Headmistress' Welcome
Welcome to Godstowe and I hope you enjoy exploring our school and all that we have to offer. I am delighted to be the Headmistress at Godstowe, and it is an absolute privilege to be leading and enjoying this aspirational and exciting community.
This is a happy and thriving Prep School for girls aged 7-13, approximately a third of whom are boarders. We also have a lovely Pre-Prep and Nursery for girls and boys aged 3 to 7. Setting the highest possible standards in all aspects of our provision the aim is to send happy, confident and successful girls on to their chosen senior schools.
Godstowe widely celebrates over a hundred years of success and history and as a non-selective school, together we achieve outstanding results and the right individual outcomes for all pupils in our care. Looking to the future, we have a fresh and modern outlook whilst cherishing our long-established school traditions and values and these make our school unique.
A true love of learning and life sits at the heart of all we do.
On touring and visiting the 12-acre school grounds a welcome awaits you and a chance to experience the inspiring and immersive learning opportunities on offer every day. There are around 90 lunch time and after school clubs and activities running every week to inspire a range of talents and interests. Excellence in the Arts, Sports, Drama and Music is central to our success and the local and international trips schedule is ever growing and much loved.
Walking into classrooms, lessons are imaginative, bespoke and of a high quality and where true wellbeing is valued above all. Each girl is seen and known as an individual and our dedicated and experienced teaching and pastoral team are exceptional. Our young learners are guided to think broadly, think deeply and make connections. With a strong focus on wraparound care and a sense of fair play, the pupils at Godstowe are warm, collaborative, healthily competitive and very good company!
The chance for our girls to stay until Year 8 as either full or flexi boarders or day girls, allows them all the chance to enjoy an exceptional final two years where they can develop and grow their leadership skills, their friendships and their confidence for all that life beyond Godstowe has to offer.
We strike a healthy balance between academic achievement and fostering key character and life skills that will enable them to lead fulfilling, happy and purposeful lives.
Our alumni speak with such enthusiasm about their time at the school, their successes, the confidence they gained and the friendships for life that they made. Speaking to many of our Heads in Senior Schools, our Godstowe leavers are widely acknowledged for how well they are prepared, for the sense of citizenship and community spirit they bring with them and for the ability to simply embrace life and opportunity.
We are a family school where our parents are valued as much as our pupils and there are many opportunities for families to be involved in the ever growing and vibrant community events and celebrations on offer every term. We do work together as partners for the benefit of your children and our local and global charities and partnerships.
I look forward to welcoming you when you visit us and a warm introduction to Godstowe life awaits! Please do contact our Admissions Team who will be delighted to start your journey with us.
Kate Bailey
Headmistress
Kate Bailey was educated at an all-girls Prep School in Kensington in London and then at Cheltenham Ladies’ College. She then progressed to study for her MA in History and English Literature at Edinburgh University, deciding then to undertake her post-graduate teacher training at the Institute of Education, as part of the University of London.
During her 17 years in London, Kate worked in the independent sector gaining leadership experience across the Nursery to Year 8 age groups and beginning her teaching career in Key Stage 2 at Broomwood Hall in Wandsworth. Whilst passionate about teaching English to 13+ and scholarship level, she moved into various leadership roles including Head of the Junior Department at Westminster Under School. At Wetherby Prep School in London, she became Head of the Senior School, overseeing the Year 6 to 8 students and their transitions to Senior Schools and then became Deputy Head at the Bryanston Square site with the 7-13 years olds.
As part of the same group of schools, Kate was then asked to be Founding Head of School and set up and lead the first of their British schools in Manhattan, New York, based on the reputations of the Wetherby and Pembridge Hall Schools in London. Following her time as Head of Wetherby-Pembridge, Kate was appointed Headmistress of Godstowe, starting in September 2022.
