St Mary's School
cambridge, Cambridgeshire, East of England · CB2 1LY
Founded in 1898, St Mary's is a Roman Catholic girls' school in Cambridge that educates pupils from age three through to eighteen, with boarding available alongside day places. Its Independent Schools Inspectorate report awarded the school the top grade of 'excellent' for both education and personal development, with all compliance standards met. With around 510 pupils, including a small sixth form of roughly 70, it remains a medium-sized community where a notable 27 per cent of girls receive SEN support. Led by Headmistress Mrs Hannah Helliar, the school combines a Catholic ethos with broad academic and pastoral ambitions.
510
Pupils
excellent
ISI
£25,425
Day fees / yr
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Open in Google Maps ↗Overview & data
- Gender
- Girls
- Type
- independent (fee-paying) school
- Age range
- 3-18
- Pupils
- 510
- Location
- cambridge, Cambridgeshire, East of England
- Website
- www.stmaryscambridge.co.uk
- Telephone
- 01223 353253
Entrance & admissions
- Entry age
- 11
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Headteacher
Headmistress Mrs Hannah Helliar
Latest results
Attainment 8
51.8
National average 46.9
GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)
68%
National average 47%
GCSE grade 9-7
63%
A-level A*-A
54%
A-level A*-B
77%
Teaching & academics
Results sit comfortably above national benchmarks: the average Attainment 8 score is 51.8 against a national figure of 46.9, and 68 per cent of pupils secure grade 5 or above in English and Maths, well ahead of the 47 per cent national average. Almost two-thirds of GCSE grades fall in the 9-7 range, and at A-level 54 per cent of entries reach A*-A with 77 per cent at A*-B. The curriculum is wide, offering GCSE, A-level and the EPQ, with strong take-up in sciences, mathematics, languages and the arts. Chinese sits alongside French and Spanish, and popular sixth-form choices range from Further Mathematics and Physics to Psychology, History and Fine Art.
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 70
Popular A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Learning support & SEN
- SEN support
- 27.13%
- EHC plans
- 0.17%
Arts & extracurricular
Languages
Popular GCSE subjects
Sport
Main sports
Beyond the classroom
Sport centres on hockey, touch rugby and football, giving girls competitive team options. The breadth of subjects on offer, including Latin, Classical Civilisation, Music and Drama, points to a rich co-curricular life beyond the core timetable.
Ethos & heritage
- Founded
- 1898
- Religious character
- RC
- Boarding
- Yes
Mobile phone policy
Years 5-6 can attend school with mobiles but must hand these in at the beginning of school and collect at the end of school. Years 7-10 hand mobiles to reception at the start of school and collect at the end of school. Year 11 may keep mobiles in their bag, locker or blazer pocket and can use in the dining room, forms rooms and library. Years 12-13 are allowed mobiles in the sixth form areas. Students with phones must switch them off in lessons, corridors and between 12-2pm.
Money matters
- Day fees (per year)
- £16,170 - £25,425
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £46,020 - £54,630
- Bursaries up to
- 110% of fees
Bursaries (means-tested) are available via the school or through the Royal National Springboard Bursary Scheme. Awards are given up to 110 per cent of fees.
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 30 September 2025
The last word
An academically strong Catholic girls' school where results outpace national averages and means-tested bursaries open the door wider. Day fees run from £16,170 to £25,425, with boarding reaching up to £54,630.
The Passmate verdict
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St Mary's School 11+: frequently asked questions
Where is St Mary's School located?
St Mary's School is located at Bateman Street, cambridge, CB2 1LY.
What type of school is St Mary's School?
St Mary's School is an independent (fee-paying) school in East of England.
How many pupils attend St Mary's School?
St Mary's School has approximately 510 pupils on roll.
What is St Mary's School's inspection rating?
St Mary's School is inspected by the ISI and was judged "excellent" at its inspection on 30 September 2025.
Compiled from public data. Last checked June 2026.