St. Catherine's School, Twickenham

St Catherine’s is a Catholic school guided by the motto ‘Not Words, but Deeds’ and the inspiration of St Catherine of Siena, who encouraged individuals to be who they are meant to be. The school emphasizes community life, action, and the development of each girl's spiritual, academic, and personal potential. It fosters an inclusive, caring environment where every pupil is valued and encouraged to build self-confidence and resilience.

The school provides an all-girls education spanning from the Prep School (Years 3–6) through to the Senior School and Sixth Form. The curriculum is broad and rich, with a strong focus on STEM subjects, languages, and the arts. The Sixth Form offers A Level pathways, with students typically expected to achieve six GCSEs at grades 6-9 for entry. The school also maintains a House system and a chaplaincy to support the holistic development of its pupils.

The school maintains a strong academic record, with pupils regularly securing places at prestigious universities including UCL, the University of Edinburgh, King’s College London, Warwick, and Durham. The curriculum and all-girls environment are designed to encourage high achievement in STEM subjects, with data indicating higher uptake of subjects like Further Maths, Physics, and Computer Science compared to co-educational settings. Pupils are encouraged to be ambitious, creative, and to engage compassionately with the wider world.

The school employs a dedicated Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) and SEND teaching assistants to provide learning support. Pastoral care is a central component of the school's mission, ensuring that every girl is supported in her personal and academic development. An independent listener is also available to pupils.

The school welcomes applications from girls of all faiths and backgrounds. The admissions process involves a registration fee, entrance assessments (literacy and numeracy for Prep; Mathematics and English for Senior School), school reports, a reference from the current school, and an interview. Early registration is advised, and the school offers automatic entry to the Senior School for current Year 6 pupils and to the Sixth Form for current Year 11 pupils. Scholarships are available for Prep, Senior, and Sixth Form entry, alongside bursary support.

The school operates on a termly basis, with specific dates published for each academic year. A significant annual event is St Catherine’s Day, held in late June, which serves as a community celebration of the school's patron saint and academic achievements. Termly fee invoices are issued in advance of each term.

Located beside the river Thames in Twickenham, the campus includes dedicated spaces for academic and extracurricular pursuits. Facilities include a school library, catering facilities for breakfast and lunch, and various classrooms and laboratories. The school also provides wraparound care, including a Breakfast Club and an After School Club.

The school offers a wide range of co-curricular activities designed to foster resilience and teamwork, including sports such as rugby and football, debating, drama, and music. Pupils participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award, various trips and visits, and school committees. The school also hosts events like 'Unity Week' and 'Life Beyond School', which feature workshops and guest speakers to develop leadership and soft skills.