The school was founded in 1874 in Wellesley Road just north of the centre of Croydon, and the first Headmistress was Dorinda Neligan.

The school was evacuated to Bradden, Northamptonshire during World War II.

The present building in Old Farleigh Road, Selsdon, South Croydon, Surrey was opened in 1966.

Girls entering the school are assigned to one of the four houses.

[2] The Japanese Saturday School of London, a weekend Japanese programme, uses the Girls' School as its Croydon Campus (クロイドン校舎 Kuroidon Kōsha).