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THE OUR KIDS REPORT:
The Bishop Strachan School

Grades JK TO Gr. 12 — Toronto, ON (MAP)
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The Bishop Strachan School:
THE OUR KIDS REPORT
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School address

  • 298 Lonsdale Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4V 1X2 (MAP)
  • Busing not available

Our Perspective

How we see The Bishop Strachan School

Our Kids Feature Review

The 50-page review of The Bishop Strachan School is part of our series of in-depth accounts of Canada's leading private schools. It provides a unique and objective perspective on the school's academics, programs, culture, and community.

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School's Perspective

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How The Bishop Strachan School sees itself

The school administration answered our questions

Who are you, as a school?

"The Bishop Strachan School is a leading independent JK-Grade 12 day and boarding school for girls. Our rigorous, inquiry-based curriculum prepares students for university and beyond. Our 7.5-acre campus includes STEAM-focused learning spaces, a Centre for Arts and Design, multimedia and film labs, and athletics facilities. As an inclusive girls’ school, we foster a sense of belonging by affirming our diverse community. For over 150 years, BSS has inspired students to be fearless and educated them to be leaders."

  • Founded in 1867
  • Specializing in the learning needs of the 'whole girl'
  • Co-curricular programs and clubs
  • 100 per cent university placement
  • Extensive leadership opportunities
  • Teacher-advisor program
  • Advanced Placement and the AP Capstone Diploma programs offered
  • International exchange program
  • Scholarships available
  • Financial assistance available

What do you do differently and uniquely well?

"The Signature of a BSS Girl is a set of seven personal attributes that are nurtured and taught- a growth mindset, ethical citizenship, curiosity, self-awareness, grit, voice and leadership. Backed by intensive research on girls’ psychology, wellness, character development, and leadership models, we believe these attributes help each student realize their full potential. From academics to sports, music, leadership and service, our program is designed to encourage girls explore their interests."

To your knowledge, why do families choose your school over others?

"Families experience a warm and welcoming community that celebrates students’ interests, passions, and learning styles. Faculty nurture each student’s curiosity, encouraging them to explore the world around them with confidence. Girls experience both academic rigour and a well-rounded education because of our balanced approach to learning and focus on student well-being. We foster a caring environment that embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our classrooms and beyond."

What aspect of your school is underappreciated?

"At BSS, we are a community. Parents are seen as partners in their children’s academic journey. We balance the needs of our students between academic learning and co-curricular activities which encourage students to explore their interests and abilities. Our community is diverse in all aspects- our Boarding community boasts 70 students from around the world. When our students graduate, they join a global community of BSS alumnae who represent an incredible breadth of accomplishments."

What might families find surprising about your school?

"Financial assistance is a cornerstone of our commitment to providing inclusive and accessible education. It ensures that more girls can develop their voice, curiosity and leadership skills. During the 2021/22 school year, we awarded over $2 million in financial assistance to 75 families, making BSS the school with the highest amount available of any girl's school in Canada. Our goal is to ensure that cost is not a barrier for exceptional students who want to access a BSS education."

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School Facilities

Photo-tour of facilities

Athletics facilities

Arts facilities

Campus

Classrooms

Residences

Science facilities

Instructional resources

Shared spaces

School Videos

Insider Perspectives

How people from the school’s community see The Bishop Strachan School

Video reviews of The Bishop Strachan School

Alum, Monika Steger (2022)

Watch our alum interview with Monika Steger to learn about the unique experience of attending The Bishop Strachan School.

Roundtable Q&A (2022)

Watch our The Bishop Strachan School Q&A discussion to gain fresh insight into the school's culture, values, and strengths.

Parent, SONA SHAH (2022)

Watch our parent interview with SONA SHAH to get the inside scoop on what it’s like to have a child attend The Bishop Strachan School.
See all video reviews (5 total)

Written reviews of The Bishop Strachan School

(4.8)

Alumnus, Allison Smith (2018)

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at The Bishop Strachan School. BSS has a strong academic prog...

School leadership

Top-down influence on the school’s direction and tone

Interview with school leader

Watch our The Bishop Strachan School leadership interview with Angela Terpstra to learn about the academics, culture, and values of the school.
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Message from school leadership

Dr. Angela Terpstra, Head of School

Angela Terpstra was principal of the Senior School for eleven years before becoming Head of School, and her goals for the girls of BSS reach beyond academic success. She places immense priority on cultivating compassionate, ethical citizens who exhibit kindness and generosity and value differences in religion, race, opinions, and ideas. She strives to engage girls with the outside world, and feels strongly that topical issues in the news have a very important place in the classrooms of BSS. Angela is inspired and activated by the idea of “private schools with public purpose,” and she strives to use the resources available in an independent school setting to lead the way in forward-thinking education for girls that teachers the world over can observe and learn from.

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THE OUR KIDS REPORT: The Bishop Strachan School

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