The Girls' Day School Trust (GDST) is a firm believer in single-sex education. Britain's largest educational charity, the GDST is an organization of about 25 independent schools and academies for girls in England and Wales. ( About half of the member schools are located in the London area.) The schools, which provide both academic programs and extracurricular activities, have a staff of mor than 3,700 and enroll some 20,000 students ages 3-18. The GDST offers scholarships, awards, and other financial assistance to enable all eligible girls to attend. The GDST has pioneered the education of girls and young women since its founding in 1872.