{{short description|Girls' school in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England}} {{Use British English|date=February 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}} {{Infobox school | name = Cheltenham Ladies' College | logo = collegecrest.jpg | logo_size = 160px | image = Cheltenham Ladies' College.jpg | image_size = | motto = {{Langx|la|Cœlesti Luce Crescat}} | motto_translation = May she grow in Heavenly light | established = {{start date and age|1853}} | closed = | type = Private school<br>Boarding and day school | religious_affiliation = Church of England | president = | head_label = Principal | head = Eve Jardine-Young | r_head_label = | r_head = | chair_label = | chair = | founder = | specialist = | address = Bayshill Road | city = Cheltenham | county = Gloucestershire | country = England | postal_code = GL50 3EP | local_authority = | ofsted = | staff = 215 | enrolment = 850 | gender = Girls | lower_age = 11 | upper_age = 18 | houses = | colours = CLC Green {{color box|green}} | publication = | free_text1 = | free_label2 = | free_text2 = | free_label3 = | free_text3 = | coordinates = {{Coord|51|53|52|N|2|4|53|W|scale:10000|display=inline,title}} | website = {{url|http://www.cheltladiescollege.org|cheltladiescollege.org}} }}
'''Cheltenham Ladies' College''' ('''CLC''') is a private boarding and day school for girls aged 11 or older in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. The school was established in 1853 to provide "a sound academic education for girls".<ref name="hist"/> It is also a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. It is widely known as the "female version of Eton" due to its elite status, highly academic reputation, and standing as a premier all-girls' boarding school in the UK, with British prestige, academic rigor and remains one of the most prominent all-girls schools globally.
The school badge depicts two martlets, inspiration for which was taken from the pigeons of the Cheltenham town coat of arms,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cheltenham.gov.uk/info/37/local_history_and_heritage/334/arms_of_insignia_of_the_borough |title=Arms of Insignia of the Borough |website=cheltenham.gov.uk |access-date=1 December 2022}}</ref> above three stars, which are in turn above a daisy, a school symbol.
In 2020, Cheltenham Ladies' College was named Southwest Independent School of the Decade by ''The Times and The Sunday Times''. It is listed in ''The Schools Index'' as one of the world's 150 leading schools and one of the top 30 UK senior schools.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McNamee |first=Annie |date=2024-04-06 |title=These are UK's best private schools, according to a prestigious ranking |url=https://www.timeout.com/uk/news/these-are-uks-best-private-schools-according-to-a-prestigious-ranking-040624 |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=Time Out United Kingdom |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==History== The school was founded in 1853 after six individuals, including the Principal and Vice-Principal of Cheltenham College and four other men, decided to create a girls' school that would be similar to Cheltenham College. On 13 February 1854, the first 82 pupils began attending the school, with Annie Procter serving as the school's Principal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/work/england/gloucestershire/article_2.shtml|title=BBC – Legacies – Work – England – Gloucestershire – Those who can't, teach: Dorothea Beale & Cheltenham Ladies' College – Article Page 2|publisher=BBC|access-date=7 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919110734/http://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/work/england/gloucestershire/article_2.shtml|archive-date=19 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1858, upon Procter resigning from her position, the Principal's post was taken by Dorothea Beale, a prominent suffragist educator who later founded St Hilda's College, Oxford.<ref name="hist">{{Cite web|title=History of College|url=https://www.cheltladiescollege.org/about-clc/history-of-college/|access-date=2021-04-01|website=CLC|language=en}}</ref> Beale, Louisa Lumsden and Frances Dove maintained their strong links with Cheltenham's contemporary, St Leonard's School.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Chapman |first1=P. |title=A Tyneside Heritage |date=2021 |publisher=History Press |isbn=9780750996938 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ic4QEAAAQBAJ&dq=cheltenham+ladies+college+frances+dove.+st+leonards&pg=PT1 |access-date=5 August 2023}}</ref> Beale was commemorated by a Cheltenham Civic Society blue plaque in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/cheltenham-news/blue-plaque-honours-extraordinary-gloucestershire-434156|title=Blue plaque honours "extraordinary" county woman but who was she?|last=Jenkins|first=Robin|date=2017-09-09|work=gloucestershirelive|access-date=2018-04-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414010739/https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/cheltenham-news/blue-plaque-honours-extraordinary-gloucestershire-434156|archive-date=14 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1998, it was announced that sixth-form girls at the school would be allowed to wear trousers for the first time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/654179.stm|title=BBC News | EDUCATION | Schoolgirl wins right to wear trousers|website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>
