Lower School
Providing a complete education designed specifically for girls to thrive
ST MARY’S LOWER SCHOOL
MRS NICOLA GRIFFITHS
Head of St Mary’s Lower School St Mary’s Principal
Welcome to St Mary’s Lower School
At St Mary’s Lower School, we are committed to providing girls with an education that fuels a love of learning through excellent teaching and endless learning experiences. There is a real focus on academic achievement, but at the same time the varied curriculum is designed to challenge the girls creatively and physically, build valuable life-skills and develop the girls as active global citizens. Being a through school provides a seemless learning experience with benefits to both the girls’ education and wellbeing, while our separate sites enable the Lower School girls to experience a small, nurturing environment.
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The following pages will give you further information on the complete education we offer at St Mary’s, but nothing will give you a better insight than by visiting yourself. So please contact our Registrar on 01206 594256 or visit www.stmaryscolchester.org.uk to reserve a place at an Open Day or arrange an individual tour at a time that is convenient.
EMMA STANHOPE
We know that as parents, you want the world for your daughter, and so do we. At St Mary’s, we nurture the whole person and encourage the girls to be themselves. We support our pupils to learn what interests them and we inspire them to be all they can be. We do this so that when the girls leave us, they are ready to take the next step in their education with confidence and make the most of all the opportunities available to them.
GirlsPROSPECTUShave
An enlightened education
believe in providing academic challenge, a nurturing environment and opportunities to develop vital life skills in equal measure. It is our belief that none should be delivered at the expense of the others.
Our rich curriculum, from English, maths and science to the creative and performing arts and a wide range of sports, presents opportunities for the girls to develop talents and discover passions, free from stereotypes about which subjects and activities are ‘for girls’. Community, charity, challenge and adventure of all kinds are available for pupils from the youngest age. We often have special guests visit to give inspirational talks and run interactive workshops. Themed days and weeks, from Design and Technology week to Eco week, are packed with practical classes and fun activities. We are passionate about providing the girls with positive female role models and demonstrating the wide range of options available to them.
ST MARY’S LOWER SCHOOLST MARY’S
An education free from stereotypes
We champion a different kind of girls’ education...
For girls to thrive, learn and achieve, they must feel content, relaxed and secure. At St Mary’s, each individual is known and understood. The school community cares for each other, celebrates successes and works through difficulties so our pupils develop the strength of character needed to thrive in Welife.
different educational needs. We provide engaging, academic teaching and endless opportunities in an inspiring and nurturing environment, designed specifically for girls to thrive.
A safe learning environment
An education tailored to each girl
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A complete education
In addition to our membership of the Girls’ Schools Association, Independent Schools Association, Eco-Schools and Round Square Organisation, St Mary’s Lower School is a member of the prestigious Independent Association of Preparatory Schools, which comprises the world’s top Preparatory schools. These memberships enable us to share educational excellence in order to provide an enlightened, modern education for girls.
St Mary’s is undeniably an academic school. We achieve excellent results by tailoring the education to suit the needs of each of the girls. We also give the girls the encouragement and support they need to aim high. Pupils understand that if they work hard, they can achieve their very best.
High academic achievement
We provide an environment that is safe in every respect - to experiment and question, free of judgement and stereotypes and full of support. The girls become independent learners, keen to ask questions and find the answers themselves, expanding their learning all the time.
Our pupils perform significantly higher than the national average in SATs and we are consistently ranked amongst the highest performing Preparatory Schools in England by the Sunday Times.
We are very proud to have been granted the NACE Challenge Award, an accreditation to validate school-wide high-quality provision for more able learners within a context of challenge for all. At St Mary’s, we achieve outstanding results by tailoring the education for each individual in our small classes, and by giving pupils encouragement and support to aim high. Pupils’ learning is continually monitored to ensure that individual needs are met.
High aspirations
ST MARY’S LOWER SCHOOL 4
Focus on individual success
We provide opportunities for the girls to grow and develop academically. Our broad curriculum ranges from science and computing to French and History. There are also opportunities for thought and debate. Pupils take part in local and national competitions and we bring learning to life through creative teaching, educational visits and interactive workshops. The girls are inspired by a huge range of successful individuals and we ensure female role models are highlighted.
A safe learning environment
Whatever our pupils’ starting point when they join us, our committed teaching team will bring out the potential we know is inside each and every girl. As well as excellent SATs results, there is also a high 11+ pass rate for those who choose to sit the exam, alongside a consistently strong record of academic scholarship offers for our Senior School.
We challenge the girls academically...
“At St Mary’s the girls are inspired, have fun, learn what interests them and grow.”
- Mrs Emma Stanhope, Head of Lower School
Expandingdramaartistic abilities
challenges to stretch our pupils’ artistic talents are run frequently. After-school art lessons are also available through an external provider for those wishing to further develop their artistic talents.
