PROSPECTUS The independent Catholic school for boys and girls of all faiths aged 0–18
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Welcome Welcome to the St. Mary’s College prospectus. As you explore these pages, you will see what makes our school community unique, and why St. Mary’s is rated ‘Excellent’ in all areas by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). St. Mary’s is an independent, co-educational school with a Christian ethos, specifically Roman Catholic but welcoming pupils of all faiths. We provide continuous, high-quality education to boys and girls aged 0-18 in our family of schools in Crosby and Blundellsands, helping our pupils to achieve outstanding results and develop into exceptional individuals. Encouraging academic excellence is an integral part of our work, and our pupils achieve excellent academic results at all key stages. In their inspection report, ISI praised the ‘outstandingly positive attitudes towards learning’ at St. Mary’s and noted that pupils make ‘excellent progress’ and move on ‘very successfully’ when they leave St. Mary’s, gaining places at the universities of their choice. However, at St. Mary’s success is measured by much more than examination results. We place great emphasis on the development of the whole person, encouraging achievement in many fields via our rich programme of extra-curricular activities. St. Mary’s promotes caring for others, and offers significant opportunities for spiritual and moral development. The ISI inspection report highlighted that pupils are ‘notably selfassured and self-confident in their approach to school life’, celebrating each other’s successes and developing ‘high levels of self-esteem’ during their time at St. Mary’s. All of these factors help to make St. Mary’s a learning environment in which children can develop into bright, confident young people who want to make the world better for others, as well as themselves. At St. Mary’s, we believe this is what education is all about.
Michael Kennedy BSc MA Principal
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The pursuit of excellence One of our key aims is the pursuit of excellence and nowhere is this more evident than in our pupils’ outstanding academic achievements. As one of the North West’s leading academic schools, our public examination results are consistently amongst the best in the area, both at GCSE and A Level. St. Mary’s College has finished top of the GCSE results table for Sefton for the past three consecutive years. Our Attainment 8 score of 56.8 is higher than all other state and independent schools in Sefton. This key government measure awards schools a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to eight qualifications, which include English, Maths, three English Baccalaureate qualifications including Sciences, ICT, History, Geography and languages, plus three other additional approved qualifications.
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However, examination results are only part of the picture. Our range of superb student orchestras, bands and choirs makes St. Mary’s a centre of excellence for music, while we frequently collect trophies for sport and other competitive activities.
2020 examination results: • • • • •
Almost two thirds (61%) of all GCSE grades were at the highest 9-7/A*-A grades More than half of GCSE candidates (52%) achieved seven or more 9-7/A*-A grades 88% of GCSE candidates recorded ten or more GCSE passes, with many achieving 11 GCSEs 100% A Level pass rate with 70% of students achieving three or more A*, A or B grades 55% of A Level grades were at the highest A*/A grades, and 83% were A*, A or B grades
Value added St. Mary’s College has an outstanding record in improving the academic performance of pupils, consistently achieving in the top 5% nationally for ‘Value Added’.
Bs predicted. A*s achieved. Mission accomplished! We are very proud of the fact that our pupils regularly outperform their grade predictions, in some cases by as much as 3 grades, i.e. C predicted, A* achieved.
Value Added is an academic measure of the progress pupils make from the time they start school to the examination grades they achieve at the end of their school career. It reflects the extent to which the educational experience enhances pupils’ knowledge, abilities and skills at public examinations beyond predicted levels. Alongside our excellent public examination results, we believe Value Added to be one of the best measures of the quality of the education we provide. As one of our recent students commented: ‘I would never have achieved the grades I did at a different school.’ GCSE and A Level predictions are used as a guide only and they are by no means a ceiling. To us and our pupils, they represent a target to beat.
Star performers in our 2020 GCSE results were Evie Clark and Jack Miller, who both achieved the highest possible ‘9’ grade in all 11 of their GCSEs.
