Strategic Plan
Putting Girls First 2025 - 2030
Welcome
Welcome to Putting Girls First: The Abbey’s Strategic Plan for 2025-2030.
Since 1887, The Abbey has played a leading role in girls’ education This is a remarkable community that puts girls first: that helps girls to learn free from gender bias, free to choose any future they want, free to play with ideas and grow up while staying young.
The Abbey is a place of academic excellence, curiosity, adventurous spirits, and the excitement of discovery.
We focus on individual care and attention in a warmly supportive atmosphere, full of fun and laughter Our students have the assurance to take risks, explore interests and passions, and engage generously with the world and with each other
In a changing landscape for both work and education, our mission remains as vital as ever. We help girls and women face the future on their own terms, ready to make the world a better place for themselves and the communities around them This plan supports that ambition over the next five years to ensure The Abbey remains a force for good in the lives of its students, staff, families and wider community far into the future
Sarah Tullis, Head
Elizabeth Harrison, Chair of Governors
Our purpose and values
We provide an outstanding future-ready education for girls that equips them to achieve academic excellence with confidence, purpose and joy.
Working in partnership with families, we support each individual student to expand their horizons, discover their passions and fulfill their potential We offer academic excellence, extra-curricular opportunity and pastoral assurance within an environment prioritising kindness and fellowship.
Our objective over 130 years of leadership, innovation and reform has been to provide a liberal, practical and general education. That remains true today.
• Liberalin thought, tolerance, and generosity
• Practical opportunity, resolute towards uncertainty and commited to leadership and service in preparing students to face a changing world on their own terms, excited by
• Generalin the remarkable breadth and range of experience and encouragement to participate
Our ambition for The Abbey
Over the course of this plan and beyond, we will build on our status as Independent Girls’ School of the Year 2024-2025 to ensure The Abbey remains one of the foremost girls’ schools in the country and is the first-choice girls’ school in our area
We will provide world-class excellence that changes the lives of our students for the better and benefits our wider community, at the best value for money, to support the families who are our foundation
We will continue to advocate for girls and women and to support a diverse community of individuals to express themselves with freedom and face the future on their own terms, helping to drive positive social change
Strategic aims
Our school and wider community
Academic excellence
Learning full of excitement and fun that helps each individual student achieve their own personal best, secures grades that open doors, and encourages positive attitudes that change lives
Future-ready opportunity
Developing the skills, character and values in our lively, city-minded community that supports students into outstanding outcomes and careers, enabling them to live with meaning, find creative solutions in a changing world, and help to shape the future
Every individual valued
Working with families to ensure every student is known and appreciated for who they are, understands how to look after themselves and others, and learns to lead and support with courage and compassion
Abbey families
Engaging with families to make them central to The Abbey Experience, to provide the opportunity for collaboration, and to ensure a genuine partnership that lasts throughout and beyond each student’s time at school
The Reading Community
Embedding our community programme ARCH, providing opportunity for young people across Reading, helping them to explore and fulfil their potential, and live with confidence, purpose and joy
Our people, environment and future
Abbey staff
Ensuring The Abbey is the best place to work for every individual as part of one unified community, so that all staff are supported to learn and grow, enabled to focus on the work that matters most, and celebrated for their contribution to the community
Our environment
Developing our estate to make it the best possible environment for learning and play, enable student and staff collaboration on environmental actions and awareness, and achieve the highest standards of sustainability
Telling The Abbey Story
Sharing the wonderful benefits of The Abbey experience to reach as wide an audience as possible, ensure continued strength of applicants and student numbers, and widespread recognition to the benefit of alumnae and the school community
Excellence and value
Scrutinising all aspects of our operations to ensure we provide an outstanding experience with exceptional value, to support our families, ensure the widest possible access to an Abbey education, and develop the scope of all we offer
