The Branksome Difference

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Home › About › The Branksome Difference

At Branksome Hall, innovation meets excellence. We empower girls with global vision, academic rigour and balanced growth.

How to Apply

Summary

History

IB Program

Local & Global Community

Well-Being

Innovation & Leadership

Our Campus

Testimonials

Our Difference: A Summary

Branksome Hall stands out for its innovative approach to education, empowering girls with global perspectives, high academic standards, leadership opportunities and a focus on inclusion.

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IB Curriculum

Our curriculum is rooted in the best practices of the International Baccalaureate (IB) liberal arts framework and social-emotional learning (SEL).

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Leaders and Innovators

We are leaders in innovation, STEM and the arts. We believe innovation is a mindset—a way of engaging with the world.

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Inspiring Campus

Branksome Hall is inspired by its location in midtown Toronto, with incredible arts and culture, sports and dining just steps away.

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Globally Connected

With 54 Boarders from more than 13 countries and a sister school in South Korea, Branksome fosters a vibrant international community.

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Inclusive Community

We ensure that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) permeate our culture, guide our actions and are reflected in our lived experiences.

Empowering Girls to Lead, Innovate and Thrive

Branksome Hall offers more than just an education—we inspire a mindset. Grounded in our core values of inclusiveness, creativity, community and making a difference, we nurture girls to become confident leaders who are ready to tackle the complexities of a rapidly changing world.

With a globally focused IB curriculum, world-class faculty and cutting-edge facilities, Branksome Hall fosters intellectual curiosity and innovative thinking. Our diverse, international community and commitment to social-emotional learning ensure that every student feels supported, empowered and ready to make her mark on the world.

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Two girls in school uniforms kneel on grass, studying a clipboard together. One holds a leafy branch, suggesting they are working on a nature project or outdoor assignment in a green park setting.

A student wearing a green school blazer sits at a desk, resting her chin on her hand and looking thoughtfully to the side in a classroom setting. Other students are blurred in the background.

A teacher smiles while helping two young girls in plaid uniforms use tablets at a round table in a classroom. The girls are focused on their screens as the teacher assists them.

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INSPIRING EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION SINCE 1903

For more than a century, Branksome Hall has shaped leaders through its commitment to academic excellence, innovation and character development. Rooted in tradition yet future-focused, we inspire young women to thrive as compassionate, globally minded changemakers in a dynamic world.

Our History

A sepia-toned historic photo of Branksome Hall, a girls’ school in Toronto, showing a large Victorian-style building surrounded by trees and a grassy lawn. The building has a greenhouse-like extension.

OUR WORLD-CLASS IB CURRICULUM

Branksome Hall offers a world-class International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, fostering critical thinking, creativity and global-mindedness. With a focus on academic excellence, personal growth and inquiry-based learning, Branksome prepares students for success in higher education and beyond. The IB programme at Branksome Hall emphasizes leadership, community engagement and global awareness, with students able to choose between the Full Diploma and IB Select in Grades 11 and 12.

Creativity, Activity and Service

All Grades 7–12 students are given opportunities for experiential learning or gaining knowledge through participating in new activities outside of the classroom.

Inquiry-Based Learning

Inquiry-based learning encourages students to ask questions, explore topics deeply and think critically, fostering a love of learning and independent problem-solving skills.

International Perspectives

Branksome's IB programme fosters international perspectives by encouraging global awareness, critical thinking and cultural understanding, preparing students to become active, informed global citizens.

Grades 11 and 12: IB Select Option

Our unique Branksome Hall IB Select pathway offers personalized course selection that plays to each student’s strengths and ensures graduates are prepared for the rigours of university.

Discover Our IB Program

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Discover Our IB Program

At Branksome Hall, we nurture independent thinkers who challenge the status quo, set new standards and pave their own paths to success. As Toronto’s only all-years independent IB World School for girls, our globally focused curriculum fosters intellectual curiosity and problem-solving skills.

Our IB Advantage

Our Local and Global Community

From supporting Toronto communities to engaging in international trips, our students use their talents to make a difference. With global connections, including exchanges and our study abroad program with Branksome Hall Asia, we empower students to learn worldwide.

Discover Opportunities Branksome Hall Asia

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Two young girls sitting outdoors on a sunny day, playing a hand-clapping game on a tree stump, surrounded by trees and fallen leaves. One girl faces the camera, smiling, while the other faces away.

