Girls' Schools Association


The Girls' Schools Association is a professional association of the heads of independent girls' schools. It is a constituent member of the Independent Schools Council.

History

The GSA can trace its history back to the Association of Headmistresses which was founded in 1874. Its president in 1964–66, Diana Reader Harris, ensured that it made a strong and considered response to the influential Plowden Report. It was established in 1974 following the amalgamation of two of the AHM's sub-groups: the Association of Heads of Girls' boarding Schools and the Association of Independent and Direct Grant Schools. It moved from London to new headquarters in Leicester in 1984, where it shared offices with the Association of School and College Leaders before moving to its current office, still in Leicester.

Structure

The GSA is a member-led organisation providing mutual professional support and representing the views of practising heads of independent girls' schools. A series of member-led committees report to a Council of Heads which is led by Officers ie the President, Vice-President, the President-Elect and Treasurer. Each presidential position is usually held by a practising Head for one calendar year.
Since 1994 the GSA has been supported by a professional secretariat which is currently led by Chief Executive Vivienne Durham.

Member schools

Below is a list of GSA member schools. Some members are the girls' sections of "Diamond Schools".

United Kingdom

England