ðɪ ˈɜːli tɹɐdˈɪʃənz ʌvðə kˈɑːlɪdʒ wɜːɹ ɪstˈæblɪʃt baɪ mˈɔːd kˈɑːnəl, hˈɛd mˈɪstɹəs fɹʌm nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪt tə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːtiːn, hˌuː tʃˈoʊz ðə kˈʌlɚz ʌv ɡɹˈiːn ænd ɡˈoʊld, ænd ðə skˈuːl mˈɑːɾoʊ pɜːɹ ˈɑːɹduːə ˈæd ˈɔːltə, wˌɪtʃ mˈeɪ biː tɹænslˈeɪɾᵻd fɹʌm lˈætɪn æz "stɹˈaɪv fɚðə hˈaɪɪst".
The early traditions of the college were established by Maud Connell, Head Mistress from 1908 to 1913, who chose the colours of green and gold, and the school motto Per Ardua Ad Alta, which may be translated from Latin as "Strive for the Highest".