Putney High School

{{short description|All girls school in London}} {{More citations needed|date=September 2021}} {{Use British English|date=February 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}} {{Infobox school | name = Putney High School | image = Putney High School, Putney Hill. - geograph.org.uk - 21234.jpg | image_caption = | image_size = 220px | coordinates = {{coord|51.45685|-0.21806|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|format=dec|display=inline,title}} | motto = ''Fortiter et recte'' <br> ("Bravely and rightly") | established = | type = Private day school | religious_affiliation = | president = | head_label = | head = Jo Sharrock | r_head_label = | chair_label = | chair = | founder = | specialist = | address = 35 Putney Hill | city = London | county = | country = England, UK | postal_code = SW15 6BH | local_authority = Wandsworth | ofsted = | urn = 101072 | staff = | enrolment = | gender = Girls | lower_age = 4 | upper_age = 18 | houses = Senior School: Hepburn, Ferrier, Burton and Stark Junior school: Johnson, Fonteyn, Kingsley and Nightingale | colours = Hepburn (Blue), Ferrier (Yellow) Burton (Green) Stark (Red) Johnson (Blue) Fonteyn (Green) Kingsley (yellow) Nightingale (red) | publication = | website = http://www.putneyhigh.gdst.net/ }}

'''Putney High School, GDST''' is an independent girls' day school in Putney, London. Often referred to as simply '''Putney''',<ref>{{cite book |title=Madamoiselle |date=1966 |publisher=Conde Nast Publications |page=214 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9fgxAQAAIAAJ&q=Putney++girls+college+known++simply+as+putney |access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref> the school admits students from the ages 4–18. Founded in 1893 it is a member of the Girls' Day School Trust, a union of 26 schools with 19,500 students and 3,500 staff. The school uniform is purple and has always been since a uniform was put in place. On average, in the junior school, there are 48 children in a year, 2 classes in a year and 24 in each class. In the senior school, there are about 25–27 in a class and each year has an intake of about 110, so 4 classes a year.

==Location and information== Formerly, there were four houses - Argyll, Cromwell, Fairfax and Pitt. Then there were three school houses - Austen, Bronte and Eliot - named after well-known female authors, all of whom felt that their sex gave them a disadvantage and used pseudonyms when writing. George Eliot lived for a time in Holly Lodge, Southfields, a house within walking distance of the Putney High School site. As of September 2013, the school uses an updated system of four houses, Ferrier, Stark, Hepburn and Burton, named after influential women all of whom were nominated by the students (Kathleen Ferrier, Freya Stark, Audrey Hepburn and Beryl Burton).

The school is situated on Putney Hill, a short walk from East Putney tube station (District Line) and Putney mainline station (Waterloo- Hounslow/Teddington/Windsor/Weybridge). It is well-served by buses, the 93, 14, 39 and 85.

==Good Schools Guide== According to the ''Good Schools Guide'', the school maintains a "Positive, friendly but hardworking atmosphere with good balance of sport, art, music, etc. The girls seem fulfilled, confident and happy – well prepared for outside world."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/school/putney-high-school.html |title=Putney High School | London | LEA:Wandsworth | | the Good Schools Guide |access-date=2008-10-06 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802215845/http://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/school/putney-high-school.html |archive-date=2 August 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Administration== ===Senior School===

The Headmistress of Putney High Senior School is Jo Sharrock.

===Junior School===

The head of the Junior School is Liz McLaughlin.<ref>{{cite web|title=Appointment of Junior School Head • Putney High School |url=https://www.putneyhigh.gdst.net/news/appointment-of-junior-school-head/}}</ref> This takes in years reception (4–5) to year six (10–11).

==Athletics== The school was named top girls' school in the country for sport in 2023. It is strong at sports, especially rowing, lacrosse, netball, gymnastics and athletics. In 2018 the school acquired a rowing boathouse on the Putney Embankment, becoming the first ever all girls boathouse on the Thames.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tatler.com/school/putney-high-school-review-tatler-school-guide-2018|title=Putney High School|access-date=5 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://lovejenkins.co.uk/project/putney-high-school-boat-house-2/|title=Putney High School- Boat House - Love Jenkins Associates|access-date=5 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.putneyhigh.gdst.net/media/news/article/3930/Boathouse-officially-launched|title=Loading site please wait...|website=www.putneyhigh.gdst.net|access-date=5 July 2018}}</ref>

==Motto== The school motto is ''fortiter et recte'', which means "boldly and rightly".

