MixedIndependent

Shrewsbury High School GDST

Shropshire, West Midlands · SY1 1TN

Part of the Girls' Day School Trust and founded in 1885, Shrewsbury High School is a small Shropshire independent that now educates pupils from 4 to 18. With around 285 on roll and a strikingly low pupil-to-teacher ratio of roughly six, lessons here are intimate by design. The Independent Schools Inspectorate awarded the school its top grade of 'excellent' for both education and personal development, with all compliance standards met. Families looking for close academic attention in a non-denominational, mixed setting will find much to consider.

285

Pupils

excellent

ISI

£20,550

Day fees / yr

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Overview & data

Gender: Mixed
Type: independent (fee-paying) school
Age range: 4-18
Pupils: 285
Pupil:teacher ratio: 6
Location: Shropshire, West Midlands
Website: http://www.shrewsburyhigh.co.uk
Telephone: 01743 494000

Entrance & admissions

Entry age: 11

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Headteacher

Head Darren Payne

Latest results

Attainment 8

65.6

National average 46.9

GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)

74%

National average 47%

GCSE grade 9-7

50%

A-level A*-A

20%

A-level A*-B

53%

Teaching & academics

Results sit well above the national picture: an average Attainment 8 of 65.6 against 46.9 nationally, and 74% of pupils gaining grade 5 or above in English and Maths compared with 47% across England. Half of GCSE grades fall in the 9-7 range, and the sciences, languages and humanities are all well represented at GCSE. In the sixth form of 79 pupils, 53% of A-level grades reach A*-B, with Psychology, Maths, History and the sciences among the popular choices. An EPQ option allows older pupils to pursue independent research alongside their A-levels.

Sixth form

Sixth-form pupils: 79

Popular A-level subjects

PsychologyMathematicsHistoryEnglish LiteratureChemistryBiologyArt and Design (Fine Art)

Qualifications offered

GCSEA-levelEPQ

Learning support & SEN

SEN support: 12.43%
EHC plans: 1.48%

Arts & extracurricular

Scholarships

AcademicSportMusicArtDrama

Languages

FrenchGermanSpanish

Popular GCSE subjects

StatisticsSpanishReligious StudiesPhysicsPhysical EducationMusicMathematicsHistoryGermanGeographyFrenchEnglish LiteratureEnglish LanguageDrama & Theatre StudiesComputer StudiesChemistryBusiness StudiesBiologyArt & Design

Sport

Main sports

NetballHockeyGymnasticsTennisRowing

Beyond the classroom

Sport is a notable strength, with netball, hockey, gymnastics, tennis and rowing all on offer. Scholarships recognise talent across academics, sport, music, art and drama, signalling a school that values breadth. French, German and Spanish are taught, giving pupils a genuine choice of modern languages.

Ethos & heritage

Founded: 1885
Religious character: Non-denom
Boarding: No

Mobile phone policy

No mobile phones to be used on the school site.

Money matters

Day fees (per year): £13,233 - £20,550

Inspection reports

ISI rating: excellent
ISI personal development: excellent
Last inspected: 30 September 2025

Read the full inspection report ↗

The last word

A small, high-achieving GDST school where a near-tutorial staffing ratio meets results comfortably above the national average. Best suited to families wanting individual attention and academic ambition in equal measure.

The Passmate verdict