Admissions Information 2034-24

...girls are most definitely nurtured to be more warrior than wallflower, encouraged to be unafraid to choose their own path...

MSJ: AN OVERVIEW

Malvern St James Girls’ School is a leading independent boarding and day school for ages 3-18, rated Excellent by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI).

Located at the foot of the Malvern Hills (an area of outstanding natural beauty), in the town of Malvern, Worcestershire, we are just one hour from Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff and Oxford and two hours from Manchester and London Heathrow.

At both GCSE and A Level, our results are outstanding, driven by inspirational teaching which focuses on the individual and encourages girls to be ambitious, confident and to follow their passions. Girls move onto a diverse list of undergraduate courses at the most prestigious Russell Group, Golden Triangle, and overseas universities.

We recognise the importance of striking a healthy balance between wider curricular and academic activities, developing existing interests and talents and encouraging girls to step out of their comfort zone and try new things. From Drama to the Law Society, Young Enterprise, and Model United Nations, there is something available for everyone, with plentiful leadership opportunities and abundant choice for trying something new.

Our superb sports provision includes a wide variety of options including equestrian, netball, lacrosse, hockey, tennis, swimming, dance, athletics, gymnastics, complemented by our excellent on-site sports facilities.

For more information, visit www.malvernstjames.co.uk or call our friendly admissions team to arrange a visit:

01684

892288

Location

The School benefits from being positioned in the small but culturally lively town of Malvern, on a direct rail route from Birmingham, Oxford and London Paddington. The M5 and M50 are nearby and London, Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester airports are within easy reach.

Curriculum

At MSJ we achieve excellent academic results, driven by inspirational teaching which encourages girls to be ambitious, confident and to follow their passions. We pride ourselves on the fact that there is no ‘MSJ type’ and understand that all of our girls have different talents and strengths that all add value to our school community. It may be medicine, engineering, politics, sports or the expressive arts – all routes are equal.

The curriculum also supports pupils who need extra provision including very able pupils, and those for whom English is an additional language. Those who have specific areas of expertise have adapted timetables to allow them to focus on their specialism, giving time to practise and train, with personalised coaching and mentoring sessions.

Our ‘Russell Up’ programme provides preparation for the most competitive UK and international universities and career pathways. Careers support is provided throughout the Senior School and girls applying for courses in Medical Sciences and Law are mentored by subject specialists.

Facilities

• STEM Centre

• Art and Design Centre

• Leiths School of Food and Wine professional kitchen

• Food and Nutrition cookery classrooms

• Drama studio

• York Hall

• Music Centre

• Library and Enrichment Centre

• Alice Dining Room

• Health Centre

• State of the art Fitness Centre featuring:

– Tennis and netball courts

– Double sports hall

– Floodlit AstroTurf pitch

– Large playing field

– Gym with personal training available

– Swimming pool

– Climbing wall

– Wellness/Dance studio

– Squash courts

WRAPAROUND CARE

08:00 - 18:00

Wraparound care is offered for all pupils, and girls can be looked after in school before morning registration and following the end of the school day, where they are welcome to join the boarders for supper and go to the boarding houses.

Wraparound care in MSJ Prep is run by a team of dedicated and qualified Play Leaders before school and from 15:05 onwards for the benefit of parents who cannot collect their children when school finishes. Pupils in Years 3 – 6 who remain in school after lessons have finished for the day will attend either After School Club or any activities, including prep. Pre-Prep pupils may choose to attend an activity, or join our After School Club until collection. Pupils remaining on school premises after 18:00 will be escorted to a Boarding House where facilities are available for pupils to relax or complete prep as they wish.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

• Ballet (all years)

• Calligraphy (Years 3-6)

• Coding (Years 4-6)

• Cricket (summer term – Years 5-6)

• Dance (all years)

• Fencing (Years 5-6)

• Football (Years 3-6)

• Gardening Club (Years 3-6)

• Gym Club (Years 3-6)

• Acapella

• Anti-Bullying Ambassadors

• Art Club

• Art drop-in

• Art Open Studio

• Athletics

• Badminton

• Basketball

• Biology drop-in

• Book Club

• Business drop-in

• Chemistry drop-in

• Clever Creators DT Club

• Climbing

• Computing drop-in

• Creative Writing

• Cricket

• Debating

• Digital Leaders

• Dissection Club

• Drama Club

• DT Product Design drop-in

• Hockey (Years 5-6)

