Southend High School for Girls

It’s a great privilege to introduce myself as the Headteacher at Southend High School for Girls, and on behalf of our students and staff, I’m pleased to welcome you to our website. The school has over a hundred years of history, tradition and success – educating the brightest young minds. As Headteacher, I’m passionate about the learning and development of our students and am delighted that you’ve shown an interest in our wonderful school.

SHSG is a unique school. Students and staff cherish its traditions, such as celebrating the school’s birthday just before October half term and presenting birthday presents to the school. Clocks are a popular gift! Our 1,200 students and 140 staff are joined by past pupils, governors and headteachers in the hall – singing the school’s song, Jerusalem, with gusto – a great example of the SHSG family coming together. Indeed, once a member of the SHSG family, always a member of the SHSG family.

Southend High School for Girls is a high-performing grammar school – academic excellence is at the core of our purpose and commitment to students and parents. Teachers are passionate about their subjects and are experts in their fields. We are unashamedly ambitious for our students and challenge them far beyond the National Curriculum. For example, in Year 7 students learn Latin and classical Greek, in addition to learning how to code in computer science. At GCSE, students can take Further Maths and Statistics, including additional subjects beyond the curriculum, such as Critical and Contextual Art. At A Level, students study four subjects and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).

Of course, we’re about far more than just great academic outcomes. Developing the whole person and seeing our Year 7s grow into confident, articulate and highly motivated young adults strong in self-belief and ready to start their next chapter after Year 13 is why we’re here.

A student’s journey at SHSG is full of adventure, and we encourage students to get involved. There’s something to inspire and challenge everyone. Students relish opportunities to participate in Duke of Edinburgh and World Challenge expeditions, to be leaders, to perform in school shows, and to represent the school in our nationally renowned sports teams.

SHSG is an inspiring and vibrant place, full of energy and laughter – and amazing people! It’s a school where we constantly aim to meet the challenges set out in our principles of ensuring that everyone is safe, happy and successful.