Royal School for Daughters of Officers of the Army

The school was founded in 1864, and opened on 24 August 1865 under Lady Superintendent Emmeline Maria Kingdon, who was recommended by Florence Nightingale.

[3] The school's mission was to provide practical and religious education for the daughters of army officers who might otherwise be unable to afford it.

Subscribers were eligible to vote on which girls would receive admission at reduced fees (initially twelve pounds).

A London office was maintained, initially on Cockspur Street, until a bursar was appointed at Bath after World War II.

[4] In September 1939, after war was declared, the school moved to Longleat and the Admiralty's Hydrographic Department took over the Lansdown premises.

In about 1889, for financial reasons, the committee decided to admit granddaughters of officers and, with the highest fees, daughters of civilian gentlemen.

The leaving age was relaxed as academic achievement and admission to university became more important, but the rule was not formally abolished until 1949.

This restriction prevented the school from obtaining a grant from the Royal Patriotic Fund to assist with its foundation, but was not lifted until 1920.

After the return from Longleat, the school agreed in principle to accept some pupils sponsored by local education authorities but very few came.