College History

Honouring the past, preparing for the future

The Ladies’ College was founded in 1872 to provide an academic education for girls in Guernsey. An early example of the pioneering movement in women’s education, it drew much of its inspiration from Cheltenham Ladies’ College. We are proud of our history and preserve traditions such as that of wearing red carnations on Speech Day, a custom that dates from 1904. But we also believe that the vision of our founders still meets the needs of young women in the 21^st century. We seek to nurture academic aspirations and to foster the qualities of leadership, enterprise, hard work and social responsibility that are our inheritance.

For more than 130 years the Ladies’ College has played a leading role in the education of girls in Guernsey. From 1907 onwards a number of places have been reserved each year for state funded pupils and demand for places at the College has continued to rise. Since 1962 the College has operated as an autonomous grant-aided school under the supervision of its own Board of Governors and the Education Council. The unique status of the Ladies’ College draws from both the independent and the maintained traditions of education and exemplifies the best of both.

Former students are warmly welcomed to College events, including the annual Carol Service, Commemoration Service and Speech Day. All former students and current staff are eligible for membership of the Ladies’ College Guild.