• Homework Club (all Years)

• Jewellery (Years 3-6)

• Lacrosse (Years 5-6)

• Learning Support (LS) Prep drop-in (Years 3-6)

• Netball (Years 3-6)

• Pottery (Years 3-6)

• Choir (Years 3-6)

• Duke of Edinburgh Award

• EAL drop-in

• Eco Club

• Economics drop-in

• English drop-in

• F1 Club

• Fencing

• Food and Nutrition drop-in

• Football

• French drop-in

• Geography drop-in

• Geography is Going Places

• Growing Club

• History drop-in

• Hockey

• Kayaking

• Lacrosse

• Latin/Greek drop-in

• Law Society

• Leiths

• Maths drop-in

• MedSoc

• Orchestra (min. Grade 1 standard)

• Riding (Years 2-6)

• Sketching (Years 5-6)

• STEM (Years 5-6)

• Swimming (Years 3-6)

• Tennis (summer term – Years 5-6)

• Touch typing (Years 3-6)

• Trampolining (Years 3-6)

• Young Investigators (Pre-Prep)

• Model United Nations

• MSJ Choir

• MSJ Singers

• Music Theory

• Netball

• Orchestra

• PE drop-in

• Philosophy & Film

• Physics drop-in

• Pottery Club

• Psychology drop-in

• Riding Club

• RS drop-in

• Russell-up University Preparation

• Senior Vocal Ensemble

• Spanish drop-in

• Strength and Conditioning

• Tennis

• The Chronicle School Magazine

• The Ukeladies

• Trampolining

• Young Enterprise

* These may change according to demand. Some additional clubs are run by the senior girls on a termly basis and may not appear on this list.

IT ALL STARTS AT...

MSJ MINIS

Welcoming girls from age 3, MSJ Minis offers a bespoke pre-school learning experience where girls flourish in our happy hideaway of creativity and calm.

Girls in MSJ Minis have access to our Senior School facilities including a multi-sports centre and indoor swimming pool. They benefit from both expert teachers and senior pupils as role-models, inspiring them to think bigger and realise that anything is possible!

Nursery Education Funding (NEF) can be used Monday to Friday from 0800 to 1530 up until the term your daughter turns 5.

A minimum of two days per week is recommended in MSJ Minis to support your daughter in settling, forming friendships, and developing a routine. However, there is flexibility for families requiring only one day of provision.

Number Crunch

Story Time

Musical Gems

Woodland Wanderers Art Attack

BIG maths outdoors

Young Writers Splash Out!

Ready, Steady, Cook!

play

Letters & sounds

STRUCTURE OF THE DAY MSJ PREP

Nursery - Year 6

(all girls should be in their classroom for

From MSJ Pre-Prep (age 3-7), to MSJ Prep (age 7-11), we build solid foundations to last a lifetime.

MSJ Prep is based in the heart of the school, with bright and welcoming classrooms; this means even our youngest pupils get to regularly use senior facilities for lessons such as the sports centre and AstroTurf, science labs and art and DT workshops.

When girls reach Year 6 and get ready to move into MSJ Seniors, activities such as transition meetings and a Year 6 and 7 pizza party are arranged, to make sure that girls are comfortable and supported in the next stage of their learning journey with us.

*Girls are encouraged to participate in the extra-curricular activities but parents may collect their daughters at the end of reflection time if they wish.

MINIBUS

The School minibuses leave at 16:05 or 18:05.

STRUCTURE OF THE DAY MSJ SENIORS

MSJ Seniors (Year 7 - 11)

The focus in MSJ Seniors is to empower each girl to reach her personal potential and achieve results that exceed expectations. We equip girls to think independently, discover their own interests and become intellectually curious.

Our experienced, carefully selected and inspirational teachers actively challenge and stretch learners to push boundaries and take pride in their achievements.

Our personalised approach will ensure your daughter will develop her confidence and selfesteem by discovering new areas and ideas through which she can truly excel.

*On Mondays Periods 1 and 2 start five minutes earlier and break begins at 09:55.

FRIDAY EXEAT TIMINGS

On an Exeat weekend, registration is at 08:20 and the day finishes at 15:30.