==Structure and academic results== The school is divided into three divisions, Lower College (KS3), Upper College (KS4) and Sixth Form College (KS5). The school gives pupils a choice in what they study. A range of subject combinations is available to Upper College girls at GCSE, and for Sixth Form girls at A-level or International Baccalaureate (IB). Tutors are full-time academic members of staff and advise girls on matters relating to their academic work and progress, while the Professional Guidance Centre gives advice on career options and university applications.<ref>{{cite web |title=Professional Guidance |url=https://www.cheltladiescollege.org/life-at-clc/professional-guidance/ |website=Cheltenham Ladies' College |access-date=9 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809121819/https://www.cheltladiescollege.org/life-at-clc/professional-guidance/ |archive-date=9 August 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Most pupils go on to continue higher education.
The school's academic results are high, both compared to the national average and within the independent sector. From 2014 to 2017, the school reported that over two thirds of A-level results and approximately 90% of GCSE results were A* or A grades.<ref>{{cite web |title=Exam Results |url=https://www.cheltladiescollege.org/life-at-clc/academic/exam-results/ |website=Cheltenham Ladies' College |access-date=9 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809122116/https://www.cheltladiescollege.org/life-at-clc/academic/exam-results/ |archive-date=9 August 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since 2015, the school has been the top girls boarding school in the country for IB results for three consecutive years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cheltenham Ladies' College celebrates outstanding IB results |url=https://www.ukboardingschools.com/news/cheltenham-ladies-college-ib-results/#.W2wFKtJKhPY |access-date=9 August 2018 |work=UK Boarding Schools |agency=UK Boarding Schools News |publisher=Metropolis |date=9 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809122213/https://www.ukboardingschools.com/news/cheltenham-ladies-college-ib-results/#.W2wFKtJKhPY |archive-date=9 August 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, 71% of students scored A*/A for their A-level examinations while 90% scored A*/A for GCSE.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-09-17|title=Cheltenham Ladies' College - The Complete UK Boarding School Guide|url=https://britannia-study.com.my/uk-boarding-school/cheltenham-ladies-college|access-date=2020-12-31|website=Britannia StudyLink Malaysia: UK Study Expert|language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2024, 69.5% of students scored A*/A for their A-level examinations while 85.7% scored A*/A for GCSE.
==Houses== thumb|Entrance to the school The school is made up of around 80% boarders and 20% day girls. Whether boarders or day girls, pupils are part of a junior or senior house system.
Girls who board live in one of eleven boarding houses. There are six junior houses for 11- to 16-year-olds, and five senior houses for sixth form girls. The junior houses are Farnley Lodge, Glenlee, Sidney Lodge, St. Austin's, St. Helen's, and St. Margaret's. At Sixth Form, all girls move to a senior house. The senior houses are Beale, Cambray, Elizabeth, Roderic and St. Hilda's.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cheltladiescollege.org/life-at-clc/boarding/|title=Boarding – Cheltenham Ladies' College|website=www.cheltladiescollege.org|access-date=6 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806145732/https://www.cheltladiescollege.org/life-at-clc/boarding/|archive-date=6 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
The junior day girl house is Eversleigh, which is a short walk from the main college site. The senior day girl house, Bayshill, is situated in the main college site.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cheltladiescollege.org/life-at-clc/day-girls/|title=Day Girls – Cheltenham Ladies' College|website=www.cheltladiescollege.org|access-date=6 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806145742/https://www.cheltladiescollege.org/life-at-clc/day-girls/|archive-date=6 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Co-curriculars== Over 160 co-curricular activities are available.
