Our history and our future

Our history

Founded by Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat in 1842 as the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Woldingham is one of the oldest girls’ schools in the UK. Initially based in Acton, the school later moved to Roehampton and in 1946 moved to our current home at Marden Park. Initially a full boarding school, Woldingham now has more than 600 students and is a well-balanced mix of boarders and day girls.

Woldingham celebrated our 180^th anniversary in the 2022-23 school year. To mark this important milestone, we enjoyed a range of events including a series of academic talks, a short history of the school and a new film. In the spirit of Woldingham’s founders to make a lasting legacy, over the year students provided 180 hours of service to give back to our local community.

Our future

As one of the top 100 independent schools in the country, we are not only ambitious for our students, we are ambitious for the school.

Our School Strategic Development Plan 2019-2024 sets out our exciting vision for the future and our six key strategic objectives.

In July 2021 the school outlined far-reaching plans to further develop our superb 700-acre campus with an outdoor education and adventure centre, a new library and Sixth Form Centre, a sports pavilion, and cookery school.

Our fantastic Adventure and Outdoor Education Centre opened in spring 2022. In summer 2023, construction started on a superb Sixth Form Centre and new Library, due to open in September 2024. The other projects will follow within the next few years.

For more information on how to support or be involved in the development of these projects, please contact our Development Team on development@woldinghamschool.co.uk.

Woldingham is keen to explore opportunities to extend the unique education we offer both in the UK and internationally. Within the UK, we are interested in working more closely with prep schools so pupils and families can benefit from a Woldingham education from a younger age. Internationally, we are open to exploring options with partners overseas.

Strategic Plan

International investor opportunity