Head of School’s Welcome
Welcome to Sarah Bonnell School.
It is a real privilege to be Head of School at Sarah Bonnell:
a school with a long and proud history of educating young women,
where ambition, inclusion and care sit at the heart of everything
we do.
We want every student to feel that they belong, are known and valued, and can achieve. We are proudly inclusive and celebrate the diversity of our school and our East London community.
Our students should feel seen and heard, proud of who they are, and know that the adults around them will both support them and have high expectations of what they can achieve.
Our values are captured in the Sarah Bonnell Way:
Be Proud. Aim High. Work Hard. Be Kind. No Excuses.
These values, chosen by our students, shape our school community and our expectations for every student. We want our young people to be ambitious, work hard, show kindness and develop the confidence and resilience to take responsibility for their future.
Excellent teaching and learning is at the centre of our work. We want every student to leave Sarah Bonnell with strong qualifications, powerful knowledge and the confidence to take their next steps successfully. Just as importantly, we want them to leave as thoughtful, compassionate and ambitious young women, ready to make a positive contribution to the world around them.
I believe strongly in the partnership between school, students and families, and I look forward to working with you to ensure every young person at Sarah Bonnell can thrive.
I hope our website gives you a sense of our wonderful school and I warmly invite you to visit and experience the Sarah Bonnell community for yourself.
Jess Carter
Head of School
Sarah Bonnell School
Sarah Bonnell School is one of the oldest girls’ schools in England. Its story began in 1766, when Sarah Bonnell left a legacy of £3,500 in her will dedicated specifically to educating young women in the East London area – a notion that would have been revolutionary at the time.
The first Sarah Bonnell Charity School opened in 1769 with just 40 girls. Over the years it has grown, moved location and changed names to become the vibrant school community of over 1,000 girls that we have today.
Sarah Bonnell’s legacy continues to live on through The Sarah Bonnell Foundation, the aim of which is to “ promote the education (including social and physical training) of girls under the age of 25 years with preference for those who are students or former students of Sarah Bonnell School and are in need of financial assistance.”
How the Foundation Direct Funds
Across more than 250 years the £3,500 legacy has grown thanks to prudent investment. The Trustees of the charity meet twice a year and agree how to use the interest earned from these investments to benefit all girls at the school, but with a particular focus on removing financial and other barriers to learning.
In recent years, Foundation Trustees have approved the following:
● Outward Bound Residential: The Foundation provides a subsidy of £200 for each girl attending the annual year 9 outward bound residential. This promotes the social, emotional and physical education by trying new experiences and developing life skills
● Reading Books: Every year, each student at the school receives a book as a gift from the Foundation Trustees.
● Sarah Bonnell’s Birthday: Sarah Bonnell’s birthday is celebrated in style each year, and every girl receives a commemorative gift. Many alumni can clearly remember, and even still possess, gifts that they received in the past.
● Events & Celebration: Sponsoring key cultural and leadership events, including annual International Women’s Day and Black History Month and Pride activities and celebrations.
● Mental Health Support: Trustees fund the ‘Joy Uplifts’ coaching and mentoring programme, which helps improve self-esteem and positively impact academic and personal achievement. In the past year, funding was increased in recognition of growing need and the positive impact of this work.
● Higher Education Bursary: Every former Sarah Bonnell Student who attends university can apply for a one-off bursary of £250. Priority is given to those girls who were eligible for pupil premium.
● Bursaries & Direct Grants: Trustees have the discretion to offer hardship grants and educational allowances to ensure every student, regardless of background, has full access to uniform, equipment, and extracurricular activities.
● Purchase of a new mini bus: Trustees were really pleased to be able to fund the recent purchase of the school’s brand new mini bus.
We are really proud to be carrying forward Sarah Bonnell’s radical belief in equal educational rights. We know that the legacy that was left to the school directly benefits every single student and does all that it can to ensure that every girl is empowered to Be Proud, Aim High, Work Hard, Be Kind, and Make No Excuses.