===Music and Drama===
The Music and Drama departments offer productions and concerts each year involving all age groups. Over 1,000 individual instrumental lessons take place each week.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Arts |url=https://www.cheltladiescollege.org/life-at-clc/co-curricular/the-arts/ |website=Cheltenham Ladies' College |access-date=9 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809153024/https://www.cheltladiescollege.org/life-at-clc/co-curricular/the-arts/ |archive-date=9 August 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In October 2009, Sir Richard Eyre opened the school's new drama building, The Parabola Arts Centre (PAC). The building was built by Foster Wilson Architects and cost over £12.5 million, funded by donations. The school is a major sponsor of the Cheltenham Music, Literature, Jazz and Science Festivals and events are hosted at the centre annually.<ref>{{cite web |title=Partners and supporters |url=https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature/thank-you-to-our-partners-and-supporters/ |website=Cheltenham Festivals |access-date=9 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809152944/https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature/thank-you-to-our-partners-and-supporters/ |archive-date=9 August 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The PAC building was awarded the RIBA award. In 2010, Sharman Macdonald (Keira Knightley's mother) was commissioned to write the college's play.<ref name="tatler">{{cite web|url=http://www.tatler.com/school/the-cheltenham-ladies-college-review-tatler-school-guide-2018|title=Tatler School Guide - Cheltenham Ladies' College|work=Tatler School's Guide|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023230754/http://www.tatler.com/school/the-cheltenham-ladies-college-review-tatler-school-guide-2018|archive-date=23 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, the school also invested in a new recording studio.
===Sports=== alt=Eleven girls, wearing school uniform, arranged in three rows, two seated, one standing, on the college sports fields, Church in the background.|thumb|Cheltenham Ladies College Cricket 1st XI Summer Term 1907 In 2018, the school opened a new Health and Fitness Centre.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soglos.com/health-beauty/44527/Cheltenham-Ladies-College-to-open-new-Health-and-Fitness-Centre|title=Cheltenham Ladies' College to open new Health and Fitness Centre - SoGlos|last=SoGlos|website=SoGlos|language=en|access-date=2018-04-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806115658/https://www.soglos.com/health-beauty/44527/Cheltenham-Ladies-College-to-open-new-Health-and-Fitness-Centre|archive-date=6 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
Sports facilities include a 25-metre six-lane swimming-pool, netball courts, tennis courts, squash courts, AstroTurf fields, lacrosse pitches, a spin studio, two dance studios and two sports halls.<ref>{{cite web |title=Facilities |url=https://fitness.cheltladiescollege.org/facilities |website=Health and Fitness Centre |publisher=CLC Health and Fitness Centre |access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref>
Over 30 sports are offered, and students are encouraged to maintain their fitness and wellbeing through physical exercise.<ref>{{cite news |title=Interview with Cheltenham Ladies' College's Director of Sports Development |url=https://www.soglos.com/sport-outdoor/43270/Interview-with-Cheltenham-Ladiesandapos-Collegeandaposs-director-of-sports-development |access-date=9 August 2018 |work=SoGlos |agency=SoGlos Magazine |publisher=SoGlos |date=5 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809153002/https://www.soglos.com/sport-outdoor/43270/Interview-with-Cheltenham-Ladiesandapos-Collegeandaposs-director-of-sports-development |archive-date=9 August 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The main sports are Netball, Lacrosse and Hockey in the winter, and Tennis, Swimming and Athletics in the Summer. The school also has a well-established Rowing Club, and Equestrian and Ski teams.
