St Mary's Calne

St Mary’s Calne is one of the UK’s leading boarding and day school for girls aged 11–18, with a happy, flourishing community of around 350 pupils (80% boarding, 20% day) including a very strong Sixth Form of 120+ students, and a well-deserved reputation for academic excellence. Located in the heart of countryside Wiltshire, the school prides itself on instilling a love of learning and ‘can do’ attitude amongst its students.

Academic Excellence

St Mary’s Calne has a well-deserved reputation for academic excellence consistently featuring in the Sunday Times Good Schools Guide. GCSE and A Level results are outstanding, and the girls make a smooth transition to the university of their choice.

In the purpose-built Sixth Form Centre, a bespoke lecture programme, debating competitions, careers advice, leadership roles, prepare the girls for university and beyond. Leadership opportunities give the Sixth Form girls independence, and they are fantastic role models for the younger girls.

Every year, the girls go to study at their first-choice university, including Oxford, Cambridge and the prestigious Russell Group. Studying overseas has grown in popularity, with girls successfully gaining places at leading US universities.

The Boarding Experience

As a full boarding school, the school provides a genuinely caring environment where young people thrive. The girls board in year groups, so House staff are specialists in their year group age range: they know what support the girls need and tailor the life in the House to the age range who are living there.

Life in the Boarding House is vibrant and enjoyable, offering a full weekend programme of activities for students to participate in. From trips to water parks, ice skating and roller skating to silent discos, themed food nights, socials and trips to the cinema, there is something for everyone. This exciting schedule is complemented by a variety of special interest clubs (such as the Writer’s Guild, Art Palette Pals, archery, K-Pop and climbing, and more), sports clubs, and music ensembles.

Boarding by year group fosters strong, lifelong friendships, creating a tight-knit community where students flourish together and enjoy an incredible sense of unity.

Excellent Co-Curricular

Opportunities in sport, music, art and drama abound and the facilities are superb, including a new sports complex and full-size astro, theatre, a Sixth Form Centre and a state-of-the-art new library, overlooking the orchard.

80% of girls play musical instruments and take part in a wide variety of ensembles. The girls perform at many events, both in the local community and further afield.

In Drama, all girls get a chance to be on stage and there are year group productions in the first three years of the school ensuring each girl who wants one, has a part.

In Art, in addition to holding a triennial exhibition in London, the girls have received numerous awards, including having artwork selected for the Young Artists’ Summer Show at the Royal Academy of Arts.

The girls excel at sport, and the school is represented at county level in several major sports and nationally in athletics, lacrosse, and horse riding, with all girls taking advantage of the superb sports facilities. The girls also enjoy many other sports, including tennis hockey, netball, swimming, fencing and ski racing.

The girls are also very active in the local community and have helped in local hospitals, residential care homes, the community library and in local schools.

Outstanding Pastoral Care

St Mary’s is renowned for its outstanding pastoral care, which is woven into the heart of school life. Our ethos emphasises mutual respect, openness and warmth and it is the quality of relationships within the school that makes our pastoral care so special.

An advantage of being a member of a boarding school community, especially one which is deliberately kept relatively small, is that girls are known and cared for as individuals. Every girl also has a personal tutor to support her through aspects of school life, such as organisational skills, and weekly meetings to talk through academic progress, co-curricular interests and school life.

Location

• 90 minutes from London Heathrow by car
• 75 minutes from London Paddington by train
• 60 minutes from Bristol Airport by car
• Escorted travel to and from London and airports for all holidays and exeats.