In weekly music lessons, taught by specialist music teachers, pupils sing, play instruments and learn musical notation, as well as appreciating different musical styles. Pupils begin to play the recorder in Year 2 and a variety of individual music lessons are on offer through visiting peripatetic teachers.
The girls have opportunities to develop their performance skills throughout the school, starting in the Preparatory (Reception) Class, where the girls take turns to stand on a small stage and sing a nursery rhyme to their class and teaching staff. Every infant girl also has a role in the Christmas Nativity, where each of the older girls takes on a speaking part. Informal music afternoon concerts provide a wonderful opportunity for pupils to develop their confidence by sharing their talents in front of a small audience. Junior girls also have opportunities to perform in front of large audiences as part of the choir and orchestra, with key events including the Carol Concert and Prize Giving. The junior pupils also take part in drama productions across the year. Our pupils have a strong record of receiving Senior School Arts Scholarship offers for music, drama and art.
Art is taught as a discrete subject in our newly refurbished art studio. In this inspirational space, pupils tackle creative projects using a variety of techniques. Competitions and
We challenge the girls creatively...
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Developing performance skills
Through drama, our pupils develop their confidence and imaginations within our superb studio. After-school drama clubs are available through a specialist external provider, with additional opportunities to perform with a wider drama group at local theatres. Infants have the opportunity to take a LAMDA group exam, in which the girls often achieve distinction. Many junior girls take individual LAMDA exams with equally impressive results.
The girls’ education is enriched through creative subjects and confidence is grown through numerous performance opportunities.
Nurturing musical talents
ST MARY’S LOWER SCHOOL
Developing confidence through
Celebrating sporting success
PE is lively and fun at St Mary’s. The girls take part in team and individual challenges with specialist PE teachers, in the nine acres of school grounds. Pupils play sports such as cricket, netball, football, hockey and athletics. The girls also enjoy lessons in swimming, gymnastics and orienteering. A trained dance professional takes ballet lessons in school for pupils in the Preparatory (Reception) Class. A range of dance lessons as well as sports, including football and fencing, are also available through external specialists after school.
We challenge the girls physically...
ST MARY’S LOWER SCHOOL
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Pupils take part in local competitions and contests, from hockey tournaments to equestrian events, often with great success. Sports Days are highly anticipated events, with Year 5 and 6 girls competing alongside Senior School students at a local athletics stadium. Sporting successes are not only celebrated throughout the year, but also at our annual Sports Awards Evening. Awards are presented by highly successful sportswomen, who attend as guest speakers to inspire our girls to achieve sporting success. Our pupils are often awarded Sports Scholarships for the Senior School.
Wide range of sports available Leadership skills developed
We introduce the girls to a variety of activities designed to keep them fit and healthy, challenge stereotypes and teach techniques of a broad range of sports and team games.
We are passionate about developing leadership skills in our pupils in all areas of the curriculum. Junior pupils have the opportunity to train as Sports Leaders at St Mary’s, developing their coaching skills. Through supporting at competitions and events, our Senior School Sports Leaders also help inspire the younger girls.
“We believe that girls are remarkable and that there is a need for women to play a greater role in the world of work and society as a whole. We encourage the girls to think about their future selves and what their dream jobs might be, free from stereotypes that sadly still exist today.”
- Mrs Nicola Griffiths, St Mary’s Principal
problem solving. There are numerous positions of responsibility available to the girls, which help develop their leadership skills. Team spirit is also fostered through initiatives such as the School Council, Pupil Voice and School Houses. Forest School sessions are part of the curriculum from the Preparatory (Reception) Class through to Year 6. As well as learning about woodland surroundings, the children take part in activities designed to help them understand risk taking in a safe environment, develop physical confidence, team-building skills and a sense of adventure.
Developingcurriculumlifeskills
The Year 1 to 6 curriculum is varied and lively. Alongside English, maths, science, ICT, languages, humanities, sport and the arts, pupils follow a rich Personal Social Health, Citizenship and Economic Education programme, including philosophical enquiries, which encourages the girls to form their own opinions, while listening to other points of view. Many subjects are taught by specialist teachers within the school, such as music, drama, PE, French and Forest School.
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Balanced
In our Preparatory (Reception) Class, we follow the ‘Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage’ document, published by the Department for Education, including the Seven Areas of Learning and Development - Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Physical Development, Communication and Language, Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design. In addition, the girls also learn French.
ST MARY’S LOWER SCHOOL
We believe in instilling the values of respect and courtesy and we encourage good manners from the youngest age. Through our charity, outreach and citizenship work, the pupils also develop a strong sense of community and become active global citizens. We are one of five ambassador Eco Schools in the country and the pupils get a strong sense of caring for the environment as a result. As a global member of the Round Square Organisation, those who attend St Mary’s benefit from our international links, helping to broaden their horizons.
