 – School chapel constructed
• 1948 – Appointment of second Headmistress Mary Hugon who introduces major syllabus changes
• 1970s – School roll expands considerably to nearly 500 pupils
• 1996 – Centenary celebrations held to mark 100 years since Dame Frances Dove founded St Mary’s School
• 2006 – Opening of OWL (Outdoor Weekends and Learning) site for outdoor activities
• 2011 – New music facility officially unveiled on 110th Founder’s Day

Reputation and Achievements

Today, Wycombe Abbey is consistently ranked among the top 10 independent secondary schools in the UK league tables. Its reputation rests on its exceptional teaching, strong Oxbridge placement record and many high-achieving alumnae in fields like academia, law, politics and business. The Good Schools Guide describes Wycombe Abbey as a “classic English girls’ boarding school par excellence.”

Some notable achievements and recognitions include:

• Top 1% of schools nationally for GCSE results
• Over 90% of grades at A Level are A*, A or B
• Exceptional Oxford and Cambridge admission statistics
• Winners of the Independent School First XI National Hockey Championship 2012
• Tatler’s Best Public School Award – 2011

No wonder that Wycombe Abbey has been the choice of prestigious families like the Astors, Cavendish-Bentincks, Lytteltons and Tennants down the generations!

Facilities and Campus

Set within 125 acres of scenic parkland grounds designed by leading Victorian architect William Goldring, Wycombe Abbey offers first-rate facilities that support both the school’s academic requirements and a wide range of sports and extracurricular activities.

Academic Buildings

The main School House contains classrooms, laboratories, IT suites, language rooms, library and multimedia center. Subject-specialist zones allow the timetable to be centered around students for greater flexibility. Modern technologies provide an immersive, interactive learning environment.

Sports and Recreation Facilities

Wycombe Abbey places strong emphasis on sports education and lifelong wellbeing. The school features extensive outdoor pitches, tennis courts, a swimming pool and large sports hall as well as a professional nine-hole golf course. Recent investments have included a high-performance gym, yoga studio and dedicated trampolining center.

Boarding Houses

Boarding accommodation comprises five houses that serve as a “home away from home”: Mary Dove, Frances Dove, Betty Behrens, Abinger and Hugon. With current and future upgrade works, these ensure premium boarding facilities based around modern, en-suite bedrooms and comfortable common rooms.

Other Notable Buildings

The stately Rose Terrace overlooking the cricket pitch contains the Drawing Room for receptions and events, while the richly-paneled Library with over 15,000 books hosts guest speakers and serves Sixth Form study purposes. The iconic school chapel with its spire remains the focal point of spiritual life at Wycombe Abbey and is in frequent use for services and musical performances.

Student Life And Activities

A stimulating boarding environment helps each girl discover her talents and passions. A full calendar of events fosters a vibrant school community.

House System

Wycombe Abbey’s house system promotes a strong sense of identity, belonging and healthy competition. Every pupil becomes a member of a house with children of varied age-groups and backgrounds. This vertical integration helps younger years acclimatize while older girls demonstrate leadership. Prefects are appointed to take responsibility for house affairs. Inter-house sporting, drama, music and debating events encourage camaraderie and team spirit.

Sports and Extracurriculars

Girls can choose from around 70 clubs and societies spanning sports, creative arts, adventure, community service and more. Options range from traditional staples like lacrosse, netball and choristers to diverse cultural groups, Model United Nations and investment club.

Traditions And Events

Wycombe Abbey celebrates many cherished customs and historic occasions annually like Founder’s Day, prize-giving ceremonies, Christmas festivities and leavers’ events. The Rose Ball sees lower sixth formers debut their evening dresses while seniors nostalgically mark the end of school life arrayed in white. Wycombe Abbey installations and inaugurations of Head Girls and Prefects are memorable rituals.

Academics And Curriculum

Wycombe Abbey aims to cultivate intellectually curious, independent-thinking girls with an enthusiasm for learning across diverse subjects, while emphasizing business skills required for future success.

Academic Organization And Departments

There are separate heads of department for each subject area, overseeing specialist teachers. Faculties include: Sciences, Mathematics, English, Languages, Humanities, Creative Arts, Technology, Classics and Sports/PE. Smaller class sizes with specialist lab and classroom amenities cater effectively to every pupil.

Approach To Teaching And Learning

The school ethos focuses strongly on individual progress rather than standardized benchmarks. Teachers personalize attention through one-on-one tutorials, actively fostering self-confidence. The emphasis lies on experimental, cross-disciplinary learning across both the sciences and humanities for a holistic education. Leadership, emotions and wellbeing are also addressed through the rich co-curricular program.

