Howell's School Llandaff

• Location: Cardiff, Wales,
• Age of students: from 7 to 13 years old,
• Type of education: girls only,
• Language of instruction: English.

Howell's School Llandaff places great importance on a rich and varied life outside of the classroom. The school offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, everyone can find something to their liking, from photography to yoga classes or creating a rock band.

Extensive continuing education programs combined with impressive wealth enhancement programs and Laureate programs make Howell's a special place to learn and develop in an exciting, creative, and thriving environment. A strong leadership team, talented and dedicated teaching and support staff, amazing students, and dedicated and engaged parents are what make Howell's School Llandaff unique.

The school curriculum is based on the Welsh National Curriculum and additionally includes PSHE (personal, social, and health education), Welsh, French, Spanish. There is an accredited program for gifted children. Each student can participate in more than 10 different extracurricular academic activities or clubs: for example, in recent years, Howell's School Llandaff has successfully participated in national chess tournaments.

Throughout the year, regular educational trips for students are held, meetings with invited speakers are organized. The Forest School is available for students up to Grade 2, and trips around the country are organized from Grade 5.

One sports department oversees activities in both the Prep School and Senior School. Prep School students have physical education three times a week. Depending on the season, activities include soccer, hockey, netball, gymnastics, dance, and track and field.

Physical education is part of the curriculum in Years 7–11. Seasonal activities include soccer, hockey, netball, gymnastics, dance, swimming, cricket, track and field, and classes on health and well-being. From Year 8, students can also choose badminton, volleyball, handball, fitness room sessions, strength and conditioning, yoga, Pilates, and cheerleading. Drama lessons develop voice and movement skills, increase vocal range and power, and build confidence in communication.

Howell's includes:

• Nursery,
• Prep School,
• Senior School,
• Howell’s Co-Ed College, where students complete their school education and prepare for A-Level exams.

In 2025, 83 students took A-Level exams. A* grades accounted for 20.3% of results, and A*–A for 50%.

The 2025 summary of examination results listed 72 students. Grades A* and 9–8 accounted for 42.9% of results, while A*–A and 9–7 made up 60%.

In the 2024 A-Level cohort, 82% were graded A*–B.

In 2020, Howell's School Llandaff celebrated its 160th anniversary.

Howell's School Llandaff is one of the most successful independent schools in Wales.

The Nursery is housed in Cumberland Lodge, Roald Dahl’s childhood home.

Howell's School Llandaff offers full-time instruction only, but students are looked after all day, from 7:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The school has a Crocodiles Club : this is a comprehensive care and supervision for children from 3 to 11 years old. Crocodiles includes the Breakfast Club, the After School Club, and the Howell's Holiday Club.

International students entering Year 12 at the College stay with carefully selected British host families in Cardiff. Many have close ties to the school. All host families undergo a rigorous selection process and safeguarding checks. Daily life in a homestay includes conversations with native English speakers.

The school works with guardianship agencies accredited by the Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Pupils (AEGIS) or the Boarding Schools Association (BSA). The Immigration Manager oversees the quality of homestay arrangements together with the Legal and Safeguarding teams.

Howell's School Llandaff adheres to a healthy and balanced diet for students, each menu is worked out taking into account all individual preferences. Meals are prepared with fresh ingredients, and breakfast and afternoon snacks include dairy products and fruit.

Howell's School places a strong emphasis on the arts, music, and extracurricular activities to enrich the educational experience of its female students. Here are some of the notable features:

Arts and Music: Art and music are integral parts of the curriculum, with dedicated classes for all female students. Drama is also included as part of the overall curriculum, fostering creative expression. Students learn to play musical instruments in class, and many opt for additional extracurricular music lessons. The school boasts two choirs and six instrumental ensembles, providing ample opportunities for students to participate in music and performing arts. There are junior and senior orchestras, along with wind and brass ensembles. Throughout the year, students perform in formal and informal concerts as soloists and ensemble members.

Students can take London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art exams in Speech and Drama, Solo Speaking of Verse and Prose, and Acting. Drama events are also held within the school’s Houses, which are student groups. Each year, there is a major production involving the entire school. Recent productions have included Annie, The Sound of Music, Beauty and the Beast, My Fair Lady, Alice in Wonderland, Matilda, The Wizard of Oz, and Mary Poppins.

Extracurricular Clubs: Howell's School offers a wide range of extracurricular clubs and activities to cater to various interests and talents. These clubs include early morning yoga, sports activities like football, tennis, gymnastics, and ballet, as well as specialized clubs such as the Horticulture Club and Forest School for outdoor exploration. For aspiring linguists, there are extracurricular language clubs in French, German, Mandarin, and Spanish.

Prep School clubs meet before lessons, during the school day, and after classes. In the Nursery, ballet, French, and Cycle Tots, a balance bike club, are available. From Reception through primary school, there is a wider choice of clubs:

• Soccer,
• Hockey,
• Commercial dance,
• Radio,
• Band skills,
• Track and field,
• Cooking,
• The school newspaper,
• Debating,
• Cheerleading,
• Cricket,
• Yoga.

Prep School sports clubs also include gymnastics, jazz dance, tennis, softball, and ballet. Mornings in the Prep School may begin with yoga. Young female athletes can join TAP sports program groups: TAP Cubs for Years 2–3 and TAP Tigers for Years 3–4. In Years 5–6, girls can try out for TAP or TAP Development groups. These continue into the Senior School.

From Year 7, clubs are available before lessons, at lunchtime, and after school. Senior School music options include:

• Strings, computer composition, percussion, jazz, choral singing, guitar, and ukulele, along with radio club,
• Practical preparation for GCSE Music exams at the end of secondary school,
• Prestissimo Winds, an ensemble for musicians at Grade 5 or above in the music examination system.