TERM DATES

For term dates please see the school website.

STRUCTURE OF THE DAY MSJ SIXTH FORM

Sixth Form (Year 12 - 13)

In the Sixth Form, self-study and independent thinking are essential to succeed at A Level. A more analytical and investigative approach in lessons creates a dynamic academic culture. This allows for lively classroom debate as pupils explore the subjects they love with confidence and autonomy.

We offer a wide choice of A Level subjects where inspirational teaching and small classes enable girls to achieve outstanding results.

The Sixth Form boarding experience offers a warm, empowering and supportive environment, serving as a great transition between School and University life.

*On Mondays Periods 1 and 2 start five minutes earlier and break begins at 09:55.

FRIDAY EXEAT TIMINGS

On an Exeat weekend, registration is at 08:20 and the day finishes at 15:30.

TERM DATES

For term dates please see the school website.

BOARDING AT MSJ

BOARDING HOUSES

2023 - 2024

Boarding is at the heart of Malvern St James and all girls whether they are full, weekly, flexi or day pupils are a part of the boarding community. We welcome boarders from Year 3 through to Year 13 (age 7 - 19). Boarding adds a special, holistic dimension to the pastoral foundation of the School. We have five Boarding Houses which are dedicated to caring for specific age groups. Each of the Boarding Houses has an experienced team of staff dedicated to looking after the health and wellbeing of the girls.

BATSFORD

YEARS 3-8

Batsford is our beautiful junior boarding house for ages 7–13. Set in its own lovely grounds, a stone’s throw from school, Batsford is a real home from home for many girls including occasional or flexi-boarders who enjoy staying alongside our weekly and full boarders. As in all our houses, the team is made up of three staff, two of whom are on duty overnight.

We love having other girls to stay and in the summer spend as long as we can outside in the evenings. Winter is a time for hot chocolate and pyjamas!

AUSTEN

YEARS 9-10

Austen spans the upper floors of the main School building, with beautiful panoramic views across the Malvern Hills. Austen boarders enjoy cosy rooms, magnificent views, and most importantly, a commute to School that doesn’t involve getting wet when it rains!

Girls are able to make excellent use of School facilities in the evenings with the Library, Sixth Form Centre, Art Studios and Gym all open until late.

BENHAMS YEAR 11

Benhams is our most recently refurbished boarding house, conveniently located next door to School and just across the road from MSJ’s Sports & Fitness Centre.

With a large garden, common room and kitchen facilities as well as a mixture of single rooms and double occupancy rooms, greater independence is fostered in Benhams within a happy, friendly and caring atmosphere.

POULTON YEAR 12

Located on the top two floors of the main school building, Poulton boarders enjoy cosy bedrooms and common rooms and have fantastic views across the Malvern Hills.

Year 12 girls are encouraged to be independent which prepares them for university life. They will have opportunities to learn how to cook and are also expected to wash their own laundry and keep the House tidy. The relaxing home-from-home environment ensures girls enjoy their first year in MSJ Sixth Form with a listening ear and clear guidance.

GREENSLADE YEAR 13

Greenslade is a newly refurbished transition house for Year 13 boarders, assisting them in becoming more independent and ready for life after school. Each girl has her own bedroom, with wash basin and study area, giving her space to make her own and focus on her studies. There are also a range of welcoming communal areas.

Girls develop their independence through doing their own laundry, managing their time effectively and can go further afield with their friends to the cinema and out for meals.

BUS ROUTES

The MSJ bus routes serve five different counties, each with up to six collection points. The routes are:

EVESHAM

CLOWS TOP

LEOMINSTER

GLOUCESTER

CHELTENHAM

ROSS-ON-WYE

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON

BROMSGROVE/DROITWICH HEREFORD/LEDBURY/COLWALL

A place on the school bus is available on a termly basis. It can be shared between two families, for example, if your daughter only uses the route in the morning, you would be welcome to 'share' the place and cost with a friend whose daughter uses only the return trip.

The minibus service collects in the morning and departs from School at 18:05 after Prep or extracurricular activities.

The School is happy to offer occasional use to families, in the case of emergencies and if there is a seat available on the required route (for example, if a parent's car has broken down).

