Receiving the highest rating of ‘Excellent’ in the most recent ISI Inspection, St Mary’s is an all-girls school for pupils age 4-16. We also have a Kindergarten where children can join at the start of the academic year in which they turn three, allowing them to spend two full years in our Kindergarten before starting school.
Our Kindergarten and Lower School are based on their own site on London Road, while our Senior School is located on Lexden Road, Colchester. We are proud to have charitable status, meaning all fees are reinvested into the school. We are also truly independent, with no owners or shareholders, and are overseen by a committed governing body who help to ensure we provide a high-quality, complete education.
At St Mary’s we believe that girls are remarkable. We recognise girls have different needs and our ambitious educational offer is tailored for girls to thrive. At St Mary’s, your daughter will be inspired, build resilience, advance academically, learn what interests her and grow. We understand that the girls’ wellbeing matters and is critical to achieving. Our girls are not only self-confident and capable, but also kind and considerate. We know that as parents, you want the world for your daughter – and so do we. And when she leaves us, she’ll be empowered to rise to the challenges and the opportunities the world presents.
Kindergarten. St Mary’s is very proud of the well-rounded education provided in our Kindergarten, where children can join at the start of the academic year in which they turn three, allowing them to spend two full years in our Kindergarten before starting school. They are given a solid preparation for starting school, both academically and socially, so the children can make the most of all the opportunities school life brings. During school term time in the year before school, we will be introducing new teacher-led lessons for Kindergarten pupils. These sessions will complement the work of our highly qualified Early Years specialists and will be delivered alongside our existing broad curriculum, which includes subjects such as French, Forest School, Music and Ballet, further enriching the Kindergarten experience for our young learners. The Kindergarten also provides a seamless transition to the Lower School, providing benefits from both an educational and wellbeing perspective.
St Mary’s has a high ratio of staff to children, and specialist teachers run sessions such as French, Music and Ballet. Children take part in a range of events and activities and we hold a number of events across the year for the whole family to enjoy. The newly extended indoor setting of the Kindergarten and the new outdoor learning area, along with the multi-sensory play area, are the perfect place for young children to flourish. The children also have access to all the Lower School facilities including the library, dance studio, school hall, playing fields and sports courts, set in nine acres of land.
We challenge girls academically. Girls learn differently and our teachers know how to challenge, engage and support our pupils so they achieve their very best.
With small class sizes and high standards, our focus is on individual success.
Our Lower School pupils perform significantly higher than national average in SATs and we are consistently ranked among the highest-performing Preparatory Schools in England by the Sunday Times. There is a high 11+ pass rate for those who choose to sit the exam, alongside a strong record of academic scholarship offers for our Senior School.
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.
At the Senior School we consistently see strong GCSE success in subjects from STEM to the Arts and Humanities, reflecting the school’s commitment to delivering a strong and enriching education. In 2025, 55% of GCSE results at St Mary’s were graded at 9–7 (equivalent to A*–A) in comparison to the national average of 22%. St Mary’s was ranked the top non-selective school in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk based on the latest GCSE Attainment 8 score released by the Government.
We challenge girls physically. We place a great emphasis on participation in sport and physical activities and support top athletes to compete within and outside of school.
We challenge girls creatively. The creative and performing arts are highly regarded at St Mary’s and, as well as providing a rich arts curriculum and extracurricular activities in school, we also support girls to perform outside of school, both locally and in the West End.
We nurture the whole person. Academic success, focus on co-curricular opportunities and high-quality pastoral care are all of equal importance at St Mary’s. We nurture the whole person and provide an environment free from judgement and stereotypes, where the girls can be themselves.
We believe in instilling the values of respect and courtesy and we encourage good manners from the youngest age. Through our charity and outreach work, the pupils develop a strong sense of community and as an Eco School, girls gain a strong understanding and desire to protect the environment.
As a global member of the Round Square Organisation, a worldwide network of over 200 top schools in more than 50 countries, those who attend St Mary’s also benefit from our international links, helping to broaden their horizons.
These opportunities help girls to develop their personal skills and attributes, known as their ‘character education’.
We provide an environment that is safe in every respect. We know that for girls to achieve their very best they must feel confident, relaxed and secure.
A strong pastoral system is essential for our girls to be happy and thrive, and we believe their wellbeing directly impacts upon their ability to grow holistically. Every girl at St Mary’s has access to, and support from, a network of staff who are highly trained in pastoral matters. The size of the school means we are able to have regular, meaningful interactions with each pupil, and our staff know the girls incredibly well. The atmosphere is calm, supportive and nurturing, allowing girls to develop self-confidence.
Education goes beyond the classroom. At St Mary’s there is a real focus on academic achievement, but at the same time the varied curriculum is designed to challenge girls creatively and physically, to build valuable life skills and develop the girls as active global citizens. From our enrichment programme to inspiring excursions, wide-ranging productions, focus on ecology and commitment to STEM, we encourage a wide set of interests and demonstrate the limitless opportunities available to pupils.
Fees per term (2025-2026). Kindergarten: from £67.00 per day; Lower School: £4,750–£5,900; Senior School: £6,600–£7,550. School fees are not inclusive of lunches but are inclusive of VAT.
Charitable status. St Mary’s School (Colchester) Limited is a Registered Charity, number 309266.