We are dedicated to empowering students to become capable, confident leaders who embody the Signature of a BSS Girl – girls who lead with empathy, curiosity and grit. Girls who are not afraid to try, to fail and to get up again. Girls with a thirst for the endless pursuit of learning.We’re committed to helping students embark on a journey of personal growth, facilitating hands-on experiences, and fostering a sense of community and purpose.

 The application for the 2025-26 academic year is now closed.

We invite you to learn more about BSS. Please fill out the form below and someone from the Enrolment team will get back to you as soon as possible.

950 students, including 72 boarders

1867 - the year BSS was founded

18-22 average

class size

Over 100 credit courses in Grades 9 - 12

14 Advanced Placement courses

Over $2M in financial assistance, the most of any girls school in Canada

36 councils, academic groups and community group

15 different sports offered in athletics across 3 seasons

15 countries represented in Boarding

At BSS, we do things differently. Our challenging program is based on the latest educational research about how girls learn. Students at BSS learn core academic skills, such as numeracy, literacy, research, critical thinking, communication, global citizenship and digital literacy. They use that foundation as a springboard to generate new, creative ideas. Experiential learning, co-curricular opportunities and academic enrichment nurture students’ intellectual, social, emotional, physical, spiritual and ethical growth.

Learning at BSS is inquiry-based because we know that this type of learning sticks. At all levels, from kindergarten to Grade 12, students are active learners and critical thinkers who ask probing questions and work collaboratively. 

By discovering the world around them, BSS students go beyond understanding. They apply their knowledge to make real change. They get to know themselves. They become independent lifelong learners, confident and self-assured. They learn to speak for themselves and to lead others. They grow into compassionate and ethical citizens. 

We call this the Signature of a BSS Girl.

With their teachers, Junior School students engage in visual art, performance and music. Students investigate, collaborate, problem-solve and express their learning through visual art, performance, creative writing, musical expression and more.

In Grades 7 and 8, Inquiry and project-based learning ensures that students are excited about and feel supported in their learning. The learning is exploratory, integrative, relevant and grounded in the Ontario curriculum. It provides a strong academic foundation for future learning in Grades 9 to 12.

Students are challenged by a powerful curriculum that demands their curiosity and commitment. They develop strong academic, communication and collaboration skills. They also learn to overcome obstacles, appreciate different perspectives and care about the world around them.

The arts are integral to how our students learn about themselves and the world around them. Students cultivate creativity, critical thinking, and well-being through our arts programs. At every age, they have opportunities to use a variety of media to create personal, meaningful pieces of art.

Athletics is a chance for girls to develop new skills, self-esteem, leadership, sportsmanship and grit. We offer a variety of sports with different skill levels to meet athletes where they are, teach students new sports and challenge those who are highly skilled. 

At BSS, girls are leaders in every aspect of school life. Students learn the foundational skills of leadership through workshops and training, then put them into practice in various ways. They learn that leadership is about empowering, mentoring and supporting their peers.

The arts at BSS are integral to how our students learn about themselves and the world around them. Students cultivate creativity, critical thinking, resilience and well-being through our curricular and co-curricular arts programs. At every age, they have opportunities to use a variety of media to create personal, meaningful pieces of art. They can learn a musical instrument, join a dance class, sing in a choir or take a role in a stage production. 

We offer arts programming from JK to Grade 12 in a wide range of disciplines, and integrate cutting-edge technology and explicit connections to STEM. This interdisciplinary approach encourages students to innovate and think creatively. And it helps foundational concepts stick.

Junior School students engage in investigations and collaborative problem-solving, and express their learning through drawing, painting, sculpting, performance, movement, creative writing
and more. 

JK to Grade 5 students learn vocal and percussion skills with a focus on rhythmic movement and songs. Grade 6 introduces instrumental music with ukulele, band, and strings. The Junior Choir and optional after-school programs offer opportunities for vocal, musical theatre and dance performances.

In Grade 7 and 8, instrumental music and visual arts classes continue to be part of the curriculum. The Options program offers various arts, crafts and design activities, such as dance, jewelry making, sewing and game design.

