St Mary's School Ascot

Last updated

St Mary's School Ascot
St Mary logo.png
Address
St Mary's School Ascot
St Mary's Road

Ascot
,
Berkshire
,
SL5 9JF

England
Coordinates 51°23′39″N0°40′13″W / 51.3943°N 0.6703°W / 51.3943; -0.6703
Information
Type Private day and boarding school
Motto Latin: Ad maiorem Dei gloriam
(For the greater glory of God)
Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic
Established1885
Founder Mary Ward
Local authority Windsor and Maidenhead
Department for Education URN 110120 Tables
Chair of the GovernorsClementine Vaughan
HeadmistressDanuta Staunton
GenderFemale
Age11to 18
Enrolment386 pupils (2019)
Website st-marys-ascot.co.uk

St Mary's School Ascot is a Roman Catholic independent day and boarding school for girls in Ascot, Berkshire, England. [1] It is a member of the Girls' Schools Association. It was named 2015 "Public School of the Year" at the annual Tatler Schools Awards. [2] It was ranked No. 1 in the U.K. by The Daily Telegraph in the 2018 GCSEs. [3]

Contents

History

St Mary's School was founded by the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM). The school chapel was built in 1885 and funded by Cecilia Marshall, and the First Mass was celebrated there on 2 July 1896. The Chapel is dedicated to Our Lady of Humility and St Cecilia. It was consecrated by Bishop John Baptist Cahill in 1906. [4]

Since 1984, it has been run by the St Mary's School Ascot Trust. In 1998 the school had its first lay Headmistress, Mrs Mary Breen.

In 2006, the school opened its new sports centre, named the Orchard Centre after the Catholic family from which the school's two previous headmistresses came. The Centre was opened by ballerina Darcey Bussell. A Performing Arts Centre has also been built named the Rose Theatre. It opened in April 2009.

In 2018, the school inaugurated its new Upper Sixth (Year 13) Courtyard: new boarding houses area for girls.

Curriculum

St Mary's has enjoyed success in both GCSE and A Levels examinations.

It was listed in The Independent's top 100 schools for 2012 based on the most recent A Levels results. [5]

In 2018 the girls' school achieved 1st place in the U.K. based on their GCSE results with a 97.5% A*-A or 9-1 rate - one of four schools to surpass 97% for the top grades, according to the Independent Schools Council (ISC). [6]

In 2018, girls placed 21st in the U.K. in their A Level results according to the Best Schools: UK School League Ranking based on their 75.77% A*-A results. [7]

In 2019, girls placed 12th in the Top U.K. Boarding School Ranking based on their 77.1% A*-A results. [8]

In 2022, the girls' school achieved 10th place in the U.K independent school GCSE table with 94.7% of girls achieving 9-7 grades.

Pastoral care

As St Mary's is a Catholic school, girls are required to attend chapel and worship services. Throughout the Liturgical year the whole school community gather together to celebrate Feast Days and Holy Days of Obligation. Spiritual retreats are also organised for each year. The boarding areas are stationed around the school and the girls sleep within their year group.

Houses

Most pupils at St Mary's are boarders. The house system is based on the boarding programme and each house has a mix of boarders and day girls. Each girl between Year 7 and Lower 6th (Year 12) belongs to one of the six main houses - Babthorpe, Bedingfeld, Dawson, Poyntz, Rookwood and Wigmore - which are named after Mary Ward's fellow nuns. [9] Only girls in Upper Sixth (Year 13) are members of the Mary Ward house.

Each house has a captain, vice-captain and other leadership roles (e.g. prefects, drama captain) who are elected by house pupils.

