About

A message from Mrs Nicola Griffiths, Principal at all-girls school St Mary’s

Welcome to St Mary’s Colchester. We are an independent all-girls school in north Essex for girls age 3-16, with a Kindergarten for children age 3-4. As you explore our website, you’ll find out more about St Mary’s and the enlightened, empowering and complete education we provide, designed specifically for girls to thrive.

We believe that girls are remarkable and have different educational needs. At St Mary’s, your daughter will be inspired, build resilience, advance academically, learn what interests her and grow. We understand that the girls’ wellbeing matters and is critical to achieving. Girls at St Mary’s are not only self-confident and capable, but also kind and considerate.

We know that as parents, you want the world for your daughter – and so do we. And when she leaves us she’ll be empowered to rise to the challenges and the opportunities the world presents.

Arrange a visit to find out more about all-girls school St Mary’s

I hope that as you explore our website you’ll get a feel for the unique character of our school. You’ll find plenty of information on our website but people find that by visiting us they get the best insight into all we have to offer.

There are also many benefits that come from being an all-girls school, which you can read more about on our website. Many families say they only really appreciate the full benefits of an all-girls school education when they visit the school however.

So please take a look at whether you can make one of our upcoming Open Days or arrange an individual tour at a time that’s convenient to you, to find out more about St Mary’s and the excellent education we provide.

Academic excellence at St Mary’s

Research from around the world provides evidence of higher academic success in all-girls schools. Studies include those which have shown girls in all-girls schools to be ahead in reading, maths and languages. Research has also shown pupils in all-girls schools to outperform students in co-ed schools at Key Stage 4 (GCSE level).

I am immensely proud that The Sunday Times ranked St Mary’s Lower School as the 12th highest-performing preparatory school in England. Many girls achieve scholarships to senior school. In addition, we have an impressive 11+ pass rate for those who choose to sit the exam.

At the Senior School we see fantastic GCSE results each year. We’re able to achieve such success by tailoring the education to suit the needs of each individual in our small classes and by giving the girls the encouragement and support they need to aim high.

Rated excellent by the Independent School Inspectorate (ISI)

The Independent School Inspectorate (ISI) rated St Mary’s excellent in February 2023. This rating is the highest award. It covers both ‘the quality of the pupils’ academic and other achievements’ and ‘the quality of the pupils’ personal development’.

The key findings emphasised the high levels of attainment across the curriculum for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), in National Curriculum tests for Year 6 and at GCSE level. We were delighted that our emphasis on the importance of pastoral care was also documented by inspectors.

The benefits of an all-girls school education

Neuroscience and brain research has shown that male and female brains differ and that the sequence as well as the rate of development of the brain are different, which can impact on the way pupils learn. All-girls schools can tailor their teaching to how girls learn best.

Research shows many benefits of an all-girls school education, including higher academic achievement, freedom from stereotypes and higher aspirations. All-girls schools have also been linked to increased confidence and improved mental wellbeing.

Having taught in a variety of schools, I am passionate about all-girls schools and the benefits they bring. I would welcome you to visit us to find out more. I would also be delighted to share my insights into all-girls schools if you would like to arrange an individual meeting with me to discuss the subject.

A truly independent school in Colchester, North Essex

We are proud to have charitable status, meaning all fees are reinvested into the school. We are also truly independent, with no owners or shareholders. Additionally, a committed governing body oversee the running of the school to ensure we provide a high-quality education and a positive learning environment.

Our vision at St Mary’s is to empower girls to thrive

We use our expertise in educating girls to empower pupils. At St Mary’s we also inspire them to see the world as one full of limitless possibilities.

We equip girls with knowledge, experiences and skills to thrive at St Mary’s and beyond. We do this in an environment designed specifically for girls. An all-girls school environment that is free from judgement and stereotypes, and full of respect and support.

We offer a brilliantly balanced education and provide an abundance of opportunities for the girls to grow and develop.

