St Mary's School

St Mary’s is founded on the belief that a happy child is a successful child, fostering a nurturing environment that encourages girls to embrace their unique potential. The school’s ethos is centered on the values of 'Embrace, Empower, Excel,' aiming to build confidence, curiosity, and resilience in every student. It emphasizes a holistic approach to education, where academic challenge is balanced with personal growth and character development.

The school offers an all-through education starting from Nursery and Reception, progressing through the Prep Department to the Senior House and Sixth Form. The curriculum is broad and balanced, covering STEM, humanities, and the expressive arts, with students in Year 9 selecting from over 17 GCSE options. The Sixth Form features the 'SMS Ignite' programme, which offers over 27 A Level subjects, the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), and a specialized Luminary Programme of guest speakers. Small class sizes—averaging 6 students in the Sixth Form—are a hallmark of the academic approach.

Students achieve strong academic results at both GCSE and A Level, with graduates progressing to a variety of destinations including traditional universities, art schools, and degree apprenticeship schemes. The school provides bespoke higher education guidance, including specialized pathways for competitive applications to Oxbridge, Dentistry, Medicine, and Veterinary Science.

The school provides dedicated learning support led by specialists, including a Director of Learning Support for the Prep department and a Head of Support for Learning for the Senior school. Support is tailored to individual needs, and additional individual learning support sessions are available as a chargeable extra.

St Mary’s is an independent day school for girls aged 3–18. Main entry points are Nursery and Reception, Year 3, Years 5 or 6, Year 7, and Year 12, with occasional places available in other year groups. The admissions process focuses on getting to know the whole child through assessment and individual engagement rather than relying solely on test scores. Prospective families are encouraged to book a visit to tour the school.

The school operates on a three-term structure: Michaelmas (Autumn), Lent (Spring), and Trinity (Summer). Each term includes a half-term break, and the academic year typically concludes in early July with Speech Day. Term dates are subject to change and are published annually on the school website.

The campus features two sports halls, one of which includes a climbing wall, and an outdoor Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) equipped with floodlights for netball, hockey, and football. The school also provides a main hall for music, dance, and drama performances, as well as classrooms equipped with interactive screens and Wi-Fi. These facilities are available for hire by the community during evenings, weekends, and school holidays.

The school offers a wide range of enrichment activities, including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Model United Nations. Students can participate in various clubs such as Art History, Film, and Current Affairs, or take on leadership roles by coaching junior sports teams or mentoring younger pupils. The school also hosts international trips, such as recent visits to Washington DC, Florence, and Rome, and provides opportunities for performance in senior choirs and drama productions.