HouseColour
Babthorpe 
Bedingfeld  
Dawson 
Poyntz 
Rookwood 
Wigmore 
Mary Ward  

The Heads of House are the first point of contact for girls and parents and most also teach at the school. All Heads of House have an office in the main body of the school and live on site with their families. Every house organises activities and social events on the weekends, which parents are encouraged to attend. [10]

Notable former pupils

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princess Beatrice</span> British princess (born 1988)

Princess Beatrice, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, is a member of the British royal family. She is the elder daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York. She is a niece of King Charles III. Born fifth in line of succession to the British throne, she is now ninth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady Louise Windsor</span> Member of the British royal family (born 2003)

Lady Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor is the daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. She is a granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, and the youngest niece of King Charles III. Born 8th in line to the British throne, she is now 16th.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones</span> British jewelry designer and relative of the royal family (born 2002)

Lady Margarita Elizabeth Rose Alleyne Armstrong-Jones is a relative of the British royal family. She is the granddaughter of Princess Margaret and the grandniece of Queen Elizabeth II. As of 2023, she is 27th in the line of succession to the British throne. She was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011 and accompanies members of the royal family to public events. Lady Margarita is a jewellery designer and the creator of the bespoke jewellery label Matita. In 2023, she was the cover girl for the May issue of Tatler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady Helen Taylor</span> Relative of the British royal family (born 1964)

Lady Helen Marina Lucy Taylor is a relative of the British royal family. She is the daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and Katharine, Duchess of Kent, and a great-granddaughter of George V. She is currently 47th in the line of succession to the British throne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ascot, Berkshire</span> Town in Berkshire, England

Ascot is a town in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Windsor, 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Bracknell and 25 miles (40 km) west of London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downe House School</span> Girls school in Cold Ash near Newbury, Berkshire, England

Downe House School is a selective independent girls' boarding and day school in Cold Ash, a village near Newbury, Berkshire, for girls aged 11–18.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roedean School</span> Girls school in Roedean near Brighton, East Sussex, England

Roedean School is an independent boarding and day school founded in 1885 in Roedean Village on the outskirts of Brighton, East Sussex, England, and governed by Royal Charter. It is for girls aged 11 to 18. The campus is situated near the Sussex Downs, on a cliff overlooking Brighton Marina and the English Channel. It is widely regarded as the "Eton College" of all-girls boarding schools in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laura Lopes</span> British art curator (born 1978)

Laura Rose Lopes is an English art curator. She is the daughter of Andrew Parker Bowles and Queen Camilla, thus making her the stepdaughter of King Charles III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheltenham Ladies' College</span> Girls school in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England

Cheltenham Ladies' College is a private boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. Consistently ranked as one of the top all-girls' schools nationally, the school was established in 1853 to provide "a sound academic education for girls". It is also a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.

Heathfield School is a girls' independent boarding and day school in Ascot, Berkshire, England. In 2006, the school absorbed St Mary's School, Wantage and was briefly named Heathfield St Mary's School but reverted to Heathfield School in 2009 to prevent confusion with another local girls' school St Mary's School, Ascot. The school's grounds cover 36 acres (15 ha) situated on the edge of Ascot, providing access from London, the major airports, the M3 and M4 motorways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St George's School, Windsor Castle</span> Independent coeducational preparatory school in Windsor, Berkshire, England

St George's School, Windsor Castle is a co-educational independent preparatory school in Windsor, near London, England. Founded to provide choirboys for the Choir of St George's Chapel, it now educates over 400 boys and girls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St George's School, Ascot</span> Private day and boarding school in Ascot, Berkshire, England

St George's School, Ascot is an independent girls' boarding and day school in Ascot, Berkshire, England. It was founded as a boys' school but later became a girls' school.

St Mary's School was a private Roman Catholic day and boarding school for girls, founded in 1945 in a rural setting near Shaftesbury, England. The school had a sixth form and was a member of the Girls' Schools Association. After operating at a loss for some time, the school closed in July 2020.

Queen's Gate School is a private day school for girls aged 4–18 in Queen's Gate, South Kensington, London, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Swithun's School, Winchester</span> School in Winchester, Hampshire, England

St Swithun's School is an independent day, weekly and full-boarding school for girls in Winchester, Hampshire. It is named after Saint Swithun, a Bishop of Winchester and patron saint of Winchester Cathedral.