As well as challenging the girls academically, we also challenge pupils physically and creatively. Pupils participate in a wide range of sports, from dancing and athletics to football and rounders. The girls take part in competitions such as netball tournaments and swimming galas throughout the year, often with great success.

We regard the creative and performing arts highly at St Mary’s and provide a rich arts curriculum and extra-curricular activities. Girls’ confidence in performing grows as a result of a range of drama productions and concerts on offer. These range from Nativity performances and small informal music concerts to spectacular drama productions and a whole school Carol Service.

A wealth of opportunities on offer

I’m a strong believer that success in life comes from more than just impressive exam results. At St Mary’s we offer a brilliantly balanced education in order to develop exceptionally well-rounded individuals.

A huge variety of clubs, enrichment activities, music and drama productions, visits and international travel experiences are on offer to the girls, giving them ample opportunity to learn new skills and develop talents.

There are numerous positions of responsibility available to the girls, which help develop their leadership skills. We also foster team spirit through initiatives such as the School Council and School Houses.

St Mary’s is a global member of the Round Square Organisation, a worldwide network of over 200 top schools in more than 50 countries. Those who attend St Mary’s benefit from our international links, helping broaden their horizons.

A positive environment that enables pupils to thrive

At St Mary’s we provide an environment that is safe in every respect. For young people to thrive I firmly believe they must feel confident, relaxed and secure. Every child is known and understood and the girls feel comfortable challenging themselves and asking questions.

Before children even start at St Mary’s we take time to get to know them and their families. We have initiatives in place from induction programmes to buddy systems to help pupils settle in.

There’s a positive culture at St Mary’s and we believe in instilling the values of respect and courtesy. Through our charity and outreach work the students develop a strong sense of community. We are a leading Eco School and the students get a strong sense of caring for the environment as a result. As a global member of the Round Square Organisation, the pupils also benefit from our international links.

In this positive environment that our pupils develop the strength of character and the self-belief they need to thrive.

Values that empower girls to thrive

At St Mary’s we encourage the girls to be ambitious, bold, compassionate, dynamic and enquiring.

We encourage pupils to strive for excellence and show determination to succeed in every sphere of their education.

At St Mary’s we help pupils develop confidence in their abilities. We support the girls to be courageous, exhibit a willingness to take positive risks and to not be afraid of failure.

Across the school we promote a culture where kindness, support and respect is shown towards every individual. We encourage pupils to be community minded and globally aware. Pupils also show a commitment to protecting the environment.

We support pupils to adopt a positive mindset, to be imaginative and innovative, and to productively challenge and drive positive change.

We inspire pupils to be curious, investigate and constructively question. At St Mary’s we motivate the girls to be proactive in discovering new interests and we encourage pupils to seize opportunities to broaden their knowledge.

Enquire today about a place at all-girls school St Mary’s

So if you’re looking to find the best school in Colchester for your daughter – a school that delivers an excellent academic and all-round education with outstanding pastoral care – arrange to visit us today. You can also contact our Registrar on 01206 594256 or at registrar@stmaryscolchester.org.uk

The following pages of our website will give you a sense of the school. You may also receive recommendations from others. Nothing will give you a better insight than visiting the school yourself however. This is especially true if you haven’t visited an all-girls school previously.

Our main entry points are in our Kindergarten, Prep (Reception) Class and Year 7. In our Kindergarten, places often fill up over a year in advance. Siblings and Lower School pupils moving to Year 7 are prioritised when offering places for our Prep (Reception) Class and Year 7. Date of registration is then a key factor when offering places. We therefore advise you to contact us as early as possible regarding a place.

Girls may be able to join year groups other than our main entry points if a place is available. You can contact our Registrar on 01206 594256 or at registrar@stmaryscolchester.org.uk for further information.

We very much look forward to helping you explore St Mary’s as an option.

Mrs Nicola Griffiths

ST MARY’S PRINCIPAL