Welcome from the Chair of Governors

"Didcot Girls' School is a vibrant and happy place to work and learn" Ofsted

The opening line from our latest Ofsted report (Nov 2022) perfectly encapsulates Didcot Girls’ School and what it is like to be here. As a governing body we support and encourage the relentless ambition of the school for every student. We have a universal commitment to excellence at every level and believe that the combination of a single sex main school and co-educational sixth form offers every student the opportunity to realise their full potential. The school’s core values of respect, inclusivity and setting high expectations lie at the heart of everything we do.

The rich curriculum at DGS is deliberately ambitious, broad and inclusive, providing all learners with the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life. Student well-being and safeguarding are of paramount importance; a great deal of work goes on continuously to deliver a safe, caring environment for learning.

DGS has a strong sporting tradition with excellent facilities and participates regularly in county fixtures. There are superb art, music, dance and drama departments which put on regular concerts and shows – often jointly with other schools in the Ridgeway Education Trust. We offer a wide range of languages: Mandarin Chinese, French, Spanish and German. With the pandemic over, we look forward to more overseas visits to enable students to experience other cultures.

The school understands the importance of learning and personal development beyond the curriculum and making sure all students leave equipped and ready for their chosen path. There are many clubs, societies and extracurricular activities on offer. Careers provision and personal development are strengths, and we have an ever-expanding network of contacts and partnerships with local businesses. These include links with local Science Parks and the Smallpeice Engineering Trust, creating fantastic opportunities for girls to develop a passion and expertise for STEM subjects. We are successful in sending students to the UK’s top universities (including Oxford and Cambridge) and also in supporting girls to find apprenticeships and employment.

As Chair of Governors at DGS it is fantastic to work with such a devoted and enthusiastic team of leaders, staff and governors. We are all justifiably proud that our school has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted in the last two inspections (2015,2022). The governing board are totally focussed on ensuring the school builds on what has already been achieved and continues to deliver an outstanding education and experience for every current and future DGS student.

Best Regards

 

Paul Smith

Chair of Governors