cambridge, Cambridgeshire · CB2 1LY
St Mary's School Cambridge is an independent all-through girls' school rooted in the Catholic tradition of Mary Ward, offering education from preschool through to sixth form with boarding from age 11. Set in central Cambridge, the school benefits from its proximity to one of the world's great university cities, weaving academic aspiration with a distinctive ethos of individuality, service, and joy in learning. The school's Ignatian-influenced values emphasise the whole person rather than pure academic pressure, making it unusually warm in character for a high-achieving selective school. With 613 pupils and a strong international dimension, St Mary's combines a tight-knit community feel with genuine breadth of opportunity.
Who thrives here
Girls who are curious, motivated, and want to be known as individuals rather than lost in a large institution will thrive here; the ethos rewards creativity, kindness, and leadership as much as academic excellence.
Percentiles within UK independent + grammar schools we track.
Bateman Street
cambridge, Cambridgeshire
CB2 1LY
Nearest stations
Shirley Hughes
Children's author and illustrator, creator of Dogger
Patricia Routledge
Actress, known for Keeping Up Appearances
Day fees at St Mary's School are approximately £22,500 per year (2024/25). Boarding fees are higher.
St Mary's School admits pupils at 3+, 4+, 7+, 8+, 11+, 13+, 16+. Entry is assessed by 11+ Selective Examination. See the Admissions section above for open days and key dates.
At St Mary's School, 41.9% of A-levels were graded A*–B and 61.7% of GCSEs were grade 7/A or above. Full results are in the Results section above.
St Mary's School offers boarding as well as day places.
ISI rated St Mary's School “Good” (2025).
Frequently praised
✓Warm, nurturing community where daughters feel known and valued as individuals
✓Strong pastoral care and genuine attention to wellbeing from staff
✓Excellent breadth of enrichment beyond the classroom in arts, STEM, and service
✓Cambridge location opens doors to university events, lectures, and cultural experiences
✓Leadership and confidence-building for girls is taken seriously throughout the school
Common concerns
!Central Cambridge location means limited on-site outdoor space compared to schools with larger campuses
!Sports facilities split across sites (Long Road) which some families find less convenient
!As a mid-sized school, the range of A-level subject combinations may be narrower than larger sixth forms