Our Mission: to inspire all students to become confident, ethical and compelling individuals with the aspiration and qualities to shape a better future for all.

Welcome to Montpelier High School, a community proud of its identity, diversity and shared achievement.

As Acting Principal, I am privileged to lead a highly talented, dedicated group of teachers and support staff who share my determination to provide a unique and inspiring learning environment for every member of our school community. We encourage our students to celebrate their identity, develop the skills and confidence to champion their beliefs and pursue their ambitions, and to develop the strength of character to advocate for others.

Montpelier High School is a non-selective, high-achieving girls’ school that is an incredible microcosm of our city. We welcome students from all backgrounds and belief systems, prior attainment and learning needs. We celebrate our diversity and our students benefit enormously from the wide range of perspectives in every classroom.

We uphold the highest standards and expectations for every student, coupled with exactly the right level of support to enable each individual to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.

Every student and member of staff who comes here is united by a clear ambition to achieve the best they can for themselves, each other and the wider community. Crucial to our success is the unwavering support of our parents and carers who actively participate in our school community and help to maintain our values and standards.

Montpelier High School is rated by the Department for Education (DfE) in the highest bracket of secondary schools nationally for attainment and progress. This means that students of all prior attainment, whatever their starting point, make outstanding progress with us. Our school is also ranked by the DfE in the top bracket nationally for the full range of subjects: English, maths, science, EBacc, creative, vocational and practical subjects.

Referring to ‘prior attainment’ instead of ‘ability’ goes to the heart of our success as a learning community. We will never define a student by what they have achieved in the past (their prior attainment) but instead by want they want to achieve in the future. We believe that with a strong work ethic and the right challenge and support, all students can make outstanding progress and achieve their full potential.

Examination results are important for students’ futures but we are certainly not an exam factory. Alongside our academic success, we strive to develop the whole person and that’s why the enrichment element of our curriculum is not an optional extra but is built into the fabric of the timetable. From astronomy to forensics; debate and law societies; choirs and the arts; mental health and wellbeing; recreational and competitive sports – our Enrichment Programme seeks to empower students, helping them to develop their self-confidence and to understand the many ways in which they can positively contribute to a better future for all.

Montpelier High School students are actively shaping the future. They are confident, compelling and ethical individuals who are part of an inclusive community that respects diversity and champions progress and change.

Brendan Hesketh

Acting Principal

Established in 1891 as Colston’s Girls’ School, the full cohort of students and staff chose to change our name to Montpelier High School in 2021. We have a long and proud history of educating successful young women who are capable of becoming leaders, pioneers and change-makers. Our students develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to achieve high ambitions for themselves and for their communities.

As a girls’ school located in inner-city Bristol, where over 30 languages are spoken and a dozen different faiths and religions are represented, we are a thriving community. Our ever-growing calendar of events reflects who we are and includes celebrations such as Iftar in the holy month of Ramadan. We celebrate our diversity and we are unafraid to tackle the big issues of our time, such as racism, discrimination, injustice and climate change.

We encourage our students to champion issues that are important to them and every classroom is a uniquely safe space where they can explore different views and perspectives without fear of being judged or marginalised.

We are academically ambitious for every student, but more importantly, we want them to grow as happy and fulfilled young people ready to lead and succeed in their chosen path, whatever that may be. High-quality teaching and an inspired curriculum contribute to our status as one of the highest attaining non-selective schools in the South West region.

Alongside our academic success, we strive to develop the whole person through our Enrichment Programme, designed to broaden horizons, step outside our comfort zone and develop new interests and skills. Students are encouraged to take on leadership roles, to actively seek to shape their own future and that of the school.

We champion student leadership, empowering young people with the skills and confidence to debate complex and challenging issues, examine controversies from a range of perspectives, respecting and understanding other viewpoints while developing a respectful confidence in themselves.

High standards and high expectations go hand-in-hand with high levels of support. We encourage every student who joins us to see secondary school and sixth form as an opportunity to redefine themselves and to become whoever they want to be, both academically and as compelling individuals.

Put simply, Montpelier High School is a nurturing community of change-makers known for high-quality teaching, strong student leadership, student voice and democracy. We are committed, through the power of work ethic, to self-improvement for the benefit of all. 

If you're searching for your next post, why not contact us now? You'll be working at a great school and be part of a friendly, helpful team. We're always interested to hear from enthusiastic, committed teachers - send us your CV now via our School Talent Pool and say what sort of role you're looking for. By joining our School Talent Pool we'll know you're interested in working here when a future vacancy occurs.

Venturers Trust is a dynamic and focused multi-academy trust based in Bristol, formed in September 2017 through the merger of CGS Trust and Merchants’ Academy Trust. The Trust is responsible for eight academies, 3,500 pupils and 750 staff with a commitment to making a significant and lifelong difference to the lives of young people from some of Bristol’s most disadvantaged communities.

The Trust is sponsored by the Society of Merchant Venturers and the University of Bristol. The Society of Merchant Venturers is a private entrepreneurial and charitable organisation that actively supports enterprise in Bristol. It has been involved in improving the city’s education for at least 400 years. As a sponsor, the Merchant Venturers are heavily involved in all aspects of the Trust including Governance. They bring first class expertise in governance and a wide range of business acumen to the benefit of our schools.

The University of Bristol ranks as one of the top 10 universities in the United Kingdom. It is committed to encouraging the number of local students seeking a place within Higher Education. The University is actively involved in the development of the Trust’s curriculum and Governance and allows our pupils and students to access its excellent academic facilities. The University has created an extensive programme of opportunities for our pupils which no other schools have. The University also offers support in other areas, such as research and mentoring. Both sponsors seek to ensure that all our young people receive a truly inspiring education. Their support, challenge and expertise are greatly valued.

Currently the Primary phase of Venturers Trust comprises:

• Bannerman Road Community Academy
• Barton Hill Academy
• The Dolphin School
• Fairlawn School
• The Kingfisher School
• Merchants’ Academy, an all-age school, also benefits from collaboration in its Primary Phase with the five Primary schools in the Trust

The Trust has a set of core values which are embedded in all of its schools whilst allowing each learning community to develop a distinctive identity relevant to its local community. The core values across the family of schools are: Respect, Responsibility, Curiosity, and Resilience