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St Mary's School  圣瑪麗中學(xué)

St Mary’s School/Shaftesbury, Shaftesbury,
Dorset SP7 9LP
Tel: 01747 854005 Fax: 01747 851557
Website: www.st-marys-shaftesbury.co.uk
• GIRLS, 9–18, Day & Boarding
• Pupils 340, Upper sixth 26
• Termly fees £3905–£4105 (Day), £5775–£6085 (Boarding)
• GSA, BSA
• Enquiries/application to the Headmistress

What it’s like
Founded in 1945 by the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the tradition of its 17th-century foundress Mary Ward who said ‘There is no such difference between men and women that women may not do great things, as we have seen by example of many saints. And I hope in God it will be seen that women in time to come will do much’. The school has a handsome site of 55 acres about a mile outside the Saxon town of Shaftesbury. It has fine buildings and excellent facilities, including a purpose-built sixth-form house, IT rooms and drama studio; an astroturf pitch and music school are the most recent additions. It aims to educate girls of all Christian denominations, but primarily Roman Catholics, in an environment which develops Christian values and prepares girls for any walk of life. Religious education is part of the core curriculum and there is considerable emphasis on worship and prayer. The staff:pupil ratio is about 1:10. Academic standards are good and examination results very good. Music and art are strong; speech and drama exams are taken to Gold Medal level. Ballet and modern dance are well supported. There is a range of clubs and societies and participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. A wide and increasing range of sports.

School profile

Pupils & entrance
Pupils: Total age range 9–18; 340 girls (117 day, 223 boarding). Senior department 11–18, 291 girls.
Entrance: Main entry ages 9–13 and 16. Own entrance exam used, plus interview and testimonial; for sixth-form entry, 5 GCSEs at least grade C (grade A in sixth-form subjects).

Scholarships, bursaries & extras 11 pa scholarships, value 25% fees: 3 academic, 3 all-rounder, 2 art, 3 music (3 at 11, 4 at 13 and 4 at 16). Some means-tested help for existing pupils whose parents hit hard times. Parents expected to buy a few textbooks in sixth form. Maximum extras around £200 per term.

Head & staff
Headmistress: Mrs Margaret McSwiggan, appointed 2003. Educated at St Rita’s College, Brisbane, and at Brisbane CAE (home economics) and Surrey University (MA education studies). Previously Headmistress at Notre Dame School, Cobham, Housemistress at King Edward’s Witley and Head of Department at John Paul College, Brisbane.
Teaching staff: 30 full time, 12 part time. Annual turnover 5%. Average age 40–45.

Exam results
GCSE: In 2003, 44 pupils in upper fifth, 100% gained at least grade C in 5+ subjects (most in 9+ subjects). Average GCSE score 67 (64 over 5 years).
A-levels: 26 in upper sixth: 96% passed in 3+ subjects. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 353.

University & college entrance 98% of 2003 sixth-form leavers went on to a degree course (53% after a gap year), 1% to Oxbridge. 13% in science & engineering, 63% in arts, humanities & social sciences, 11% in art & design, 13% in other vocational subjects eg business and nursing finance. Others typically go on to professional non-degree training.

Curriculum GCSE and AS and A-levels. 18 GCSE subjects, 20 AS/A-level.
Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; general studies is not taken. 20% take science A-levels; 50% arts/humanities; 30% both. Key skills integrated into courses and activities.
Vocational: Work experience available.
Languages: French (compulsory from 9 to 16), German and Spanish all offered to GCSE and A-level; Italian to GCSE. Regular exchanges on an individual basis (France and Spain). Most pupils take Pitmans text production in a foreign language.
ICT: Taught as a discrete subject (1 lesson a week). 60 computers for pupil use (14 hours a day), all networked and with e-mail and internet access.

The arts
Music: Over 70% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 10 musical groups: brass groups, recorder consort, woodwind ensemble, orchestra, folk group, 4 choirs. Sainsbury Choir of the Year competition, regional winner; Bath music festival, trophy winners; finals of Choir Girl of the Year. Choir trips to St Petersburg, Bavaria, Italy, Budapest and Krakov.
Drama & dance: Both offered. GCSE drama, A-level theatre studies and LAMDA exams may be taken. Majority of pupils are involved in school and house/other productions. Many achieve gold medal speech & acting with honours.
Art & design: On average, 15 take GCSE, 5 A-level. Design, pottery, textiles, photography also offered.

Sport & activities
Sport: Netball, hockey, swimming, athletics, tennis, rounders compulsory. Optional: badminton, fencing, keep fit, riding, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics. County netball champions, regular finalists at all age groups; county hockey finalists, cross-country champions.
Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Community service optional. Up to 10 clubs, eg debating, wine tasting, photography.

School life
Uniform: School uniform worn (sold on premises); varied in sixth form.
Houses & prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, head girl, head of house and house prefects – appointed by Head after consultation with staff, lower sixth and previous upper sixth.
Religion: Attendance at religious worship compulsory.
Social: Regular debates and joint concerts. Trips abroad typically: 1 week trip to France (second year); history of art to Paris (sixth form), Florence, Venice; choir concert to Hungary; general trip to Russia. Pupils allowed to bring own bike for DoE scheme; upper sixth may bring own cars. Meals self-service but eaten formally. School tuck shop. No tobacco or alcohol allowed.

Discipline Pupils failing to produce homework once might expect to re-do it in own time (re-do in detention on subsequent occasion). Drug or solvent abuse of any kind will result in swift, severe action.

Boarding All sixth form have own study bedroom, upper sixth in separate house; fifth form share in pairs, fourth 2–4. Houses same as competitive, 40–45 boarders and 15–20 day girls. Sixth form can provide and cook own food to limited extent. Qualified nurse by day (and at night when required).
2 weekend exeats termly (3 in sixth form). Visits to the local town range from 3rd year (2 Saturdays per term) to sixth form (any Saturday and during week if free and with tutor’s permission).