| Motto | Live for today, learn for tomorrow |
|---|---|
| Established | 1878 |
| Type | Other Independent School |
| Headteacher | Elaine Purves |
| Location | Woolverstone Ipswich Suffolk IP9 1AZ England |
| Local authority | Suffolk |
| DfE URN | 124888 |
| Gender | Girls |
| Ages | 3–19 |
| Website | www.ipswichhigh.gdst.net |
Ipswich High School is a girls' independent school located at Woolverstone, near the town of Ipswich, England. It was founded in 1872 and is one of the schools of the Girls' Day School Trust.
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Ipswich High School was opened in the Assembly Rooms in Northgate Street, Ipswich, on 30 April 1878 with 43 pupils. The first headmistress, Miss Sophie Youngman, held the position for 21 years and the school flourished and expanded under her leadership. She was succeeded by Miss Kennett and, in 1905, the Council of the Trust purchased a large private house and grounds in Westerfield Road, Ipswich. The move provided a more modern classroom standard, science laboratories and a playing field. Following further growth, another house, Woodview House, was purchased in 1913. Owing to the continued expansion of the school and the demands of the modern curriculum, the decision was taken in 1992 to rehouse the school at Woolverstone Hall, a Grade 1 listed building set in 80 acres (320,000 m2) of parkland on the banks of the River Orwell.
Located in the village of Woolverstone, 4 miles (6.4 km) from Ipswich, the school serves a wide area of Suffolk and north Essex.
The school takes girls aged 3–18 years, providing both primary and secondary school education, as well as a nursery and sixth form. The school has some 600 pupils and excellent facilities including an AstroTurf playing field, indoor swimming pool, a large theatre and sports hall. There are separate buildings for the Senior Department and Junior Department.
The current headmistress, Elaine Purves (appointed 2006) has implemented a new school motto: "Live for today, learn for tomorrow" created by Eleanor Clarke in place of the former "Before honour is humility." A new logo, combining elements of a flower, a sunburst and an owl's eye, represents growth, energy and wisdom, as well as links with the GDST.
The uniform is a cherry-red jumper with a red-and-white checked blouse worn with a knee-length grey skirt and black shoes. In the summer, white socks are allowed. In autumn and winter, girls must wear black socks or black tights with an optional money belt for seniors and pencil-grey pinafore for juniors (up to year 5). Senior students wear a three-quarter-length fitted blouse or a non-fitted long- or short-sleeved shirt with a 6-pleated grey skirt with black tights or socks. They may wear any sort of black shoe. Years 9, 10 and 11 may wear a pencil skirt with a slit at the back, and years 10 and 11 may wear a white blouse with the schools logo on the collar. They may wear only studded earrings, a religious necklace and a watch.