Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls was a boarding and

day A day is the time rotation period, period of a full Earth's rotation, rotation of the Earth with respect to the Sun. On average, this is 24 hours (86,400 seconds). As a day passes at a given location it experiences morning, afternoon, evening, ...

private school A private school or independent school is a school not administered or funded by the government, unlike a State school, public school. Private schools are schools that are not dependent upon national or local government to finance their fina ...

Monmouth Monmouth ( or ; ) is a market town and community (Wales), community in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated on where the River Monnow joins the River Wye, from the Wales–England border. The population in the 2011 census was 10,508, rising from 8 ...

, Wales. Established by the

Worshipful Company of Haberdashers The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, one of the Great Twelve City Livery Companies, is an ancient merchant guild of London associated with the silk and velvet trades. History and functions The Haberdashers' Company received its first ro ...

in 1892, in June 2022 the Haberdashers began a consultation on proposals to merge the school with Monmouth School for Boys, making them fully

coeducational Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to ...

. In October 2024 the amalgamated schools were relaunched as Haberdashers' Monmouth School. The ''

Good Schools Guide ''The Good Schools Guide'' is a guide to British schools, both state and private. The guide's contributors are predominantly parents, but include researchers and former headteachers. It uses a conversational tone. Selection of schools is made ...

'' 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

. 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. Both the girls' school and its brother school

Monmouth School Monmouth School was a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (Independent school (United Kingdom), independent boarding school, boarding and day school, day school) for boys in Monmouth, Wales. The school was founded in 1614 with a beques ...

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 & 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. Histori ...

and became independent when the scheme was phased out. The prep school, Agincourt, was added in 1997. In June 2022, the Haberdashers began a consultation on proposals to merge the Boys and Girls schools, making them fully

. In October 2024 the amalgamated schools were relaunched as ''Haberdashers' Monmouth School''.

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: Monnow 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 range of subjects taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, having been introduced in September 1986 and its first exams taken in 1988. State schools ...

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 is defined as the study of the psychological basis, processes, and effects of sport. One definition of sport sees it as "any physical activity for the purposes of competition, recreation, education or health". Sport psychology i ...

. The Monmouth School for Girls Rowing Club and

lacrosse Lacrosse is a contact 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 w ...

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 ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

lacrosse team for the Home Nations U19 championships. The Junior U16 rowing team won the Schools' Head of the River Race 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. She served as Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton from 1997 to 2001. Her former roles include Di ...

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

Marina Diamandis Marina Lambrini Diamandis ( ; ; 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 Greek-Welsh singer, songwriter, poet and record producer. Born in B ...

– singer-songwriter (stage name

Marina and the Diamonds Marina Lambrini Diamandis ( ; ; 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 Greek-Welsh singer, songwriter, poet and record producer. Born in ...

) *

Jane Glover Dame Jane Alison Glover (born 13 May 1949) is a British conductor and musicologist. Early life Born in Helmsley, Glover attended Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls. Her father, Robert Finlay Glover, MA ( TCD), was headmaster of Mon ...

– conductor and musicologist * Jenny Harries – 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 was professional golfer Brian Huggett. She attended both Haberdashers Monmouth School For Girls ...

– actress * Katrina Jacks –

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 – Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales (2004–2007) * Sarah Pochin (''née'' Hyde) – MP for

Runcorn and Helsby Runcorn and Helsby is a constituency of the House of Commons in the UK Parliament. Further to the completion of the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, it was first contested at the 2024 general election. The incumbent MP is Sarah Poch ...

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 ...

– Channel 5 TV Presenter * Laura Tenison – founder of

JoJo Maman Bébé JoJo Maman Bébé is a multi-channel maternity wear and 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 Maman Bébé was l ...

* Cleo Watson – special adviser

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 ISC website *

Estyn Estyn is the education and training inspectorate for Wales. Its name comes from the Welsh language verb meaning 'to reach (out), stretch or extend'. Its function is to provide an independent inspection and advice service on quality and stand ...

Inspectio
Reports
{{authority control Educational institutions established in 1892 Private schools in Monmouthshire 1892 establishments in Wales Member schools of the Girls' Schools Association Buildings and structures in Monmouth, Wales Grade II listed buildings in Monmouthshire Defunct girls' schools in Wales Defunct boarding schools in Wales Defunct private schools in Wales