A large group of people pose together in colorful traditional Korean hanbok outfits in front of a historic palace building, with mountains visible in the background under a clear sky.

INNOVATION AND LEADERSHIP AT BRANKSOME HALL

At Branksome, innovation is at the heart of everything we do. Our students are encouraged to bring their ideas to life, solve complex problems and take risks. Our educators lead with data-driven research, supporting student entrepreneurship through Noodle, our groundbreaking accelerator program. The entire community collaborates to advance girls’ education with initiatives such as the new Karen L. Jurjevich Innovation Centre and Studio Theatre (iCAST), opening in 2026.

THE CHANDARIA RESEARCH CENTRE

Asking and answering questions about educational excellence is a priority at Branksome Hall. In 2016, we opened the Chandaria Research Centre (CRC), one of the few school-based research centres in Canada and internationally. Focused on enhancing teaching, well-being and global perspectives, the CRC fosters collaboration and innovation, partnering with schools and organizations to advance research and share findings.

visit the crc

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The Centre for Strategic LeadershiP

The Centre for Strategic Leadership (CSL) at Branksome Hall, the first of its kind in a Canadian JK-Grade 12 school, empowers employees to develop leadership skills through a range of programs. Focused on personal and professional growth, the CSL uses a strength-based, values-driven approach to foster alignment with the school’s mission, strategy and priorities in social-emotional learning (SEL), Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and innovation.

Learn about the CSL

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Innovation in Practice

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Explore Our New iCAST Building

iCAST embodies our commitment to arts and innovation, uniting scholars, experts and our community under one roof.

Learn more

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Slingshot Innovation Academy

Discover how we empower students across the Greater Toronto Area to tackle real-world problems and develop technology-driven solutions.

Learn more

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Noodle Business Accelerator

The first of its kind in Canada’s JK– Grade 12 space, Noodle empowers students to innovate, adapt and thrive.

Learn more

WELL-BEING

At Branksome, we are committed to supporting our students and employees in their physical, mental and emotional well-being. Our Student Support Team is a diverse group of educators and professionals from around our school who are here to support our students in both their academic and personal growth. The team is made up of School Counsellors, Social Workers, School Nurses, Learning Strategies Teachers, University Counsellors, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team and the Boarding team.

Learn About Student Support

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DEI: A Continual Process

We embrace diversity, equity and inclusion as core values that enrich our community and foster global understanding. We are committed to creating a welcoming environment where every individual feels valued, respected and empowered. Through education, dialogue and action, we cultivate a culture that celebrates differences and works toward meaningful change for a more equitable future.

Learn About DEI at Branksome

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inspiring spaces to learn and grow

Branksome Hall students love learning on our picturesque urban campus. Located in the heart of Toronto, our 13-acre campus includes a gorgeous ravine woodlot with an outdoor classroom and a winding pathway—places where girls can learn about their natural environment. Our buildings include a mixture of heritage mansions and modern structures, all with leading-edge technology.

Learn MORE

EXPLORE Our Campus

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Take a Virtual Tour

We invite you to explore our campus through our 3D Virtual Tours. Navigate by using your arrow keys or by using your mouse to click yourself through the hallways and into different rooms.

Virtual Tours

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Innovation Spaces

Community members are empowered to bring their boldest ideas to life with expert training and numerous workshops held in state-of-the-art spaces to enhance skills.

Innovation Spaces

Our Toronto Advantage

Students have access to Canada's largest, most multicultural city. The school is nestled in the residential neighbourhood of Rosedale, within walking distance of public transit, libraries, theatres and more.

Our Toronto Advantage

What do you think sets Branksome Hall apart?

Parents and alums share how Branksome Hall’s inspiring community, innovative programs and global opportunities empower students to thrive. Their stories highlight what makes Branksome truly extraordinary.

In addition to the academic rigour, the school really supports the students and helps them with their physical and mental health.

Ali Salahuddin Parent

The one thing I appreciated most about Branksome was the sense of community. Being in an all-girls’ environment, I felt motivated to strive for the best I could do.

Casandra LOBO'19 Alum

I appreciate that the school has a strong idea of what liberal-arts education represents. They stick to it as their core and really believe in it.

Clara Mathur Parent

START YOUR JOURNEY

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START YOUR JOURNEY

From important dates, entry grades and details on the application process by grade, find everything you need to get ready to apply to Branksome Hall.

How to Apply