Head's Welcome
St Mary’s has always been a school with a strong sense of purpose: a community built on ambition, opportunity, kindness and care, where every pupil is encouraged to discover their strengths and achieve more than they thought possible.
As we look ahead, we are preparing to begin an exciting new chapter in that story.
From September 2027, St Mary’s will become co-educational, welcoming boys into all Prep year groups and, through a phased approach, into Year 7 and Year 12. Our Nursery will begin welcoming boys from January 2027, alongside an expansion to year-round provision for children from the age of two.
This is an important moment in our 154-year history, but it is also a natural evolution for our school. The decision follows extensive research, careful consultation and, importantly, listening to the families and wider community we serve. We know that many families would welcome the opportunity for their sons and daughters to benefit from the same St Mary’s education.
As we broaden who can benefit from a St Mary’s education, the principles at the heart of our school remain the same.
The values, high academic standards and outstanding pastoral care that define St Mary’s will remain at the heart of everything we do. So too will the breadth of opportunity we provide through sport, the expressive arts, leadership, careers and the many experiences beyond the classroom that help our pupils develop confidence, resilience and self-belief.
This year has provided another powerful reminder of those strengths. This year has provided another powerful reminder of those strengths. With 51% A* – A grades at A Level, and over 70% 9 – 6 grades at GCSE, we have yet again celebrated outstanding public examination results alongside sporting successes, remarkable performances, creative achievements, and countless individual moments of progress that may never make a headline but matter enormously to the young people involved.
At St Mary’s,education has never simply been about results. It is about the journey each pupil makes and giving them the encouragement, opportunities and belief to fulfil their individual potential.
As we enter this new era, that commitment becomes more important than ever. We want every pupil who comes through our doors to experience an aspirational learning journey towards personal excellence beyond expectations. St Mary’s made that promise to girls when the school first opened its doors 154 years ago. As we look towards the future, we are proud to extend that promise to boys too.
There is much to look forward to, and I am incredibly excited about what this next chapter will bring. Most of all, I look forward to seeing our community continue to grow and flourish while preserving the warmth, ambition and sense of belonging that make St Mary’s such a special place.
With warm wishes,
