As one of the UK’s oldest girls’ schools, Woldingham is proud to be a pioneer of women’s education. Our single-sex environment is supportive and stimulating. It enables students to be themselves and to grow into independent women who will make a positive contribution to the world. Whether day or boarding, each student is known and supported as an individual to develop the resilience and self-worth that will remain with her for life.

Our ethos

Our ethos

Our bold vision – to provide an outstanding education that empowers women to change the world – underpins everything we do. We are ambitious for our students and for our school.

Woldingham is a happy and successful school where students become confident, compassionate and courageous young women.

Students are encouraged to nurture respect for self, each other and for the environment. The Woldingham community is strong, forward-thinking and kind. Students leave Woldingham with academic results that open doors, values to navigate careers and family life ahead, and friendships that last a lifetime.

Sacred Heart

The Society of the Sacred Heart was founded in France in 1801, a few years after the French Revolution, to provide ‘a first-rate education for young women’. Woldingham was the first Sacred Heart School in England. Woldingham is now part of the Sacred Heart Network, which has schools in more than 30 countries around the world. Woldingham is a Catholic school, where we welcome girls of all faiths or none.

The Sacred Heart’s five goals of education are Woldingham’s values of:

  • Faith
  • Intellect
  • Social awareness
  • Community
  • Personal growth

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Sacred Heart
THRIVE

THRIVE

THRIVE – learning for life – underpins everything at Woldingham. THRIVE promotes emotional wellbeing and enables every student to develop the growth mindset, resilience and self-worth to enjoy success as well as learn from setbacks.

Our aim is for each of our students to thrive as an individual, reaching goals through a balanced, healthy and mindful approach. We want students to be able to face changes with flexibility, meet failure with resilience and manage their own busy lives calmly. This means they will live their life to their full potential and they’ll be happy. 

As part of the THRIVE programme, students develop study skills. Study skills are developed as girls move up through the school, with foundations built in Years 7 and 8 carried on through to the Sixth Form.

THRIVE focuses on the importance of wellbeing. Students learn about handling social media, self-esteem and body image. They learn how to deal with pressure, responsibility and making the right choices. All skills needed to be successful at school and as an adult.

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Play

Everyone has a story

Pastoral care

Pastoral care is our most important role. When girls are in our care – whether day or boarding – we care, nurture and support them. The ages from 11 to 18 are some of the most important of a girl’s life. We feel privileged to educate and guide our girls through this time.

At Woldingham every student is known and supported as an individual by both teaching and support staff. At the heart of our pastoral care is kindness. Staff are kind to the students and each other. We support – and expect – girls to be kind to each other.

Our single-sex environment is supportive and stimulating. It enables girls to be themselves and to grow into independent women.

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Pastoral care