St Mary's School, Cambridge

St Mary's School, Cambridge
Established 1898
Type Independent day and boarding school
Religion Catholic
Headmistress Miss Charlotte Avery
Location 6 Chaucer Road(Junior Sch)
Bateman St (Senior Sch)
Cambridge
CB2 1LY
England Coordinates: 52°11′43″N 0°07′37″E / 52.195225°N 0.126891°E
Local authority Cambridgeshire
DfE number 873/6001
DfE URN 110912 Tables
Students 613 (2010)
Gender Girls
Ages 4–18
Former pupils Old Pastonians
Website www.stmaryscambridge.co.uk

St Mary's School, Cambridge is an independent Christian school run in the Catholic tradition, offering day and boarding provision for girls aged four to 18. The school occupies two sites within walking distance of Cambridge city centre, close to the University Botanic Gardens, with sports fields a short distance away. There are approximately 160 junior school pupils, 400 senior school pupils and 100 sixth-form students.[1]

History

St Mary's School, Cambridge was founded 1898 by the sisters of the Venerable Mary Ward and the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who had also founded a school of the same name in Ascot, Berkshire 13 years earlier. The Sisters started out with two day girls and two day borders. In 1904 the swelling numbers necessitated a change of venue and the Elms on Bateman Street was purchased for £6,000. The house had a tradition which was very much in keeping with Mary Ward's vision. It had previously belonged to Dr B H Kennedy, former Regius Professor of Greek at the University. As the school continued to grow other premises were added. Paston House was purchased in 1909.[2]

The junior school was part of St Mary’s School, Cambridge until it closed in 1987, when it reopened as St Catherine’s Prep School and was governed by a group of parents who became the board of directors. In 2006 St Catherine’s became St Mary's School, Cambridge's junior section. Both schools are governed by a single Board.

Academics

St Mary's School, Cambridge has an excellent academic record. In 2014, 73% of all GCSEs were awarded A*-A grade, 93% were awarded A*-B grades, and 99% were A*-C grades.[3] 100% of GCSE Art and 94% of GCSE Music grades were A*-A. [4] At A-levels in 2014, 46.1% of grades were A*-A, 81.8% were A*-B, and 93.3% were A*-C.[5] 90% of its A Level candidates were accepted into their first choice of university.[6]

Boarding

The school offers a full, weekly, or flexi boarding programme for Years 7 to Upper Sixth.[7] Approximately 20% of Senior School pupils board.[8] There are two buildings: Bateman House for Sixth Formers and The Elms for girls from Years 7-11.[9]

Old Girls

Former pupils are known as Pastonians, named after Paston House.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Fun Facts about St Mary's Cambridge
  2. ↑ History
  3. ↑ Public exam results
  4. ↑ Fun Facts about St Mary's Cambridge
  5. ↑ Public exam results
  6. ↑ "St Mary’s School, Cambridge students perform highly across different disciplines". St Mary's School, Cambridge.
  7. ↑ Boarding Options
  8. ↑ Boarding at St Mary's
  9. ↑ Accommodation at St Mary's
  10. ↑ Alumnae
  11. ↑ "Archers actress visits her old school". ITV Anglia. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2014.

External links