Exam Results And University Destinations

Public examination results are consistently ranked top 1% nationally across GCSE, A Levels and IB Diploma examinations taken each year. Over 90% of pupils gain A, A or B grades*, securing places at elite Russell Group/Ivy League colleges. Oxbridge acceptance rates average around 30% while an impressive number pursue Medicine, Economics or Engineering undergraduate degrees annually.

Admissions And Fees

Wycombe Abbey’s selective entry leads to a hugely diverse, international student population handpicked for their academic potential and special talents.

Admissions Process

Prospective pupils sit Wycombe Abbey entrance exams in English, Maths and reasoning during Year 6. Candidates should display intellectual aptitude, good conduct and demonstrate adequate progress at their previous school. There are also scholarship opportunities requiring additional testing. Places are highly competitive; entry standards only increase over time.

Scholarships And Bursaries

Around 10% of students gain fee support through scholarships rewarding outstanding ability in:

• Academic subjects
• Music, drama and performing arts
• Sports ranging from fencing and golf to rowing
• All-rounder combining merits

Fees and Costs

As a top UK boarding school, Wycombe Abbey involves considerable expense. Current annual fees stand at over £40,000 for boarding pupils. Additional costs include uniform, trips and extras like music tuition. However the school commits support to those otherwise unable to attend. Together with scholarships and assisted places, Wycombe Abbey dedicates over £5 million annually to broaden access.

Notable Alumnae

Wycombe Abbey is associated with a remarkable array of high-profile, successful women across British public life – from senior politicians and diplomats to leading academics, entrepreneurs and cultural influencers.

Alumnae in Public Life

Some especially noteworthy “old girls” include:

• Baroness Valerie Amos – Former UN Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs
• Dame Josephine Barnes – Pioneering British diplomat
• Dame Mary Archer – Prominent Scientist and Wife of Jeffrey Archer
• Baroness Sally Morgan – Advisor and Life Peer in House of Lords
• Stella Rimington – Ex-Director General of MI5 Security Services

Achievements of Old Girls

Besides public service, Wycombe Abbey alumnae excel across diverse spheres:

• Dame Ann Dowling – Leading mechanical engineer, first female President of Royal Academy of Engineering
• Vicky Pryce – High-profile economist and government advisor
• Dame Gail Ronson – Businesswoman and philanthropist
• Jemma Kidd – Model, beauty entrepreneur and aristocrat
• Talulah Riley – Actress known for Westworld and films like Pride & Prejudice

Conclusion And Future Directions

As the school embarks upon its 125th anniversary, Wycombe Abbey is firmly cemented as a prime institution synonymous with empowering young female leaders of tomorrow. New investment in infrastructure and progressive teaching philosophies will only see it continue this rich heritage of educating influential women for the 21st century across law, sciences, politics and culture.

Looking Ahead

Under the current Principal, Mrs Jo Duncan, the school remains future-focused around:

• Providing state-of-the-art new academic, arts and sports facilities
• Embedding pioneering wellbeing and digital literacy programs
• Launching connectivity drives enhancing partnerships with external bodies like Oxford

Closing Thoughts

With the unwavering vision of its founding Headmistress Dame Frances still driving its ethos today, Wycombe Abbey undoubtedly retains an exciting road ahead as a powerhouse nurturing the next generation of talented girls.

FAQs

What is Wycombe Abbey best known for?

As one of England’s top independent girls’ boarding schools, Wycombe Abbey is renowned for outstanding academic results, a history of preparing young women for elite universities like Oxford and Cambridge, as well as its many high-achieving alumnae across diverse fields like business, politics, science and the arts.

How many students attend Wycombe Abbey?

Around 500 girls aged 11-18 currently attend Wycombe Abbey School. Entry is highly selective; only about 10% of applicants gain admission each year. Its student body hails from a diverse mixture of British and international backgrounds.

What makes Wycombe Abbey unique compared to similar schools?

Its pioneering history as an early girls school preparing them for higher education, beautiful 125-acre grounds, exceptional reputation spanning over a century and famous alumnae help distinguish Wycombe Abbey as the epitome of a traditional English boarding school dedicated to empowering young women.

Does Wycombe Abbey rank among the UK’s top schools?

Yes, Wycombe Abbey is consistently rated as a leading independent school nationally – it ranks top for girls at GCSE/A-Levels, dominates league tables and places well yearly into Oxford, Cambridge and other elite Russell Group universities, making it one of Britain’s undisputed top academic institutions.

What is the most prestigious house at Wycombe Abbey?

The school’s original neo-Tudor building housing the library and dining hall, called “Main”, would be considered Wycombe Abbey’s most prestigious and historic house where girls in their final year stay. However, all five boarding houses share traditions and reputations spanning over a century.