Ethos & Aims

Godolphin and Latymer is a modern and forward-looking school with a strong heritage and ethos that shapes the character and heart of our school. The story of our philanthropic origins, and of Head Mistress Dame Joyce Bishop’s pledge in 1945 ‘to best share the task of educating a nation’, is celebrated every year on our birthday. It is this ethos that underpins our commitment to our means-tested bursary programme: we would like every bright girl who is offered a place at Godolphin to be able to come, irrespective of her financial background. We welcome pupils from a wide range of different cultures, faiths and backgrounds which creates a unique and dynamic learning environment.

At Godolphin and Latymer, we aim to provide our pupils with an outstanding education. Through the lessons and activities in which they participate, girls learn for life. They develop habits of mind that promote curiosity and initiative,  intellectual rigour and independence of thought, reflective learning and flexible thinking, the ability to maintain an open mind and to reach a balanced judgement. They achieve excellent examination results and follow the higher education pathway of their choice at leading institutions in the UK and beyond.

At Godolphin and Latymer, we recognise that all our students are different and we aim to provide each one with a stimulating and enjoyable education. We offer an exciting range of intellectual, creative and physical challenges and opportunities, encouraging the development of individual passions and particular skills alongside the self-esteem and confidence with which to succeed in unfamiliar situations.

At Godolphin and Latymer, our long history of providing education for pupils from a wide range of backgrounds creates an enriching and inclusive atmosphere. Within this principled, caring and friendly community, girls learn to lead, to work together for mutual benefit, to communicate clearly and to forge firm friendships. 

At Godolphin and Latymer, we encourage students to learn about local, national and global issues and in so doing we believe they become considerate, compassionate and courageous young women who fully expect to take active responsibility for the community and the environment in which they live, as well as for themselves, both now and in the future.