St Mary's School for Girls
11+ Admissions Guide 2026

How to get into St Mary's School for Girls

Independent SchoolEssex, East of EnglandISI: Excellent

Gender

Girls

Age Range

3–16 years

School Size

419 pupils

Location

Essex

About St Mary's School for Girls

St Mary's School is an independent day school for female pupils, operating across two sites located around three miles apart. The lower school, for pupils aged 3 to 11, is home to a co-educational Nursery known as Kindergarten, while older pupils aged 11 to 16 are based at the senior school site. The school is a registered charity governed by a board of governors, and is a member of Round Square, an organisation built around the educational philosophy of Kurt Hahn. The school aims to tailor education so that every pupil is encouraged to thrive, developing a love of learning alongside creative, sporting, and other talents. It seeks to instil values of respect and courtesy, and to foster a positive, can-do attitude that prepares pupils well for life ahead. The school community draws mostly from local families with professional backgrounds. The school recognises and supports pupils with a range of special educational needs and disabilities, including dyslexia and dyspraxia, and provides additional help for those who need it. Support is also available for pupils for whom English is an additional language, and the curriculum is adapted to stretch the most able pupils in the school.

Leadership

Head

Mrs Nicola Griffiths

Proprietor

St Mary’s School (Colchester) Ltd

Ages & Pupils

316

Age range (years)

419

Total pupils

Contact

Qualifications Offered

GCSE

ISI Inspection

Excellent

Academic achievement

Last inspected 10 February 2026

Routine Inspection

Personal Development

Excellent

Compliance

Met
Ratings above are from the Educational Quality Inspection on 31 January 2023. A lighter follow-up inspection has taken place since.

School Profile

School Size
419 pupilsSmall
Religious Character
None
DfE Number
881/6008

Links

Nearby Schoolsclosest first