- Location
- London
- Age range
- 4–18
- Attendance
- Day school
About James Allen's Girls' School
Schoolscout directory record ·
At James Allen's Girls' School, a rich tradition of academic excellence and personal development flourishes within a vibrant community. The school is dedic...
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
James Allen's Girls' School — universally known as JAGS — was founded in 1741 by James Allen, the Master of the College of God's Gift (the Dulwich foundation that also produced Dulwich College and Alleyn's School). JAGS opened originally as a free school for poor girls of Dulwich; it was one of the earliest formal foundations of any English independent school exclusively for girls, predating most of the major Victorian girls' schools by more than a century. The school is part of the Alleyn / Dulwich Foundation, which also operates Dulwich College and Alleyn's School.
JAGS today is a girls-only day school of around 1,000 pupils aged 4-18, organised across the Pre-Prep, Junior School and Senior School on a campus in Dulwich Village, south-east London. The Headmistress is Alex Hutchinson, in post since 2020. The Chair of the Governing Board is David Miller. The school is a member of the GSA.
Academic performance places JAGS consistently in the top quintile of London girls' schools by A-Level grades and Oxbridge offers. The school's particular cultural strength is its drama-school pipeline. Old Atalantans (the alumnae's name) include Sally Hawkins, the Oscar-nominated star of The Shape of Water and Golden Globe winner for Happy-Go-Lucky; Lucy Boynton, who played Mary Austin in Bohemian Rhapsody and Lady Wendover in Murder on the Orient Express; Charlotte Ritchie, of Ghosts, Call the Midwife, Fresh Meat and the Netflix series You; Ella Balinska, the star of the 2019 Charlie's Angels reboot and the Resident Evil television series; and the actress and writer Daisy Haggard (Episodes; Back to Life).
In literature, JAGS's most distinguished alumna is Anita Brookner CBE, who won the 1984 Booker Prize for Hotel du Lac. In public life: Claire Coutinho MP, the current shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. In broadcasting: Dharshini David, the BBC's economics correspondent, and Beth Willis, the BBC drama producer (Doctor Who, Sherlock). The school operates a substantial bursary programme via the Alleyn / Dulwich Foundation.
School life and highlights in the catalogue
- Founded 1741 by James Allen, Master of the College of God's Gift — 285-year history
- Part of the historic Alleyn / Dulwich Foundation (alongside Dulwich College and Alleyn's School)
- Girls-only ages 4-18 (≈1,000 pupils)
- Senior member of the Dulwich Village trio of independent schools
- GSA member; consistently in the top tier of London girls' schools by Oxbridge offers
- Strong drama-school pipeline: Sally Hawkins, Lucy Boynton, Charlotte Ritchie, Daisy Haggard all alumnae
- Anita Brookner won the Booker Prize for Hotel du Lac (1984)
- Substantial bursary programme via the Alleyn / Dulwich Foundation
Education and school life
- Education levels
- Pre-Prep, Prep, Senior, Sixth Form
- Age range
- 4–18
- Attendance
- Day school
- Pupil intake
- Girls
- School type
- Mainstream
- Headteacher / principal
- Mrs Alex Hutchinson
- Religious ethos
- Church of England
- Listed inspectorate
- ISI
Subjects and qualifications
- Drama (Sally Hawkins, Lucy Boynton, Charlotte Ritchie, Ella Balinska alumnae)
- Literature (Anita Brookner Booker Prize winner)
- Music
- Politics (Claire Coutinho — shadow Secretary of State for Energy)
- Sciences
- Modern languages
Listed memberships and accreditations
- GSA (Girls' Schools Association)
- ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)
- Alleyn / Dulwich Foundation
Progression and destinations in the catalogue
- Oxbridge
- Russell Group (Imperial, UCL, LSE, Cambridge)
- Drama schools (RADA / LAMDA / Central)
- US Ivy League
Alumni notes
- Sally Hawkins (Oscar-nominated actress — The Shape of Water; Golden Globe winner — Happy-Go-Lucky)
- Lucy Boynton (actress — Bohemian Rhapsody, Murder on the Orient Express)
- Charlotte Ritchie (actress — Ghosts, Call the Midwife, Fresh Meat, You)
- Anita Brookner CBE (Booker Prize-winning novelist — Hotel du Lac)
- Ella Balinska (actress — Charlie's Angels 2019, Resident Evil)
- Daisy Haggard (actress and writer — Episodes, Back to Life)
- Claire Coutinho MP (Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero)
- Dharshini David (BBC economics correspondent)
- Shani Anderson (GB sprint athlete)
- Beth Willis (BBC drama producer — Doctor Who, Sherlock)
- Lisa St Aubin de Terán (novelist — The Slow Train to Milan)
- Mary Patricia Shepherd (pioneering thoracic surgeon)
Supporting school records
These dated records may contain different information. Ask our team about current details.
