Established 1945 Headmistress Mrs M Arnal Chair of Governors Maj Gen Sir S Roberts Founder Sisters of Loreto | Religion Roman Catholic Resident Priest Fr Andrew Moore Phone +44 1747 852416 Founded 1945 | |
Type Independent day and boarding school Address Higher Coombe, Donhead St Mary, Shaftesbury SP7 9LP, UK Motto Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam; To the Greater Glory of God Similar The Shaftesb School, Port Regis School, Bryanston School, Gillingham School, Clayesm Preparato School Profiles | ||
St Mary’s School is an independent Roman Catholic day and boarding school for girls located in a rural setting near Shaftesbury, Dorset, England.
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St Mary's School has a sixth form and is a member of the Girls' Schools Association.
Although the school's postal address is in Dorset, its site lies just over the county border in Wiltshire, within the parish of Donhead St Mary.
History
St Mary's was founded in 1945 by the nuns of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (also known as the Sisters of Loreto) whose principles are based on the life and works of The Ven Mary Ward. Hence it has the same motto as its sister schools in Ascot and Cambridge.
The school became a registered charity in 1995 and is managed by a board of governors, but retains its strong Catholic ethos. As of September 2011, it changed its intake age from 9 to 11 and is now solely a secondary school.
Pastoral care
As a Catholic school, pupils attend mass and worship services on a regular basis. Spirituality is considered an important part of school life. The houses take turns to lead services, giving pupils a chance to participate in the service themselves. Spiritual retreats are held by year groups throughout the year.
The school's excellent pastoral care was commended in the 2007 ISI Inspection.
Boarding
Over two thirds of its pupils are boarders. All boarders are full-time and are organised by year groups into seven boarding houses.
Academic achievement
St Mary's is one of the top performing independent schools in the county. It was one of the few schools in the county which did not suffer from the new GCSE grading system using the English Baccalaureate introduced in 2010, as candidates achieved a 100% pass rate.
Extra-curricular
Spirituality is at the heart of St Mary's and girls are involved at every level – from formal masses to simple night prayers. Many local and international charities are supported by the school and fund raising events are organised by the school to support the charities.
Pupils compete at national and county level on the sports field. Music is an important part of life at St Mary’s, with a £1m complex housing individual practice rooms and a concert hall. Drama and art are also popular with frequent cultural trips.