SCHOOL FEES

2023-2024

Please note: Fees quoted are per term

OCCASIONAL BOARDING

(Subject to availability, must be pre-arranged)

• Years 3-8 Day fees include 2 free nights per term

• Years 9-13 Day fees include 3 free nights per term

• Exeat Weekend £80 per night

Fees include dental insurance and personal accident cover Sibling discount: 10% for the second pupil and 15% for the third pupil. OGA discount: 5%

SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDS & BURSARIES

Our bursary programme is generous and designed to make it possible for those who meet Malvern St James’ entry criteria to take up a place here. Alongside sibling and military discounts, we also offer means-tested bursaries at MSJ. These are worth up to a maximum of a 40% discount off the fees. All bursaries are granted on the recommendation of the Director of Finance, at the discretion of the Headmistress.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND FOUNDERS’ AWARDS

MSJ Scholarships are offered in a variety of disciplines including academic, art, drama, music, riding, sport, and flexi-boarding. Scholarships carry a fee remission of up to 10% for Senior School Scholarships. The final Award will be considered alongside any other bursaries and remissions, the combined total of which will not exceed 40%. Sixth Form Scholarships may carry a fee remission subject to means testing. All Scholarships are awarded for as long as the student remains at the School, provided that her progress and conduct are excellent.

Launched in Autumn 2015, The Founders’ Awards is a bursary programme to enable outstanding students to access the excellent educational opportunities offered at MSJ. The Awards are named in honour of our founding schools and the pioneering women who established all-girls’ education in Malvern. The Founders’ Awards will increase accessibility to the School and build upon an already deep-rooted tradition of bursary and scholarship provision.

The scheme has been created as a result of a generous bequest left to MSJ in 2014. The number of Awards given, and the value of each, are kept deliberately flexible so that we are able to reach the most deserving girls and address their individual circumstances. In this way we create something which is bespoke and represents a meaningful contribution to the recipient.

For more information on Scholarships and The Founders’ Awards please see the ‘Admissions’ section of the MSJ website.

ARMED FORCES FAMILIES

Armed Forces families pay only 10% of our boarding fees, as long as they are eligible for the Continuity of Education Allowance and can provide evidence of this.

For those not eligible, the Forces discounts are:

Reception – Year 6 10% reduction from fees

Year 7 – 8 15% reduction from fees

Year 9 – 13 25% reduction from fees

MSJ has a reputation for excellent pastoral care and we have years of experience in providing a ‘home away from home’ for the daughters of our Service personnel. Our House staff are experienced in providing reassurance and care to girls whose parents are in the UK Armed Forces, including little touches like not insisting that all belongings are removed from the School over the holidays and flexibility to have weekends out if parents have leave during term-time. With no School on Saturdays, girls are fully engaged with full weekend programmes of activities from mountain biking to shopping, trips to the cinema and theatre, House movie nights and bake-offs; as well as downtime to rest and relax.

We also offer Forces families the following, for full details visit our website:

• £100 credit per child each term to spend on weekend excursions

• Free Exeat weekends as needed

• Refer a Forces Friends scheme

NURSERY FEES & FUNDING

2023-2024

refunded at end of first term

A minimum of two School Days is recommended.

• Two School Days would use 15 hours of funded hours.

• Four School Days would use 30 hours of funded hours.

Parents/Guardians to provide consumables such as sun cream.

There is a late collection charge of £15 per 15 minutes after 18:00.

ADMISSIONS PROCEDURE AND ENTRANCE TESTS

Malvern St James welcomes families to come and visit us at our Open Mornings, and in term time during weekdays, by appointment. We are happy to arrange a Taster Day for your daughter to sample life at the School with no obligation. Parents are invited to meet the Headmistress to discuss their daughter’s education here. Registration can be completed by submitting the following:

REGISTRATION FORM

Early registration is recommended in the event of there being a waiting list for places at the School. Whenever possible, registration should be at least 12 months prior to the proposed date of entry. Our online Registration Form can be completed in ‘Entry Process’ in the ‘Admissions’ section of the Malvern St James website: www.malvernstjames.co.uk/admissions

REGISTRATION FEE

£150 for UK residents / £200 for non-UK residents / £50 for Forces Families

SCHOOL REPORTS

Copies of recent reports from the pupil’s current school

PASSPORT PHOTOCOPY

Showing the pupil’s passport front cover, photograph page and ‘Right of Abode in the UK’ page (if applicable)*

*The UKVI has advised that any girl without a passport should submit a copy of the parents’ passports which should be held on her file. This should be provided at the Registration stage.

