Howell's School is part of the GDST (Girls’ Day School Trust). The GDST is the leading network of independent girls’ schools in the UK, with nearly 4,000 staff, and 20,000 students between the ages of three and 18. As a charity that owns and runs a network of 24 schools and two academies in England and Wales, it reinvests all its income in its schools. Howell's School, located at Llandaff, in Cardiff, caters for girls aged 3 -18 and for boys aged 16 -18. It has a longstanding reputation for academic excellence as the foremost girls' school in Wales. It provides tremendous "value added" in terms of public examination results, which are consistently higher than predicted in independent assessments. Since 2005, boys have been admitted to the Sixth Form College. Founded in 1860, the school is housed in the original buildings of great character as well as more modern extensions and nearby buildings such as Roald Dahl's childhood home. The Junior and Senior School are on the same site but are self-contained entities, though the Junior School benefits from the facilities of the Senior School, including the indoor swimming pool. A friendly and purposeful atmosphere pervades the school, which keeps abreast of modern educational developments. The facilities are outstanding, as is the extensive programme of extracurricular activities. Students are encouraged to excel in any area in which they show interest or talent, not purely the academic. Links with overseas schools, superb I.T. facilities, great environmental awareness (the school has gained Fair Trade status) and a wide variety of language provision all serve to create tomorrow's global citizens. The school encourages independence of thought and provides a confidence-building environment. There is a strong emphasis on pastoral care. The Careers Department has attained the CareersWales Award for the quality of its guidance.
