St Mary’s is an academic school and our pupils’ achieve impressive exam results. The Sunday Times ‘Parent Power’ list ranked the Lower School as 12th highest performing preparatory school in the country. This year the Senior School was ranked first in Essex and 16th nationally in their table of highest performing fee pay secondary schools without a sixth form. Details of our academic success at the Lower School and Senior School over recent years can be found below.
Academic success
Academic achievement at the Lower School
Please enjoy reading our pupils’ results for 2023-24.
We use a selection of tests to monitor our pupils’ progress and to make sure they are achieving to the best of their ability. Our school is not academically selective, so these excellent results demonstrate the effectiveness of teaching and learning at St Mary’s.
Early Years Foundation Stage
Achieving a Good Level of Development means that pupils have met the Early Learning Goal or Exceeded in all the Prime Areas of Learning (Communication and Language, Physical Development and Personal, Social and Emotional Development) as well as achieving the Early Learning Goal or Exceeded in Mathematics and Literacy.
2023 – 2024: 90% of pupils in Prep attained a Good Level of Development against the Early Years framework. This is compared to the national average of 67.2% (2023).
Statutory Assessment Tests
Attainment and Progress
Progress scores compare pupils’ key stage 2 results to those of other pupils nationally with similar prior attainment. Therefore, only pupils who took KS1 and KS2 tests are used in this data task. Progress scores are centred around 0 with most schools within -5 to +5.
A positive score means pupils in this school on average do better at KS2 as those with similar prior attainment nationally. Value added scores are not comparable year on year as the data reflects the different cohorts.
Attainment data shows all pupils who took the KS2 tests.
| End of KS2 SATs Results 2024 | St Mary’s Results | National (2023)
Greater depth % |
| Reading – Expected Standard | 100% | 73% |
| Reading – High Standard | 70% | 29% |
| Reading – Average Scaled Score | 113 | 105 |
| Writing* – Expected Standard | 100% | 71% |
| Writing* – Greater Depth | 45% | 13% |
| SPaG – Expected Standard | 100% | 72% |
| SPaG – High Standard | 65% | 36% |
| SPaG – Average Scaled Scores | 114 | 105 |
| Maths – Expected Standard | 100% | 73% |
| Maths – High Standard | 65% | 24% |
| Maths – Average Scaled Score | 112 | 104 |
From 20 pupils who took KS2 SATS 40% achieved a higher standard across all 3 subject areas – Reading (110+), Maths (110+) and Writing (working at greater depth)
INCAS Testing
(National Average 100)
The InCAS (Interactive Computerised Assessment System) provides a wealth of information. It highlights pupils’ strengths and weaknesses so that teachers can determine the extent of the pupils’ knowledge and skills. The pupils at St Mary’s sit these tests at the beginning of the academic year and the results enable us to track progress. These results show the mean standardised scores in the year groups tested and shows that the pupils are working above expected level (national 100).
| 2023-24 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 |
| Reading | 109 | 114 | 113 | 115 | 119 |
| General Maths | 109 | 115 | 113 | 119 | 113 |
| Mental Maths | 94 | 111 | 107 | 109 | 110 |
| Developed ability | 100 | 120 | 113 | 123 | 115 |
| Mean (Reading,
Gen Maths, Mental Maths) |
104 | 113 | 111 | 114 | 114 |
Academic achievement at the Senior School
We are very proud of our students’ success in their GCSE examinations. Our results are particularly impressive considering we have a broad academic intake – the Senior School entry assessment is for academic tracking purposes only and to ensure that the school can best cater to each girl’s particular needs.
Classes are small and each individual is well known by all members of staff, who identify her preferred method of learning and ensure that she is supported, encouraged and extended so that she is able to do her best in all subjects.
GCSE Results 2024
The Senior School girls achieved a great set of GCSE results in August 2024, these are a testament to their hard work and determination, combined with the commitment and support from their teachers.
The headline GCSE results for 2024 are as follows:
- 97% of results were level 9-4 or equivalent (comparable to grades A-C), compared to the national average of 67%.
- 38% of results were level 9-7 or equivalent (comparable to grades A*-A), compared to the national average of 22%
- Half or more of the results were graded at 9-7 or equivalent (comparable to grades A*-A) in eight subjects including Physics, Art and Design and Religious Studies this year.
High aspirations
Former students of St Mary’s achieve success in all walks of life. We encourage our pupils to make the most of all the opportunities St Mary’s offers. This includes opportunities to develop their talents as well as maximise their learning. By choosing university courses and careers that really interest them, they are more likely to succeed and find fulfilment in life. So our students are inspired to aim high and do all they can to achieve their goals in life.
