Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls is an independent school in

Monmouth Monmouth ( , ; cy, Trefynwy meaning "town on the Monnow") is a town and community in Wales. It is situated where the River Monnow joins the River Wye, from the Wales–England border. Monmouth is northeast of Cardiff, and west of London. ...

, Wales. The school was established by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in 1892, and continues to enjoy their support. It is part of a family of schools known as the Haberdashers' Monmouth Schools. Together with its brother school

Monmouth School Monmouth School for Boys is a public school (independent day and boarding school) for boys in Monmouth, Wales. The school was founded in 1614 with a bequest from William Jones, a successful merchant and trader. The School is run as a trust, t ...

they collaborate for certain activities such as drama productions and certain

Sixth Form In the education systems of England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and some other Commonwealth countries, sixth form represents the final two years of secondary education, ages 16 to 18. Pupils typically prepare for ...

courses. They also share a coeducational nursery, Agincourt School. The girls' school consists of Inglefield House (ages 7–11) and the Senior School. The ''

Good Schools Guide ''The Good Schools Guide'' is a guide to British schools, both state and independent. Overview The guide is compiled by a team of editors which, according to the official website, "''comprises some 50 editors, writers, researchers and cont ...

'' described the school as a "friendly school that produces feisty young women" and noted its "diverse extra-curricular education".

History

HMSG was founded in 1892 by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers. It opened in temporary premises at Hardwick House while the Company negotiated for a permanent location. In 1897 it moved to its present location. The main block was designed by the Haberdashers’ in-house architect,

Henry Stock Henry Stock (1824/5–1909) was a British architect. He served as the county surveyor for Essex for nearly 50 years, and as the surveyor and architect to the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers. The latter appointment led Stock to undertake a co ...

. Both the girls' school and its brother school

became

direct grant grammar school A direct grant grammar school was a type of selective secondary school in the United Kingdom that existed between 1945 and 1976. One quarter of the places in these schools were directly funded by central government, while the remainder attracted ...

s in 1946 under the

Education Act 1944 The Education Act 1944 (7 and 8 Geo 6 c. 31) made major changes in the provision and governance of secondary schools in England and Wales. It is also known as the "Butler Act" after the President of the Board of Education, R. A. Butler. Historians ...

and became independent when the scheme was phased out. The prep school, Agincourt, was added in 1997.

Houses

Each girl belongs to one of the four houses, which are named after former members of the Board of Governors. The house system is separate from boarding houses.

Boarding

Girls aged 7 and above may board. Boarders reside in three main houses: School House (Years 3-8), Twiston Davies (Years 9-11) and Augusta House (Sixth Form, Years 12–13).

Academics

HMSG is one of Wales' top performing independent schools. In the

GCSE The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a particular subject, taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. State schools in Scotland use the Scottish Qualifications Certificate instead. Private sc ...

s ranked second in the country in 2010 with a 100% pass rate and came third the following year.

Extracurricular activities

Girls are encouraged to take part in extracurricular activities and non-academic pursuits. There is a wide array of activities, groups, clubs and societies and sports teams that pupils may join. It became the first school in the country to employ a

sports psychologist Sport psychology was defined by the European Federation of Sport in 1996, as the study of the psychological basis, processes, and effects of sport. Otherwise, sport is considered as any physical activity where the individuals engage for competi ...

. The

Monmouth School for Girls Rowing Club Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls Rowing Club is a rowing club on the western bank of River Wye, based at The Boathouse, Old Dixton Road, Monmouth, Monmouthshire, Wales. History The club was founded in 1990 and belongs to the Haberdashers ...

and

lacrosse Lacrosse is a team sport played with a lacrosse stick and a lacrosse ball. It is the oldest organized sport in North America, with its origins with the indigenous people of North America as early as the 12th century. The game was extensiv ...

team have been successful in recent years and team members have represented Wales in school and national competitions. In 2006 both the first and second lacrosse teams won the senior titles in both their categories for the first time in school history and in 2008 the first team was ranked in the top 4 in the United Kingdom and came first in their division. In 2012 several girls were chosen for the

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

lacrosse team for the

Home Nations Home Nations is a collective term with one of two meanings depending on context. Politically it means the nations of the constituent countries of the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales). In sport, if a sport is g ...