Hurst Lodge School, established in 1945, is a non-selective independent school originally based in Ascot, Berkshire, England, for girls and boys aged three to eighteen, with about 250 children of all ages. The school is now located in Yateley.

Pembridge Hall is a non-selective preparatory school for girls located in Notting Hill, London, England. It is part of the Alpha Plus Group.

Lady Charlotte Anne Santo Domingo is an English socialite and photography producer. She is married to Colombian-American businessman Alejandro Santo Domingo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady Amelia Windsor</span> British fashion model and member of the extended Royal family

Lady Amelia Sophia Theodora Mary Margaret Windsor is an English fashion model and a member of the British royal family. As a daughter of an earl, she is free to retain the title of lady. She is currently 43rd in the line of succession to the British throne, as of May 2023. She is a granddaughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, so she is consequently a great-great-granddaughter of George V and Queen Mary; she is a second cousin once removed of Charles III.

Lady Marina Charlotte Alexandra Katharine Helen Windsor is a British noblewoman and relative of the British royal family. Although she is a great-great-granddaughter of King George V, and a second cousin once removed of Charles III, she was removed from the line of succession to the British throne in 2008 after being confirmed into the Roman Catholic Church.

References

  1. ↑ 2011 ISI Inspection Report
  2. ↑ "TATLER SCHOOLS AWARDS 2015 - THE WINNERS: Public School of the Year". Tatler . September 2015.
  3. ↑ "Best independent schools in 2018: Full league table for GCSE results". The Daily Telegraph . 1 September 2018.
  4. ↑ "St Mary's School Ascot - Chapel". www.st-marys-ascot.co.uk. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  5. ↑ "The Top 100 Independent Schools at A-Level" . London: independent.co.uk. 26 January 2012. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022.
  6. ↑ "Best independent schools in 2018: Full league table for GCSE results". London: telegraph.co.uk. 1 September 2018.
  7. ↑ "A Level Passes Grade A* and A". London: Best Schools.
  8. ↑ "Top UK 100 boarding schools by A-levels results". London: ukuni.net.
  9. ↑ "St Mary's School Ascot - House System". www.st-marys-ascot.co.uk. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  10. ↑ "St Mary's School Ascot - Weekend Activities". www.st-marys-ascot.co.uk. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  11. 1 2 3 Agnew, Harriet; Jenkins, Patrick (16 January 2015). "London: Sexism and the City". Financial Times. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  12. ↑ "St Mary's Ascot". tatler.com. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  13. 1 2 3 "St Mary's Ascot". tatler.com. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  14. ↑ "> 1 CROWN OFFICE ROW (Chambers of Philip Havers QC) > London, ENGLAND > Lawyer profiles > Philippa Whipple QC". The Legal 500. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  15. ↑ "26 famous people who went to school in Berkshire". berksandbuckslife.co.uk. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  16. ↑ Hodgkin, Emily (28 December 2017). "Lady Amelia Windsor's posh boarding school costs £39,000 a year". express.co.uk. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  17. ↑ Gaughan, Gavin (26 July 2009). "Obituary: Zena Marshall". the Guardian. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  18. ↑ "Absolutely fabulist". the Guardian. 22 January 2000. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  19. ↑ Roberts, Andrew (30 April 2009). "Antonia Fraser: Interview". The Daily Telegraph .
  20. ↑ "No Ordinary Lady - Town & Country Magazine UK". www.townandcountrymag.co.uk. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  21. ↑ Minutos, Diez (29 September 2012). "La infanta Elena en Londres con Victoria Federica y Froilán". diezminutos.es.
  22. ↑ "Qui est Amelia Windsor, la figure montante de la famille royale d'Angleterre ?". Marie Claire (in French). Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  23. ↑ "Lady Louise Windsor takes job at garden centre before starting at the University of St Andrews". Tatler. 18 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  24. ↑ "Where Are They Now: Five Years After Prince William and Kate Middleton's Royal Wedding". eonline.com. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.