St. Mary's School for Girls, Colchester

The school’s vision is to empower girls to thrive by providing a high-quality academic and all-round education within a supportive, single-sex environment. It aims to foster self-confidence, resilience, and kindness, free from gender stereotypes. The school emphasizes the importance of pastoral care and believes that a successful education is built on strong partnerships between home and school. It is a charitable institution with no owners or shareholders, ensuring all fees are reinvested into the school.

The school offers a broad, well-planned curriculum from the Early Years Foundation Stage through to Year 11. The Lower School curriculum focuses on core subjects including reading, writing, and mathematics, with pupils consistently performing above national expectations. The Senior School curriculum prepares students for GCSE examinations, with small class sizes and expert teaching in subjects such as STEM, humanities, languages, and the creative arts. The school is reaccredited with the NACE Challenge Award for its provision for more able learners.

St Mary’s is a high-performing school; the Lower School was ranked 12th in the Sunday Times ‘Parent Power’ list of preparatory schools, and the Senior School is the top non-selective school in Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk based on GCSE Attainment 8 scores. Pupils achieve a high 11+ pass rate and the school is a major feeder to Colchester County High School for Girls. In 2025, 55% of GCSE results were graded 9-7, with 100% of results in Latin, Fashion & Textiles, and Hospitality & Catering achieving these top grades.

St Mary’s provides a supportive, close-knit environment where every pupil is well known by staff. Teachers identify individual learning methods and provide support, encouragement, and extension work tailored to student needs. The school has a dedicated SENCo and provides support for pupils to ensure they can achieve their best in all subjects. Induction programmes and buddy systems are in place to help new pupils settle into the school community.

St Mary’s is an independent school with main entry points at Kindergarten, Prep (Reception) class, and Year 7, though pupils may join other year groups if places are available. The admissions process includes registration, for which a non-refundable £150 fee is required, and an entry deposit of £400 upon acceptance of a place. Prospective families are encouraged to register as early as possible, as the date of registration is a key factor in the offer of places. The school offers private tours and open days to provide an authentic insight into the school environment.

The school operates on a three-term academic year. For 2025-26, the Autumn term begins in early September, the Spring term in early January, and the Summer term in late April, with half-term breaks in October, February, and May. St Mary’s Kindergarten operates 51 weeks of the year, closing only for bank holidays and a period between Christmas and New Year. Detailed term dates for 2025-26 and 2026-27 are available on the school website.

The school operates across two sites: the Nursery and Prep School at 247 London Road and the Senior School at 91 Lexden Road in Colchester. Facilities include dedicated spaces for academic learning, music, drama, and sports. The school is a leading Eco School and maintains grounds that support its environmental initiatives. Senior School transport routes are available and have been expanding to meet demand.

Pupils have access to a wide variety of clubs, enrichment activities, music and drama productions, and international travel experiences. The school fosters team spirit through the School Council and School Houses, and offers numerous positions of responsibility to develop leadership skills. St Mary’s is a global member of the Round Square Organisation, providing international links for pupils. Additionally, the school hosts events such as careers fairs and subject-specific masterclasses.