St. Mary's College
11+ Admissions Guide 2026

St. Mary's College is an independent, Catholic day school welcoming boys and girls from the age of 2 through to 18. Founded in 1919 by the Irish Congregation of Christian Brothers, the school became fully co-educational in 1989 and is today administered by a lay board of trustees. It aims to provide a Catholic Christian community in which pupils of all faiths, and of none, feel welcome, safe, and known by name. The school is made up of several settings across more than one site. The youngest children are cared for in the Early Years setting, known as Bright Sparks, which sits alongside the senior school. The preparatory school, catering for pupils aged 4 to 11, is located about a mile away, and the senior school — which includes an integrated sixth form — serves pupils aged 11 to 18. The college also has its own games fields nearby. St. Mary's seeks to promote academic excellence and the fulfilment of every pupil's potential within a supportive community of faith. The school provides additional specialist support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, and makes provision for those who speak English as an additional language, as well as adapting the curriculum to meet the needs of its most able pupils.