We send an acknowledgement on receipt of registration. Any court orders or educational psychologist reports must be disclosed during the registration process.

ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS

Reception - Year 6

Year 7 - Year 10

Year 12

Girls attend a ‘ Two-Day Taster ’ at Malvern St James including informal assessment. Applicants who are non-UK residents can be assessed remotely. Key Stage 2 applicants will also be informally interviewed.

Entrance Examinations take the form of Cognitive Ability Tests (CAT4*) and an English Comprehension examination (or Oxford Placement Test for nonnative English speakers).

Applicants sit written papers in three of the subjects they intend to study at A Level. Girls whose first language is not English are also required to take an online Oxford Placement Test along with the subject papers.

Girls are able to take their Entrance assessments from the Autumn Term onwards, the year prior to entry. We also offer an earlier assessment in the June, the year prior to entry for girls joining Year 7 and 9.

ACCEPTING A PLACE AT MSJ

To complete your daughter’s enrolment, you will need to return:

• Signed Acceptance Contract

• Acceptance Deposit (£800 UK residents/one term’s fees for non-UK residents)

• New Starter forms

Please note: The Acceptance Deposit will be held in the School bank account and will be refunded after your daughter’s final term at MSJ, less any extra costs for that final term. The deposit is nonrefundable in the event that your daughter does not take up a place previously accepted.

GUARDIAN REQUIREMENTS

Girls whose parents live outside the UK must have a guardian permanently resident in the UK to act with their full authority. The guardian must be aged 25 or over and should live within easy travelling distance from School. We encourage guardians to play a full part in the life of our pupils. Further information regarding the role and responsibilities of a guardian can be found in our Guardian Charter document which is provided with all offers and must be signed and returned upon acceptance of a place.

It is the responsibility of the parent to appoint the guardian. The name, address and contact number of the guardian must be submitted prior to the start of the girl’s first term, and is a condition of entry to MSJ.

You should inform your daughter’s Housemistress immediately if there is any change of guardian.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

Our legal representatives act on behalf of the School and will support you through the process of securing a visa. We will ask our legal representatives to contact you as they will be responsible for all Student Route applications for prospective pupils.

Our legal representatives will issue the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number which must be used in the visa application process. They will only do this once they are satisfied that all immigration requirements have been met and that all the documentation being used is compliant with UKVI guidelines. With your assistance they will complete the online application form on your behalf and book an appointment at a UK Visa centre at a time that is convenient for you.

The School has a Student Route Licence to allow us to provide CAS numbers and, under this Licence, we have responsibilities that we have to comply with to enable us to continue to sponsor international students. Therefore, we work with our legal representatives to ensure that the visa application process is concluded as smoothly as possible and to the benefit of all concerned.

THE OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION

The Old Girls’ Association is our alumnae group which incorporates Old Girls of Malvern St James and all of its founding schools –Malvern Girls’ College, St James’s School, The Abbey, St James’s & The Abbey and Lawnside.

The Old Girls’ Association (OGA) comprises over 4,500 members and as well as providing social opportunities to bring old friends back together, we are very firmly committed to providing professional networking opportunities to our Old Girl community and current pupils at MSJ. We do this by providing a network of contacts with experience and expertise across a wealth of business sectors incorporating Old Girls who are just starting out, to those who have made it to the very top of their professions, and every stage in between.

We are very grateful to Old Girls who volunteer to come back to School to give university and careers lectures and workshops; who offer mentoring advice by phone, email and Skype; who offer work shadowing and internship experiences; who participate at our MSJ Careers Fairs; who conduct mock interviews for university entrance; who act as mentors and wise guides to current students and our younger Old Girls.

Life membership of the OGA is £270 (subject to annual review), payable in three equal instalments in your daughter’s first year at MSJ.

THE FRIENDS OF MSJ

The Friends of Malvern St James (Parents’ Association) is run by a committee of parents and teachers.

The Friends support social and fund-raising events for girls, parents, guardians, staff and Old Girls.

The Friends finance extra facilities, equipment and events for our girls for the enhancement of their education and recreation at the School via the sale of second-hand uniform.