Academic success

Academic achievement at the Lower School

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.

The National Association for Able Children in Education (NACE) has recently reaccredited the Lower School with the NACE Challenge Award. This award is given in recognition of commitment to high-quality provision for more able learners within the context of challenge for all.

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.

2024 – 2025: 87% of pupils in Prep attained a Good Level of Development against the Early Years framework. This is compared to the national average of 68.3% (2024).

Statutory Assessment Tests

Attainment and Progress

Attainment data shows all pupils who took the KS2 tests.

From 23 pupils who took KS2 SATS 35% achieved a higher standard across all 3 subject areas – Reading (110+), Maths (110+) and Writing (working at greater depth)

PRIMARY INSIGHT

(National Average 100)

The Primary Insight, which has evolved from InCAS, 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).

11+

There is a high 11+ pass rate for those who choose to sit the exam. In 2026, 54% of pupils who took the test were offered places at CCHSG.

Scholarships

St Mary’s Lower School pupils have a strong record of achieving Scholarship offers for our Senior School. 12 Scholarships were awarded to girls from the Lower School in 2025-26. Scholarships offered for entry into Year 7 include Academic, STEM, Art, Music, Drama and Sport. All-Round Miss Comrie Scholarships are also available to St Mary’s Lower School pupils progressing to the Senior School.

Academic achievement at the Senior School

We are very proud of our pupils’ 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 2026

Pupils at St Mary’s School, Colchester, celebrated an excellent set of GCSE results in August 2026:

• Almost half of all results were grades 7–9 or equivalent. The national average for GCSE grades 7 and above is 21.8%.
• One in three grades was awarded at grade 8 or 9 across our academic, creative and vocational subjects.
• 86% of all grades were awarded at a Grade 5 or above (‘Good Pass’).

High aspirations

Research suggests girls in all-girls schools have higher aspirations, greater motivation and are challenged to achieve more. The environments created by single-sex schools can mean girls are less likely to be influenced by negative gender stereotypes. There is evidence that attending an all-girls school can impact on subject choice and career paths. For example, girls in single-sex schools are more likely to study maths and sciences, including computer science, and enter male-dominated fields such as engineering.

Former pupils of St Mary’s achieve success in all walks of life. We encourage the girls 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 pupils are inspired to aim high and do all they can to achieve their goals in life.