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
- Headteacher / principal
- Alex Hutchinson (Headmistress)
- Founded
- 1741
- Campus setting
- Urban
- Scholarships / bursaries
- Options indicated; confirm availability and eligibility.
Pupil information
- Total pupils
- 1,212
- Girls
- 1,212 · 100%
- Pupils receiving SEN support
- 210 · 17.33%
- Pupils with an EHCP
- 0 · 0%
Counts and percentages are reproduced from the directory. SEN means special educational needs; EHCP means Education, Health and Care Plan. A pupil census year is not supplied.
A-Level results
- Results year
- 2025
- Progress score
- 0.23 (Above Average)
- Average grade
- A
- AAB percentage
- 65.70%
Results refer to the year shown. The directory does not provide a cohort size or a full methodology for these measures.
Tuition and costs
The fee year is not specified. Ask our team about current fees, VAT and included services.
Schoolscout directory record ·
| Attendance | GBP · Period and VAT unverified |
|---|---|
| Day | £8,600.4 – £9,783.6 |
Current fees and VAT treatment require confirmation from the school. Directory labels are not a verified school quotation.
Check whether boarding, meals, registration, deposits, examinations, trips and guardian arrangements are included. Amounts are in pounds sterling (GBP), without currency conversion.
Ask about current feesPlanning your application
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Read the directory’s school and admissions questions below.
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Explore MEC guidanceQuestions in the school directory
Schoolscout directory record ·
What type of school is James Allen's Girls' School?
James Allen's Girls' School is a girls' independent mainstream school for pupils aged 4 to 18, located near London in Greater London. The school offers education from Pre-Prep through to Sixth Form, with pathways leading to GCSEs and A Levels.
How do I apply to James Allen's Girls' School?
Historical directory text below. Its fees, billing period and VAT have not been verified with the school.
Applications typically begin 1–2 years in advance and may include registration, assessments and interviews. Families can explore the UK private school admissions timeline to understand key dates and entry points.
What are the fees at James Allen's Girls' School?
Historical directory text below. Its fees, billing period and VAT have not been verified with the school.
The cost of attending James Allen's Girls' School typically ranges around £8,600–£9,783 per term, with variations based on age and boarding.
Is James Allen's Girls' School a day or boarding school?
Pupils at James Allen's Girls' School can attend as day.
Is James Allen's Girls' School a single-sex or co-educational school?
James Allen's Girls' School offers a girls' learning environment.
School location and enquiries
- Street address
- East Dulwich Grove
- Town / locality
- London
- County
- Greater London
- Region
- London
- Postcode
- SE22 8TE
- Country
- United Kingdom
Talk to our team about this school, current fees and your application.
Enquire about this schoolView the school locationEast Dulwich Grove, London, Greater London, SE22 8TESchoolscout directory record ·
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
Collection and catalogue update dates are shown above; they are not fee years or pupil census dates. Source text is retained in its original language. The school’s official information takes precedence for current admissions, programmes and fees.
Photo credits
Source: Wikipedia
- james-allens-girls-school.jpg: CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons