St Mary's Calne

St Mary’s Calne is a top boarding and day school of around 360 girls aged 11–18, including a very strong Sixth Form of 120+ students. Approximately 80% of the girls are boarders and there is a very rich boarding life, with all girls participating in the full-curriculum and co-curricular activities on offer.

Outstanding Pastoral Care

St Mary’s is renowned for its outstanding pastoral care and every girl is known and cared for as an individual. Every girl has a Tutor to support her through aspects of school life, from organisational skills and subject choices through to university application. The purpose-built Sixth Form Centre, a bespoke lecture programme, debating competitions, careers advice, leadership roles and much more prepare the girls for university and beyond. Different opportunities give the Sixth Form girls independence, and they are fantastic role models for the younger girls.

Academic Excellence

St Mary’s Calne has a well-deserved reputation for academic excellence and is committed to providing an education that will challenge and inspire its pupils. In the Sunday Times Parent Power Schools’ Guide 2020, St Mary’s was ranked 1st independent school in Wiltshire and 2nd in the South West. St Mary’s is also the first independent school in the UK to be awarded the Platinum Science Mark Award.

In 2021, the girls went on to study at a range of leading universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Edinburgh, Exeter, King’s College London, London School of Economics and University College London. Several girls were also successful in gaining places at prestigious universities in the USA.

Beyond the classroom

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.

Drama productions in the purpose-built theatre are of the highest standard and have transferred to the London stage. The Drama Department has a unique relationship with RADA, offering a course in advanced communication skills and girls also perform annually at the Edinburgh Fringe. 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 (the St Mary’s Calne Tennis Academy was a National Finalist for ‘School of the Year’ 2021 at the LTA Tennis Awards) 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.

Location

Approximately one and a half hours west of London. Escorted travel to and from London and airports for all holidays and exeats.

“The girls have had a spectacular career at St Mary’s; I am not measuring this just in attainment or success in exams, but they have also seized every opportunity – on the sports field, in music and as representatives of the school… I am incredibly proud that they have been able to attend a school like this.” Former parent