U19 championships. The Junior U16 rowing team won the

Schools' Head of the River Race The Schools' Head of the River Race (SHORR) is the UK's largest school-age processional (head rowing) race and is organised by Westminster School for crews aged between 14 and 18 years old. It is held in Spring, the end of the head race season. ...

in the eights category.

Notable former pupils

Jackie Ballard Jacqueline Margaret Ballard (née Mackenzie; born 4 January 1953) has been a charity senior manager, politician and journalist in the United Kingdom. Her former roles include Director General of the RSPCA, Chief Executive of RNID and Chief Exec ...

– Former MP and Director General, RSPCA. CEO of RNID *

Marina Diamandis Marina Lambrini Diamandis (; el, Μαρίνα-Λαμπρινή Διαμάντη; born 10 October 1985), known mononymously as Marina (often stylised in all caps), and previously by the stage name Marina and the Diamonds, is a Welsh singer and ...

– singer-songwriter (stage name

Marina and the Diamonds Marina Lambrini Diamandis (; el, Μαρίνα-Λαμπρινή Διαμάντη; born 10 October 1985), known mononymously as Marina (often stylised in all caps), and previously by the stage name Marina and the Diamonds, is a Welsh singer and ...

) * Jane Glover – conductor and musicologist *

Jenny Harries Dame Jennifer Margaret Harries is a British public health physician who has been the chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency and head of NHS Test and Trace since April 2021. She was previously a regional director at Public Health En ...

- Chief Executive of the U.K. Health Security Agency *

Sandra Huggett Sandra Huggett (born in Surrey, England) is an English actress. She grew up in Ross-On-Wye, Herefordshire, but now lives in East Sussex. Her father is professional golfer Brian Huggett. She attended both Haberdashers Monmouth School For Girls ...

– actress *

Katrina Jacks Katrina Jacks (c. 1986 in Monmouth, Wales – 16 May 2010 in Lake Titicaca, Peru), was a Welsh rower and chemical engineering graduate. Biography Jacks was born in Monmouth, the second child and first daughter to General Practitioners Alasdair a ...

–

Commonwealth Rowing Championships The Commonwealth Rowing Championships are a regatta for rowers from Commonwealth nations held in conjunction with the Commonwealth Games. Rowing is classed as an 'optional' sport for the purposes of the Commonwealth Games, but is currently not in ...

Medallist * Zoie Kennedy – actress *

Jemima Phillips Jemima Phillips is an English-born Welsh harpist. She was the Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales from 2004 to 2007 but was later convicted of handling stolen goods. Biography Phillips was born in North London, where her father Robert was an ...

– Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales (2004–2007) *

Lisa Rogers Lisa Rogers (born 7 September 1971) is a Welsh television presenter. She has appeared in films, television programmes, theatre and radio. Early life While at school, she took jobs in a chocolate factory, as a farrier, and, while studying drama at ...

– Channel 5 TV Presenter * Laura Tenison - founder of

JoJo Maman Bébé JoJo Maman Bébé is a multi-channel maternity wear and Infant clothing, baby clothing retailer with stores in the United Kingdom. Founded as a mail-order seller in 1993, it was acquired in 2022 by Next and an investment group. History JoJo M ...

References

Old School Photos
* *

External links

Haberdashers' Monmouth Schools

Senior School Website

Inglefield House Website

Profile
on

MyDaughter MyDaughter was a British website set up by the Girls' Schools Association (GSA) offering advice to parents of daughters on all aspects of raising and educating girls. Advice was provided by headteachers from the member schools of the Girls' Scho ...

Profile
on the

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website * Estyn Inspectio
Reports
{{authority control Educational institutions established in 1892 Independent schools in Monmouthshire 1892 establishments in Wales Girls' schools in Wales Member schools of the Girls' Schools Association Boarding schools in Wales Buildings and structures in Monmouth, Wales Grade II listed buildings in Monmouthshire Diamond schools