- One of the oldest girls’ schools in the country, LEH is named after the daughter of the 2nd Earl of Clare. Her will allowed its foundation in 1710. The school’s motto is Spes audacem adjuvat (“Hope favours the bold”). An outpost in Foshan, China, opened in 2021.
- The school offers both Stem and Hale subjects. New sixth-form facilities include a library, study pods, state-of-the-art common rooms and a careers service. The “Be Bold!” lecture series for brave thinking invites top speakers to the school to motivate and inspire.
- The original 18th-century school was in central London, on the site now occupied by the Barbican. After a move to Hackney, it relocated in 1937 to Hampton, its present site, which has 24 acres of green space.
- Many pupils compete in sports at a national level. Rowing is a particular strength: Lady Eleanor Holles Boat Club shares the Millennium Boat House on the Thames with nearby Hampton School.
- There is a strong emphasis on developing resilience, wellbeing and sound mental health for all pupils and staff.
- The passion of its former head teacher, Heather Hanbury, and her own story — from a council estate in Belfast to becoming headmistress — has shown how life-changing education can be and is reflected in the vigour with which building up the bursary fund is being undertaken.
- Former pupils include the journalist Lynn Barber and the Radio 1 DJ Annie Nightingale, the actress Vanessa Kirby and the Apple video creative director Jay Hunt.
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