==Notable alumni== {{see also|Category:People educated at Putney High School}} *Mary Adshead – artist<ref name="Gray2009">{{cite book|author=Sara Gray|title=The Dictionary of British Women Artists|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LfAFBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA12|access-date=29 March 2018|year=2009|publisher=Casemate Publishers|isbn=978-0-7188-3084-7|page=12}}</ref> *Jessica Alexander – actress and model<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theface.com/culture/jess-alexander-interview-the-little-mermaid-ursula-halle-bailey-melissa-mccarthy-disney-film|title=Jess Alexander is The Little Mermaid's shining femme fatale|work=The Face|first=Jade|last=Wickes|date=30 May 2023|accessdate=10 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/educationnews/10534704.entire-school-year-at-putney-high-school-puts-on-production-of-magic-flute/|title=Entire school year at Putney High School puts on production of Magic Flute|journal=Sutton & Croydon Guardian|first=Jamie|last=Henderson|date=9 July 2013|accessdate=12 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.putneyhigh.gdst.net/house-drama-festival-sets-the-stage/|title=House Drama Festival sets the stage|website=Putney High School|date=27 March 2018|accessdate=12 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116102642/https://www.putneyhigh.gdst.net/house-drama-festival-sets-the-stage/|archive-date=16 November 2021|url-status=dead}}</ref> *Milicent Bagot – first female Assistant Director of MI5{{citation needed|date=February 2026}} *Jenny Beavan – Academy Award-winning costume designer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gdst.net/article/costume-designer-jenny-beavan-gdst-alumna-year-2016|title=Costume designer Jenny Beavan is GDST Alumna of the Year|date=14 June 2016|website=gdst.net|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> *Virginia Bottomley – Conservative Party politician<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/ginny-knows-best-when-john-major-entrusted-the-health-service-to-virginia-bottomley-in-1992-he-1396803.html|title=Ginny knows best: When John Major entrusted the Health Service to|date=27 February 1994|website=independent.co.uk|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> *Camilla Cavendish – journalist<ref name="gdst.net">{{cite web|url=http://blog.putneyhigh.gdst.net/post/170571005875/putney-high-school-where-girls-find-their-voice|title=Putney High School - where girls find their voice|website=Putney High School|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> *Barbara Crocker - artist and author<ref>{{cite book|author=Sara Gray|publisher=Dark River|year=2019|title= British Women Artists. A Biographical Dictionary of 1000 Women Artists in the British Decorative Arts |isbn=978-1-911121-63-3}}</ref> *Olly Grender – Baroness Grender, Former Head of Communications for the Liberal Democrat Party<ref name="gdst.net"/> *Nicola Hicks – sculptor{{citation needed|date=March 2018}} *Emma Komlosy - singer and actress{{citation needed|date=February 2026}} *Aicha McKenzie - British gymnast, model, dancer, CEO of AMCK Group{{citation needed|date=February 2026}} *Ramita Navai – journalist and author<ref>{{cite web|url=http://geographical.co.uk/people/i-m-a-geographer/item/172-ramita-navai|title=Ramita Navai - Geographical|first=Olivia|last=Edward|access-date=20 June 2018}}</ref> *Sandie Okoro – lawyer, senior vice-president of World Bank Group<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/analysis/barings-global-general-counsel-on-dispelling-myths-and-rising-to-the-top-/53728.article|title=Barings' global general counsel on dispelling myths and rising to the top - News - Law Society Gazette|website=lawgazette.co.uk|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> *Ursula Owen – founder, Virago Press<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/jul/21/pressandpublishing.politicsphilosophyandsociety|title=Profile: Ursula Owen|first=Simon|last=Hattenstone|date=21 July 2001|website=the Guardian|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> *Melanie Phillips – journalist and author<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/melanie-phillips-the-scourge-of-the-left-has-joined-the-world-of-e-publishing-8611747.html|title=Melanie Phillips: The scourge of the Left has joined the world of|date=10 May 2013|website=independent.co.uk|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> *Olivia Poulet – actress<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3648695/Whatever-acting-means.html|title=Whatever acting means|first=David|last=Thomas|date=11 December 2005|access-date=29 March 2018|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref> *Joan Rimmer – musicologist<ref>Penny Vera-Sanso, obituary in [https://www.proquest.com/openview/0a4673ad98264ad3cd2a6c0f4c165c0f/1 ''The Galpin Society Journal'', vol. 69 (2016), April, pp. 245–247].</ref> *Edina Ronay – fashion designer<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/columns/sophie-deros%C3%A9e/TMG10513041/Inside-the-world-of-fashion-designer-Edina-Ronay.html|title=Inside the world of fashion designer Edina Ronay - Telegraph|website=fashion.telegraph.co.uk|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> *Sophie Simnett – actress<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.putneyhigh.gdst.net/year-13s-sophie-in-new-tv-series/|title=Year 13's Sophie in new TV series ⋆ Putney High School|date=2016-04-26|website=Putney High School|language=en|access-date=2018-12-12|author1=Admin-Alchemy }}</ref> *Elizabeth Symons, Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/saturday-profile-baroness-symons-labours-peerless-performer-1164540.html|title=Saturday Profile Baroness Symons: Labour's peerless performer|date=13 June 1998|website=independent.co.uk|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> *Sophie Raworth – BBC TV newsreader<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.putneyhigh.gdst.net/media/news/article/5181/BBC-Broadcaster-and-Putney-Alumna-Sophie-Raworth|title=Prizegiving: BBC Broadcaster and Putney Alumna, Sophie Raworth|website=www.putneyhigh.gdst.net|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> *Glenys Roberts - author and journalist, long time councillor for London’s West End{{citation needed|reason=attendance|date=September 2021}} *Madeleine Wickham – novelist published under the pseudonym of Sophie Kinsella<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.putneysw15.com/shared/conputhighsophies001.htm|title=Putney High School welcomes back alumnae Sophie Kinsella & Sophie Raworth to inspire the next generation|website=www.putneysw15.com|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} * [http://www.putneyhigh.gdst.net/ Putney High Homepage] *[https://archive.today/20120802215845/http://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/school/putney-high-school.html Profile] at the Good Schools Guide *[https://web.archive.org/web/20130413074059/http://www.mydaughter.co.uk/schools-directory/putney-high-school-gdst Profile] at MyDaughter

Category:Private girls' schools in London Category:Schools of the Girls' Day School Trust Category:Private schools in the London Borough of Wandsworth Category:Member schools of the Girls' Schools Association Category:Putney