==Admissions== The school is one of the hardest UK private schools to get into, with competition for places at sixth form being "fierce".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hancock|first=Edith|title=The 15 private schools that are hardest to get into in the UK|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/the-hardest-private-schools-to-get-into-in-the-uk-2016-8|access-date=2021-04-01|website=Business Insider}}</ref> Entry to Cheltenham Ladies' College is by examination for girls aged 11+, 13+ and 16+ (Sixth Form), as well as occasionally at 12+ and 14+ where only a few students are admitted.<ref>{{cite web |title=Admissions Overview |url=https://www.cheltladiescollege.org/admissions/overview/ |website=Cheltenham Ladies' College |access-date=9 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809153109/https://www.cheltladiescollege.org/admissions/overview/ |archive-date=9 August 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Inspections== The school was last inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate in October 2014.<ref>[http://www.isi.net/schools/7108/ Inspection Report on The Cheltenham Ladies' College] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402174912/http://www.isi.net/schools/7108/ |date=2 April 2015 }} Independent Schools Inspectorate, 2014</ref> It achieved the grade "Excellent" in all areas.
In the ''Financial Times''' secondary school ranking,<ref>{{cite web|title=Financial Times Secondary School Ranking|url=http://rankings.ft.com/secondary-schools/cheltenham-ladies-college/secondary-schools-2011|access-date=15 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627124938/http://rankings.ft.com/secondary-schools/cheltenham-ladies-college/secondary-schools-2011|archive-date=27 June 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Cheltenham Ladies College was placed at no. 14 in 2010 and no. 34 in 2011. The college was the top girls boarding school and 6th overall in UK rankings for the International Baccalaureate Diploma in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.best-schools.co.uk/uk-school-league-tables/ib-schools-large-cohort/|title=Top IB Schools (Large Cohort)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809184222/https://www.best-schools.co.uk/uk-school-league-tables/ib-schools-large-cohort/|archive-date=9 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
The ''Tatler School Guide 2018'' notes that "confident, resilient, clever girls flourish" at the college.<ref name=tatler/> The ''Good Schools Guide'' described the school as "a top flight school with strong traditional values and a clear sense of purpose. For the bright and energetic all rounder this school offers an exceptional education that is both broad and deep, with endless opportunities for fun and enrichment along the way."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/schools/cheltenham-ladies-college|title=Cheltenham Ladies' College, Cheltenham {{!}} The Good Schools Guide|website=The Good Schools Guide|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-10-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023231126/https://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/schools/cheltenham-ladies-college|archive-date=23 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2020, Cheltenham Ladies' College was named South West Independent Secondary School of the Decade by ''The Times and The Sunday Times''. The awards, published in the "Parent Power" schools guide, commend schools that have achieved academic excellence and provided an outstanding education over the previous decade.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Regional Independent Secondary Schools of the Decade |work=Sunday Times |date=29 November 2020 |language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/best-schools-league-table/article/regional-independent-secondary-schools-of-the-decade-qf2kp53zc|access-date=2021-04-01|issn=0140-0460}}</ref>
== Coat of arms == The college was granted a coat of arms by the College of Arms<ref>{{Cite book |last=Briggs |first=Geoffrey |title=Civic & corporate heraldry: a dictionary of impersonal arms of England, Wales, & N. Ireland |date=1971 |publisher=(10 Beauchamp Place, S.W.3), Heraldry Today |isbn=978-0-900455-21-6 |location=London |pages=104}}</ref> in 1931:{{Infobox COA wide |name=Cheltenham Ladies' College |image= |image_size= |bannerimage= |badgeimage= |coronet= |torse= |escutcheon=Sable, on a chevron argent between in chief two martlets of the second and in base a daisy slipped and leaved proper, three mullets of the field. |supporters= |motto=Coelesti luce crescat. |orders= |banner= |badge= |symbolism= |year_granted=30 January 1931 }}
== In popular culture == As one of the oldest and most prestigious all-girls' boarding schools in the UK, the school has often been referred to as "the girls' Eton". However, the school has worked hard to play down this reputation.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Sandra |last=Salmans |date=1979-07-07|title=English Girls Have Their Eton, Too|language=en-US|work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/07/07/archives/english-girls-have-their-eton-too.html |access-date=2021-04-01|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
In 2008 BBC Four made a three-part documentary series titled ''My New Best Friend'' to emphasise the importance and nature of friendship among children. The first episode tracked the journey of four young girls starting at Cheltenham Ladies' College.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BBC Four - My New Best Friend, Cheltenham|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00bfm0m|access-date=2021-06-05|website=BBC|language=en-GB}}</ref>
Cheltenham Ladies' College is mentioned in the film ''St Trinian's'' (2007) as the previous school of the main character.
