The school was founded in 1594 by Lady Dacre and, unusually in England, was coeducational from the very beginning. The original aim of the foundation was for the “bringing up of children in virtue and good and laudable arts” and provision was made to educate twenty students: ten girls and ten boys. Today the school remains fully coeducational but has grown in size to over 700 students and our aims have become bolder and broader. Today we aim to foster a thirst for knowledge and a real commitment to learning. We want our students to communicate in a confident, articulate and informed manner. We encourage our students to make informed judgements about what is right and wrong. We show, and ask for respect and we encourage good behaviour at all times.