Senior School sports options include:

• Badminton,
• Tennis,
• Hockey,
• Cheerleading,
• Soccer,
• Netball,
• Dance,
• Gymnastics,
• Softball,
• GCSE PE preparation groups.

Senior School clubs include:

• Art,
• Chemistry,
• Coding,
• Classics,
• Creative writing,
• Media production,
• Debating,
• History,
• Historical films,
• Knitting,
• Mathematics,
• Science,
• Robotics,
• Amnesty.

Working with sports clubs, coaches, and the Mintridge Foundation, the school offers demonstrations and taster sessions, including shooting and fencing.

Swimming: The school recognizes the importance of swimming as a valuable skill and offers Stay+ swim classes for infants and toddlers. These classes are led by two school swim teachers and provide a bonding experience for parents and their children. The program incorporates different themes each week, including music, singing, art, dance, games, and exploration. The classes take place weekly in the Howell's pool with parents. Stay+Smile sessions are led by the head of early years education with support from Prep School staff.

By providing a well-rounded education that encompasses the arts, music, physical activities, and language learning, Howell's School aims to nurture students' diverse talents and interests while promoting a holistic approach to education.

• The 2024 Estyn report highlighted the school’s welcoming atmosphere, culture of kindness, and commitment to high achievement,
• Howell’s College welcomes both girls and boys,
• The curriculum includes activities that support students’ physical and mental well-being,
• Prep School students have weekly swimming lessons,
• The Talented Athlete Programme supports girls who want to pursue sports in greater depth and take on more demanding challenges.

A magnificent Victorian Gothic building right on the edge of the vast green expanses of Llandaff Fields offers a stunning sense of spaciousness unusual for a city school.

On-site facilities:

• Indoor swimming pool,
• Tennis court,
• Sports field,
• Sports Pavilion,
• Fitness room,
• Large Hall: Designed for conferences, concerts and other events,
• Lounge,
• Library,
• Concert Hall,
• Music classes,
• Drama studio.

Howell's School Llandaff has well-equipped facilities designed to stimulate and inspire students of all ages. Classrooms are equipped according to the curriculum of different ages, made bright, bright and colorful, equipped with interactive whiteboards and a variety of equipment to increase the effectiveness of learning and the development of skills. In outdoor classrooms, the school provides opportunities for students to develop a wide range of practical skills and gain in-depth knowledge based on active, hands-on learning.

Around 180 students use school buses to travel to and from Howell’s. Routes serve Cardiff and the surrounding areas, including Newport, Caerphilly, Cowbridge, and Penarth.

The school year at Howell's School Llandaff runs from September to June. The year is divided into 3 trimesters, between which vacations are organized:

• Autumn trimester (September – December),
• Christmas Vacation (2 weeks),
• Spring trimester (January – March),
• Easter holidays (2 weeks),
• Summer term (April – June),
• Summer holidays (2 months, July and August).

Additional costs:

• Registration fee,
• Entrance exams,
• Uniform,
• Public and other external examination fees,
• Transport,
• Lunches,
• Trips,
• Extracurricular activities,
• Additional lessons,
• Breakfast Club,
• After School Club,
• Howell's Holiday Club,
• Educational materials and stationery,
• Extracurricular activities (excluding travel, are included in the tuition fee).

When deciding to apply for a place at Howell's School, the candidate must provide the following documents:

• Detailed description from the class teacher,
• School report card for the last 2 years,
• A letter on the topic "Why do I want to study at your school",
• Copies of diplomas, awards, certificates.

After reviewing the application, candidates will go through the following stages:

• Interview,
• English Language Placement Test,
• Entrance exam in mathematics.

Howell's encourages candidates to attend a trial day at the school and book a tour of the grounds. Open events take place during the fall, spring, and summer terms. Families who cannot attend an open day can arrange an individual visit.

Girls from 3 to 18 years old are admitted to the school. In total, Howell's School Llandaff has between 400 and 700 students.

The school has an academic selective admissions policy.

• Nursery. Girls can start on their third birthday. Assessment using play-based activities is used to determine whether a child is ready to benefit from the curriculum offered,
• Prep School. The main entry point is Reception at age four. Admission to other year groups depends on available places. In the first and second grades, assessment is carried out through games, informal activities and unstructured assignments. For admission to grades 3-6, candidates submit entrance papers in mathematics, English, and non-verbal reasoning,
• Year 7. Candidates take entrance tests in mathematics and English, and pass an interview. Those seeking a scholarship or bursary take the entrance exam in January. Girls from Howell's Preparatory School take an exam so that they can be considered for scholarships,
• Grades 8-11. Candidates take entrance exams in mathematics and English, and after successful completion of written papers, interviews are held with the school principal to assess communication skills,
• Howell’s College: the main entry point is Year 12. Selection considers academic results, references, and interviews,
• Students may join during the academic year if places are available in the relevant year group,
• The school is licensed to sponsor visas for children enrolling from overseas.

The GDST Bursary Fund provides financial support for Senior School and College students whose families could not otherwise afford tuition.

• Eligible applicants for Years 7 and 12 can receive support covering 100% of tuition,
• For Year 7 entry, the school awards scholarships for academic achievement, English, mathematics, and music. These typically cover 5% of tuition,
• Applicants who narrowly miss out on a scholarship may be awarded Honorary Scholar status. Honorary scholarships do not provide financial gains, but recognize a girl's potential and her commitment to her chosen subject area.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision