Welcome to St Mary’s Lower School

Welcome to St Mary’s Lower School Colchester! We are an independent Preparatory School situated in an impressive historic building, set within nine acres of beautiful grounds. We are based on the outskirts of Colchester, Essex.

You will get a sense of the academic excellence, brilliantly balanced education and nurturing environment we offer at St Mary’s Lower School, on the following pages of our website. But nothing will give you a better insight into our vibrant school than by taking a look around.

So please arrange a private tour at a time that is convenient to you, or reserve a place at an Open Day.

Academic excellence

We are so proud that The Sunday Times ranked St Mary’s Lower School Colchester the 12th highest performing Prep School in England. Our pupils perform at well above the national average in maths, spelling and grammar, reading and writing. We also have a high 11+ pass rate for those who choose to sit the exam. In addition, our pupils achieve a consistently strong record of scholarship offers.

We’re able to achieve such success by tailoring the education to suit the needs of each individual in our small classes. We also give pupils the encouragement and support they need to aim high.

Academic success

Rated excellent

The Independent School Inspectorate (ISI) rated St Mary’s excellent in our most recent inspection. 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.

Inspection report

Empowering girls to thrive

We use our expertise in educating girls to empower pupils. We also inspire them to see the world as one full of limitless possibilities. Research shows the environments created by all-girls’ schools can mean girls are less likely to be influenced by negative gender stereotypes. Research also suggests girls in single-sex schools have higher aspirations, greater motivation and are challenged to achieve more.

Education for life

Challenging girls academically

Work is differentiated throughout the Lower School to ensure each child receives the appropriate level of challenge and support. Our commitment to high-quality provision for more able learners within the context of challenge for all, was recognised by the National Association for Able Children in Education (NACE) in our reaccreditation of the NACE Challenge Award. 11+ content is covered within the curriculum at the Lower School, ahead of the 11+ exam date. Pupils will also have opportunities to practice 11+ papers and take mock exams in preparation.

Curriculum

Challenging girls creatively

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.

Enrichment

Challenging girls physically

Pupils participate in a wide range of sports, from dancing and orienteering to football and hockey. Girls take part in competitions such as netball tournaments and swimming galas throughout the year, often with great success. This year, our sports provision has continued to grow with additional specialist PE staff, more clubs and fixtures, and enhanced competitive opportunities. We also have new resurfaced sports courts and grass hockey pitches. Dance showcases have been introduced to offer parents a glimpse into the girls’ achievements in their lessons. Our Lower School Sports Leaders programme has also expanded this year.

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A safe environment

We know that for girls to achieve their very best they must feel confident, relaxed and secure. Pupils thrive when they are happy and our pastoral support is therefore at the centre of all we do. In our small school, we both know and understand every girl. We nurture the whole person and provide an environment free from judgement and stereotypes, where the girls can be themselves. People often describe the atmosphere at the school as calm, supportive and nurturing.

We value every pupil here at St Mary’s. The girls here are not afraid to have a go at something new, take risks or put themselves forward to be a leader. It is in this positive environment where the girls develop the self-confidence needed to really blossom.

Pastoral care

We look forward to welcoming you

So if you’re looking to find the best prep 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 by completing an online form. Alternatively, 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 Lower School. Many visitors also say they have received recommendations from friends or family. Nothing will give you a better insight than visiting the school yourself however.

Our main entry point to the Lower School is in our Prep (Reception) Class. Many of the girls join the Lower School from our Kindergarten however, where places often fill up over a year in advance. We advise you to therefore contact us as early as possible regarding a place in our Kindergarten.

Girls may be able to join other year groups if a place is available. We are a very popular school however so please enquire as early as possible. You can contact our Registrar directly 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 for your daughter.

St Mary’s Lower School Colchester

See behind the scenes at the 12th highest performing Prep School in England. Our weekday open days and private tours provide a great opportunity to see the school in action for yourself. We encourage people to visit as many times as they would like and grandparents are of course welcome too.

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The school’s new values of ‘Ambitious, Bold, Compassionate, Dynamic and Enquiring’ succinctly describe the aspiration of this outstanding school National Association for Able Children in Education (NACE)

Pupils make excellent progress in the Lower School From ISI inspection report 2023 - rated 'excellent'

Open Days and Tours

Arrange a visit

Life in Prep

This section will give you an overview of life in the St Mary’s prep school Colchester

Curriculum

Find out more about the outstanding academic provision

Enrichment

Read about the abundance of opportunities on offer