== List of Principals ==
* Annie Proctor, 1854–1858 * Dorothea Beale, 1858–1906 * Lilian Faithfull, 1906–1922 * Beatrice Sparks, 1922–1937 * Margaret Popham, 1937–1953<ref>{{cite web |last1=Archives |first1=The National |title=The Discovery Service |url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F70401 |website=discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk |access-date=11 May 2021}}</ref> * Joan Tredgold, 1953–1964<ref>{{cite web |title=Farnley Lodge |url=https://clcguild.cheltladiescollege.org/college-today/houses/farnley-lodge/ |website=CLC Guild |access-date=11 May 2021 |language=en}}</ref> * Margaret Hampshire, 1964–1979 * Joan Sadler, 1979–1987 * Enid Castle, 1987–1996 * Vicky Tuck, 1996–2011 * Gwen Byrom, 2011 (Acting) * Eve Jardine-Young, 2011–present<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of College|url=https://www.cheltladiescollege.org/about-clc/history-of-college/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=CLC|language=en}}</ref>
== Notable staff == {{see also|Category:Cheltenham Ladies' College faculty}} * Basil Allchin (1878–1957), organist * Winifred Lily Boys-Smith (1865–1939) * U. A. Fanthorpe (1929–2009), poet * Charlotte Laurie (1856–1933), botanist * Eleanor Mary Reid (1860–1953), palaeobotanist<ref name=reid>{{cite odnb |first=Mary R. S. |last=Creese |title=Reid, Eleanor Mary (1860–1953) |origyear=2004 |year=2019 |id=46432 }}</ref> * Millicent Taylor (1871–1960), chemist, petitioner to the Chemical Society{{cn|date=February 2024}} * Mary Watson (1856–1933), chemist *Gustav Holst (1874–1934), composer *Agnes Tschetschulin (1859–1942), composer and violinist
==Notable pupils== {{see also|Category:People educated at Cheltenham Ladies' College}} Guild is the association of College's former pupils. <!-- Names listed here should have an article in this Wikipedia with sourced content confirming they are a member. If their article doesn't confirm membership then a citation is needed here to support keeping the name. If you think a name is notable that has no article create the article before adding it here. -->
===The arts=== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} *Ithell Colquhoun, artist, author and occultist *Enid de Chair, artist and art patron *Florence Farr, actress and mistress of George Bernard Shaw *Katharine Hamnett, fashion designer<ref>{{cite news |last1=Eyre |first1=Hermione |title=Katherine Hamnett: Katherine the great |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/features/katharine-hamnett-katharine-the-great-958235.html |access-date=18 July 2020 |work=Independent |date=12 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222101640/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/features/katharine-hamnett-katharine-the-great-958235.html |archive-date=22 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> *Damaris Hayman, actress *Cherry Healey, television presenter *Rosalind Knight, actress *Judith Ledeboer, architect and housing reformer *Leyly Matine-Daftary, modernist painter *Charlotte Reather, comedy writer and actress *Bridget Riley, artist *Talulah Riley, actress *Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, actress *Serena Scott Thomas, actress<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hodge |first1=Gavanndra |title=Kristin Scott Thomas: 'It was very uncool to be middle class... I got bullied because of the way I spoke' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/kristin-scott-thomas-uncool-middle-class-got-bullied-way-spoke/ |access-date=18 July 2020 |work=Telegraph |date=21 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511055229/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/kristin-scott-thomas-uncool-middle-class-got-bullied-way-spoke/ |archive-date=11 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> *Sophie Solomon, violinist *Amanda Wakeley, fashion designer<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cernocapital.com/events/amanda-wakeley-springsummer-16/|title=Amanda Wakeley Spring/Summer 16 - Cerno Capital - Investment Management|website=cernocapital.com|access-date=11 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322054341/http://cernocapital.com/events/amanda-wakeley-springsummer-16/|archive-date=22 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> {{div col end}}
