Year 7 entry - St Mary’s Colchester

September 2026 entry and beyond

Year 7 is the main entry point to our Senior School and an exciting start to the next stage of your daughter’s education. To find out more about admissions, please contact our Registrar, Mrs Justine Tierney, at registrar@stmaryscolchester.org.uk or on 01206 594178 .

Complete the form below to arrange a private tour of the Senior School – we would be delighted to welcome you.

Name

Email

Telephone number

St Mary’s understands and acknowledges that it is a data controller in relation to the personal data that you have provided. We will ensure that we comply with all legislation and regulatory requirements in force relating to its use. For more information about how we use the data and your rights, please read our Privacy Notice.

Consent

I/We have read the Privacy Notice and consent to St Mary’s School using my/our personal data for the purposes as described above.

On occasion we may contact you with information that may be of interest to you, for example upcoming admissions deadlines, news and events.

I am happy for you to contact me with information that may be of interest, for example upcoming admissions deadlines, news and events.

Note - you may withdraw consent at any time by contacting the School’s Data Protection Manager at dpm@stmaryscolchester.org.uk. This will not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out by the School before you withdraw your consent.

open days

Alternatively you can visit us at our next Senior School Open Days. Reserve your place today.

Senior School Open Day: Friday 6 March, 9.30-11.30am
Senior School Open Day: Saturday 7 March, 9.30-11.30am

Further details regarding St Mary’s admissions for the Senior School can be found in our Admissions Policy. Alternatively, contact our Registrar, Mrs Justine Tierney, at registrar@stmaryscolchester.org.uk or on 01206 594178 to find out more.

Year 7 2026 Scholarships

All registered pupils will be considered for the Academic Scholarship for Year 7 September 2026 entry, which will be awarded based on outstanding performance in the Year 7 entrance assessment.

All St Mary’s Lower School pupils will be considered for the All-round (Miss Comrie) Scholarship, named in honour of Miss Phyllis Comrie, St Mary’s headmistress, 1935-1957, who had a desire for outstanding St Mary’s Lower School pupils to progress to Senior School on a special designated Scholarship.

Details of our Year 7 admissions timelines are available on our Admissions Process page.

Scholarship Guide

Admissions timeline

Year 7 September 2026 entry

Sunday 2 November 2025: Deadline for scholarship applications

STEM, Arts and Sports Scholarships as well as the Principal’s Award can be applied for online from 1 September 2025. Academic Scholarships are also offered on the basis of the candidate’s performance in the Entrance Assessment. All-round (Miss Comrie) Scholarships are awarded to St Mary’s Lower School pupils following interviews and cannot be applied for.

Saturday 15 November 2025: Entrance assessments, interviews and SPORT Scholarship assessment

The online entrance assessment consists of English, Mathematics, Non-Verbal and Verbal Reasoning. St Mary’s is a non-selective school, but the entrance assessment allows our staff the opportunity to gauge the suitability of the school for the prospective pupil and is also used to help with setting in Year 7. Pupils who perform exceptionally well in the entrance assessment may be considered for an Academic Scholarship. All candidates are also interviewed by St Mary’s Principal. Shortlisted Scholarship candidates will be invited to assessments on the strength of their application. Specific times will be allocated following the Scholarship application deadline.

MONDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2025: ART, DRAMA, MUSIC and STEM SCHOLARSHIPS ASSESSMENT AND PRINCIPAL’S AWARD INTERVIEWS

Candidates wishing to be considered for Scholarship awards must have applied in advance and will be invited to the assessment day on the strength of their application. Please contact the Registrar for more details of the format of assessments.

WEDNESDAY 12 November 2025: All-round (Miss Comrie) Scholarship interviews

Our prestigious All-round Scholarship is named in honour of Miss Phyllis Comrie, St Mary’s headmistress, 1935-1957, who had a desire for outstanding St Mary’s Lower School pupils to progress to Senior School on a special designated Scholarship and kindly bequeathed a gift in her Will to enable this. They are awarded to St Mary’s Lower School pupils following interviews with the Principal, to those with the potential to make a substantial contribution to the life of the school.

17 December 2025: Offers of places and scholarships

Parents will receive written notification by post of any offers of places and Scholarships.

WC 12 JANUARY and wc 2 february 2026: taster dayS

Girls who have been offered places will be invited to join us for a Taster Day, where they will experience lessons and enrichment activities.

Tuesday 3 March 2026: Deadline for acceptance of places and scholarships

Parents are requested to accept or decline the offer of a place and any Scholarship by this date. If no communication is received, it will be assumed that the place and any scholarship has been declined, and places may then be offered to any girls on our waiting lists.

THURSDAY 4 June 2026: new parents’ information evening

Key information will be shared with parents of pupils who will be joining in the September. There will be an opportunity to meet key staff and ask any questions.

FRIDAY 19 june 2026: New Pupil induction day and new scholars presentation

Girls joining Year 7 in September are introduced to their form teachers, their forms and their Buddies (older girls who will help them to settle into the school). They will enjoy a day of activities designed to help create a smooth transition to Senior School.