In Grades 9 to 12, students can take visual art, dance, drama, guitar, band, strings and vocal classes up to Grade 11, and expand their learning in Grade 12 with music composition, choreography, drama production, and non-traditional and digital arts classes. Our interdisciplinary Innovation and Design course offers a unique fusion of technology, art and design.

Athletics is a vital part of the student experience at BSS. It is a chance for girls to develop new skills, self-esteem, sportsmanship, leadership and grit. Here, an athlete is more than someone who competes on a team; they can be anybody who likes to challenge themselves physically, whether the activity is archery, rock climbing, rugby or skiing. We offer a variety of sports with different skill levels and entry points to meet athletes where they are, teach students new sports and challenge those who are highly skilled. We also provide a specialized program for high performing athletes to ensure a balance with the academic curriculum. 

Our outstanding facilities include a turf field (the first of any girls’ school in Ontario), two gyms, a pool, dance studios, a rock-climbing wall and a fitness centre. 

The Junior School Athletics program offers students the chance to explore various sports. Athletes in Grades 1 to 4 participate in a multi-sport program that aligns closely with the Long Term Development Framework. Athletes in Grade 4 are invited to join competitive play in a selection of sports, including cross country, hockey, and track and field, and Grade 5 and 6 athletes can compete in CISAA inter-school competitions.

Grade 7 and 8 students can participate in athletics either through club sports (designed to introduce students to a new sport by teaching them fundamental skills) or through division sports, where students compete in CISAA inter-school competitions. 

In Grades 9 to 12, competition increases, with more opportunities to participate in division-level sports. Students can also participate outside of CISAA at OFSAA, CAIS and other school association tournaments. With passion and focus, students excel at their sport, hone their leadership skills and work together as a team in practices and games.

A BSS education allows girls to be leaders in the classroom, on sports teams and clubs, in formal roles and in every aspect of school life. Student voice is at the centre of our leadership program. By collaborating and taking action on issues they are passionate about, students develop their leadership skills and style in a purposeful and impactful way. They build the foundational skills of strong leaders (such as self-awareness, decision making and effective communication) through training and workshops, and they put these skills into practice in various roles across the school. Through a structured research-informed process, faculty provide feedback that allows students to learn and grow throughout the year, and as they take on more responsibility.

Students actively create a culture of belonging by responding to the needs of the community and designing relevant initiatives. From Junior School to Grade 12, they understand that their actions can have a positive impact on the world around them. They learn that leadership is more than a title; it’s about empowering, mentoring and supporting their peers.

Students come to know that leadership requires important skills, like listening to others and learning to incorporate the collective ideas of a group to accomplish challenges together. These experiences then set them up for success in Grade 6, when they engage in workshops about self-awareness, while taking on more responsibility within our Junior School community.

In Grades 7 and 8, students learn that a leader inspires and motivates others both in quiet and public ways. Through Homeroom activities, students learn about different leadership styles and ways of leading. Throughout the year, they exercise leadership through co-curriculars and community engagement programs, during Assemblies and Chapels, on councils, clubs and teams, and by planning events and attending workshops. 

In Grades 9 - 12, students practice leadership through participation in many ways. They strengthen the school culture by organizing initiatives and activities that build a sense of pride and belonging. Our student leaders make BSS a welcoming community, where all students feel a sense of belonging. Grade 11 and 12 students wishing to take on formal leadership positions are elected or appointed by their peers and faculty. 

We have developed an innovative STEAM program with inquiry and problem-based learning at its heart. From JK to Grade 12, students are given opportunities to create, solve and design using technology. At BSS, technology is not an end in itself. We help students develop the ability to use technology in a safe and purposeful way.

The Bishop Strachan School is a leading independent JK-Grade 12 day and boarding school for girls. Through our challenging inquiry-based program, students learn core academic skills and learn to lead. Our 7.5-acre campus includes STEAM-focused learning spaces, arts, design, and athletics facilities, including a turf field. As an inclusive girls’ school, we foster a sense of belonging by affirming our diverse community. For more than 150 years, BSS has inspired students to be fearless and educated them to be leaders.