===Politics, law and civil service=== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} *Violet Brooke-Hunt, community organizer and volunteer in Boer War *Elizabeth Gass, Lady Gass, Lord Lieutenant of Somerset since 1998<ref>'GASS, Elizabeth Periam Acland Hood, (Lady Gass)', in ''Who's Who 2012'' (London: A. & C. Black, 2012)</ref> *Dame Cheryl Gillan, Conservative Member of Parliament and former Secretary of State for Wales *Sally Keeble, Labour Member of Parliament *Lizzy Lind af Hageby, speaker and writer antivivisection and feminism *Rachel Lomax, the first woman Deputy Governor of the Bank of England *Fiona Mactaggart, Labour Member of Parliament *Cicely Mayhew, UK's first female diplomat<ref name="thetimes1">{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/lady-mayhew-chgtmfh2w |title=Lady Mayhew | The Times & The Sunday Times |website=The Times |access-date=1 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203181349/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lady-mayhew-chgtmfh2w |archive-date=3 December 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> *Gareth Peirce, defence lawyer *Amber Rudd, former Home Secretary *Liz Shore, former Deputy Chief Medical Officer *Catherine Williamson, Canterbury's first woman mayor and Irish politician {{div col end}}
===Sciences, technology, engineering=== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} *Mary Archer, scientist and chair of the trustees of the Science Museum Group *Prue Barron, surgeon *Louisa Aldrich-Blake, first female Master of Surgery *Mary Collins, immunologist *Maud Cunnington, archaeologist *Vicky Goh, radiologist, cancer imaging researcher, and medical academic *Miriam Violet Griffith, electrical engineer, technical author and pioneer of ground source heat pumps *Lillias Hamilton, doctor and author *Constance Leathart, Air Transport Auxiliary pilot in Second World War, first woman in Britain to design and fly a glider *Mary Fauriel Lockett, pharmacologist, radiologist, missionary and educator *Margaret Lowenfeld, paediatrician and child psychotherapist *Eva Luckes, Royal Red Cross, OBE, Matron of The London Hospital 1880–1919, matron maker and influential nurse reformer.<ref>Rogers, Sarah (2022). 'A Maker of Matrons'? A study of Eva Lückes's influence on a generation of nurse leaders:1880–1919' (Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Huddersfield, April 2022)</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=McGann |first=Susan (1992). |title=The Battle of the Nurses: A Study of Eight Women who influenced the Development of Professional Nursing, 1880–1930 |publisher=Scutari |year=1992 |pages=9–34}}</ref> *Dame Clare Marx, first female President of the Royal College of Surgeons (2014–2017), Chair of the General Medical Council (January 2019)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jenkins |first1=Robin |title=Ten of the most famous former Cheltenham Ladies' College pupils |url=https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/cheltenham-news/ten-most-famous-former-cheltenham-2201722 |access-date=18 July 2020 |work=Gloucestershire Live |date=18 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120030449/https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/cheltenham-news/ten-most-famous-former-cheltenham-2201722 |archive-date=20 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> *Helen Mackay, first female Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians *Liz Miller, former neurosurgeon and mental health campaigner *Jennie Pryce, quantitative geneticist *Frances Ritchie, nurse *Lucy Wills, haematologist *Helena Rosa Wright (née Lowenfeld), doctor and pioneer of family planning *Nur Amalina Che Bakri, Doctor{{div col end}}