We encourage a wide set of interests so the girls can be all they can be, and so they can develop the skills needed to thrive in the complex and ever-changing world in which we live.
Developing active global citizens
We believe in the importance of character education at St Mary’s and there are many initiatives to help develop valuable life skills, for example, leadership, resilience and
We provide a complete education...
Providing the best start
ST MARY’S LOWER SCHOOL
We have many initiatives in place to support the girls’ wellbeing, from our Act of Kindness Awards to our All About Me days. The atmosphere is calm and supportive, allowing the girls to develop the self-confidence needed to thrive. Respect and tolerance are encouraged and expected at all times. We provide a positive space where the girls learn to listen to others’ views and understand
that it is ok to have different opinions. It is extremely important to us that each girl feels they can be who they want to be.
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We know wellbeing matters and is critical to achieving. Our girls are not only confident and capable, but also kind and responsible. Our environment is safe in every respect.
Our core day is 8.40am-3pm for infants and until 3.25pm for juniors (and infants with older siblings). This enables the girls to take part in clubs and activities out of school if they wish, or spend valuable time with friends and family. In addition to numerous clubs, wrap around care is available from 7.30am and our daily Breakfast Club begins at 8am, designed to help busy families. Wrap around care is also available after school, until 4.30pm or 6pm. In addition, we have a holiday club. Days run from 9am-3pm with the option of an early start and late finish.
A safe environment
We nurture the whole person...
Parents are encouraged to talk to us about their daughters’ progress at any time and there are lots of opportunities for families to share their daughters’ learning developments, for example, through our Open Classrooms, where the girls proudly show off their work. Families are also invited to attend events such as sports day, the Nativity performance, Mothering Sunday Service and Prize Giving.
Before beginning in the Preparatory (Reception) Class, girls are invited for a series of induction sessions to familiarise themselves with their new surroundings and build confidence for the first day at school. Parents have the opportunity to discuss their daughter’s future learning journey with the class teacher.
Whilst there are many benefits of St Mary’s providing an education through to 16, with the Lower School having its own site, the girls are able to experience a small, nurturing environment where every girl is known and understood. Our pastoral support is at the centre of all we do and our Assistant Head, Pastoral, has a limited teaching timetable to allow for group work and individual support where needed.
Working with families
“Every pupil is valued and the girls here are not afraid to have a go at something new, to take risks or put themselves forward to be a leader.”
- Mrs Emma Stanhope, Head of Lower School
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Mrs Nicola Griffiths, St Mary’s Principal
“We have very talented girls at the Lower School, who excel in areas from academic subjects through to the arts and sport. We work to ensure the girls continue to thrive as they move through to the Senior School, taking advantage of the many opportunities available to them, not just academically, but all-round.”
As a school that provides an education through to 16, we know the skills, knowledge and experience the girls need to develop at the Lower School in order to thrive when they move on to secondary education. Our aim is for our pupils to leave the Lower School ready to take the next step with confidence. At the start of Year 6 we help the girls prepare for their Senior School interviews, building on the confidence and speaking skills developed at the Lower School through activities such as public speaking workshops and leading focussed assemblies. As a result, St Mary’s Lower School pupils have an excellent record of success in the Senior School Scholarship Assessments (available as Academic, STEM, Art, Music, Drama, Games, Sports Excellence and All-round Scholarships) and also in the 11+ exam for entry to the local state grammar schools.
Preparation for senior school
ST MARY’S LOWER SCHOOL
During their time at St Mary’s Lower School, children make enormous strides in their education, and are ready to make the most of the opportunities available to them at senior school.
Seemless transition to Senior School
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...so girls are ready to take their next step.
As part of our transition programme to the Senior School, we hold information events and individual meetings for parents and the girls. Lower School pupils also take part in a series of Experience Events at the Senior School, in subjects from ICT and Science to Music and Art, use Senior School facilities to complete specific projects and are taught by some of the specialist teachers there. This all helps our pupils become familiar with the Senior School and helps provide a smooth transition.
In addition, the Eco teams, choirs and orchestra from the Lower and Senior School often come together and the Lower School girls have opportunities to watch performances at the Senior School, such as the showcase drama production and Fashion Show, where the girls showcase their own creations. These events inspire the girls for the next step in their education, when they see the high levels of talent at the Senior School.
The St Mary’s ethos runs throughout the whole school and the majority of girls progress from the Lower School to the Senior School. This provides benefits to both learning and wellbeing.
ST MARY’S LOWER SCHOOL 247 London Road, Colchester, CO3 8LT registrar@stmaryscolchester.org.ukREGISTRAR 01206 594256 INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK TWITTER stmaryscolchester @stmaryslowerschoolcolchester www.stmaryscolchester.org.uk@stmaryscolch
