Perse School for Girls

The Stephen Perse Foundation is a family of six independent schools in Cambridge and Saffron Walden for students aged 3 to 18.The Foundation is made up of six schools: The Stephen Perse Pre-prep Schools in Madingley and in the City, for boys and girls aged 3–7, Dame Bradbury's School in Saffron Walden, for boys and girls aged 3–11, Stephen Perse Foundation Junior School, for boys and girls aged 7–11, Stephen Perse Foundation Senior School, for girls aged 11–16 and also welcoming boys into year 7 from September 2017, and the Stephen Perse Sixth Form College, co-educational for students aged 16–18. The school has a strong reputation for academic excellence and a progressive attitude towards learning and social skills, being named the top Independent school in East Anglia by The Sunday Times on their Parent Power list.HistoryThe school was founded in 1881 as The Perse School for Girls.In 1615, Dr Perse's will included a bequest of land for the establishment of what was then described as a Grammar Free School, in Cambridge. It became The Perse School and was originally reserved for boys but, in 1881, the complementary but unconnected Perse School for Girls opened, as part of the strong 19th century movement to educate women. From the Perse School for Girls, the Foundation evolved to become the Stephen Perse Foundation in 2007 just before opening a co-educational sixth form college in 2008 and now providing a complete educational pathway for boys and girls from age 3 to 18. Many believe this is because of the school's modern and progressive style, and encouraging equal opportunities for all genders, male, female and beyond