===Journalism and authors=== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} *Hilary Andersson, journalist and presenter *Phyllis Bentley, novelist and authority on the Brontë family *Theodora Bosanquet, writer, reviewer, editor, amanuensis to Henry James, director and literary editor of Time and Tide (magazine). *Rosie Boycott, journalist and former editor of ''The Independent'' and the ''Daily Express'' *D. K. Broster, novelist *Katharine Burdekin, author *Amy Key Clarke, mystical poet, author and senior teacher at the school, also wrote histories of the school *Janet E. Courtney, writer *Tatiana Hambro, fashion writer and editor for Moda Operandi *Beatrice Harraden, writer and suffragette *Phoebe Hesketh, poet *Lisa Jardine, historian, author and broadcaster *Margaret Kennedy, novelist *Sue Lloyd-Roberts, television journalist *Kate Reardon, journalist *Betty Ridley, journalist *Mira Sethi, journalist *May Sinclair, writer *Caroline Spurgeon, literary critic *Robin Stevens, children's author *Jenny Uglow, biographer *Margaret Winifred Vowles, author *Sarah Wardle, poet *Grace Wyndham Goldie, first Head of BBC News & Current Affairs *Jan Ziff, journalist and children's writer<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-03-22 |title=Jan Ziff, World Service journalist and award-winning co-author of the Heckerty series of children’s picture books – obituary |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2022/03/22/jan-ziff-world-service-journalist-award-winning-co-author-heckerty/ |access-date=2025-12-13 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> {{div col end}}
===Sports=== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} *Nina Clarkin, World number one female polo player *Poppy Cooksey, Olympic fencer<ref>"COOKSEY, Janet Clouston Bewley (Poppy)" in ''Debrett's People of Today'' (Debrett's, 2002), p. 419</ref> *Mary Eyre, England hockey player and Wimbledon umpire<ref>{{cite web |title=Girls in Sport |url=https://www.cheltladiescollege.org/life-at-clc/professional-guidance/sport/ |publisher=Cheltenham Ladies' College |access-date=18 July 2020}}</ref> *Muriel Robb, Wimbledon Champion and only person to win all national UK tennis singles titles *Jean Westwood, world champion ice dancer<ref name=guard>[http://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2015/02/interview-with-jean-westwood.html Interview With Jean Westwood], Skate Guard, 7 February 2015</ref> {{div col end}}
===Other=== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} *Annette Bear-Crawford, suffragette *Tamara Beckwith, socialite *Mary Russell, Duchess of Bedford, 11th Duchess of Bedford<ref>Buxton, M (2010). [http://www.woodperrybooks.com/thehighflyingduchessaboutmary.html "The High Flying Duchess"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006062148/http://www.woodperrybooks.com/thehighflyingduchessaboutmary.html |date=6 October 2010 }}, Woodperry Books. Retrieved 14 June 2010.</ref> *Mary Boyce, scholar of Zoroastrianism *Victoria Davies Randle, a socialite of Victorian Lagos, Nigeria, who served as Queen Victoria's goddaughter *Dame Helen Gwynne-Vaughan, Commandant of the Women's Royal Air Force and Chief Controller of the Auxiliary Territorial Service * Dorothy Christian Hare, medical director of the Women's Royal Naval Service *Jane Ellen Harrison, classical scholar *Hermione Hobhouse, historian *Nicola Horlick, investment fund manager (ran away) *Beatrice Irwin (aka Alice Beatrice Simpson), actress, poet and illumination designer entrepreneur *Eve Jardine-Young, Principal of Cheltenham Ladies' College *Dorothy Pethick, suffragette *Raja Zarith Sofiah, consort of the King of Johor, Malaysia *Agnes Royden, preacher and suffragette *Anne Willan, Founder of École de Cuisine La Varenne (Paris, Burgundy & Los Angeles)<ref>{{cite web |title=Girls in the Arts |url=https://www.cheltladiescollege.org/life-at-clc/professional-guidance/the-arts/ |publisher=Cheltenham Ladies' College |access-date=18 July 2020}}</ref> {{div col end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.cheltladiescollege.org/ Official website] *[http://www.isc.co.uk/schools/england/gloucestershire/cheltenham/the-cheltenham-ladies-college Profile] on the Independent Schools Council website
{{Cheltenham, Gloucestershire}} {{Schools in Gloucestershire}} {{Public schools (United Kingdom)}}{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cheltenham Ladies' College}} Category:1853 establishments in England Category:Boarding schools in Gloucestershire Category:Educational institutions established in 1853 Category:Girls' schools in Gloucestershire Category:International Baccalaureate schools in England Category:Member schools of the Girls' Schools Association Category:Private schools in Gloucestershire Category:Schools in Cheltenham