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Educating the whole child St. Mary’s College is renowned for the way the school works to develop the whole child. Our aim, in a supportive yet challenging environment, is to discover and nurture talent in all fields. We maximise the potential of all our pupils in terms of their intellectual, cultural, physical and moral development. At St. Mary’s, the focus is not just on facts and examinations, but on developing a love of knowledge and learning, and equipping pupils with skills and values that will guide and support them throughout their lives. As part of this process, we highlight the importance of: • Challenge – try everything and excel at something. • Initiative – anticipate problems, offer solutions and develop leadership. • Team work – develop the social skills to co-operate and achieve more together than individually. Our commitment to the holistic development of our pupils is supported by an extensive and outstanding programme of extra-curricular opportunities.
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Caring for others Although St. Mary’s College is an independent trust, we are committed to supporting the educational, spiritual and charitable principles of Edmund Rice, founder of the Christian Brothers who created our school in 1919. Our motto ‘Fidem vita fateri’ - which means ‘may our faith show forth in our lives’ - highlights the importance of caring for others and giving rather than taking in everything we do. As a result, St. Mary’s is proud to be a close-knit, caring community in which the pastoral care of all pupils is given the highest priority. Form teachers play the key role in guiding their classes both pastorally and spiritually, while an innovative scheme sees Sixth Form ‘Guardians’ looking after younger pupils. Pupils are also encouraged to get involved in a wide range of fundraising activities as well as outreach and voluntary work, devoting time and effort to helping people less fortunate than themselves.
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Bright Sparks & Early Years (0-4 years) St. Mary’s College caters for children aged from 0-18 years and the educational journey begins in the vibrant and nurturing surroundings of our Bright Sparks & Early Years Department.
We offer a stimulating, creative and - above all - happy environment in which each child in our care is able to learn and develop to the best of their abilities. Our interior spaces are bright, attractive and well equipped to ensure children feel happy and at home. We also offer a number of stimulating outdoor activity areas.
Bright Sparks is a member of the National Day Nurseries Association and has a built up an outstanding reputation as one of the very best pre-school settings in the area.
Bright Sparks has received the highest possible grading in both of its most recent inspections. Ofsted has rated our 0-2 provision ‘Outstanding’ and the Independent Schools Inspectorate rated our 2-4 provision ‘Excellent’ as part of their whole school inspection.
Located in Claremont House, the spacious Victorian mansion in which St. Mary’s College was first founded in 1919, Bright Sparks provides boys and girls with the best possible start to their educational journey.
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St. Mary’s College Preparatory School (4-11 years) St. Mary’s College Preparatory School offers an outstanding and inspiring primary education to 4-11 year olds.
ICT. These skills are developed through ‘themes’ chosen to capture the pupils’ imagination and offer them the opportunity to explore different ways of learning. Specialist tuition in French, Spanish, Music, PE and Games is also an integral part of our curriculum.
We provide individual attention, challenge and support which enables each child to achieve their own personal excellence, whatever that might be.
Unlike most primary schools, our close links with St. Mary’s College mean that our pupils have access to a wealth of specialist subject knowledge and outstanding facilities at our senior school.
The academic thrust of the school is central with a strong focus on the key enabling skills of reading, writing and mathematics. The ISI inspectors noted that our pupils show excellent skills in reading and writing, and use these skills well across the curriculum to enhance their learning.
Academic results are a key priority and something we consider non-negotiable.
Our curriculum is designed to give our pupils the best opportunity to succeed academically and develop a lifelong love of learning. Pupils are given a solid foundation in literacy and numeracy whilst developing skills in Science, History, Geography, Art, Design and
In the last three years our Year 6 pupils have achieved between 96-100% at or above the expected level in the key areas of Numeracy, Reading and Writing. Our Preparatory School also provides an extensive programme of extra-curricular activities, and pupils are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities to develop their confidence and extend their experience.
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St. Mary’s College (11-16 years) At St. Mary’s, senior school pupils benefit from small class sizes and excellent facilities, including specialist IT, design and technology and learning resource centres, a well-equipped sports centre and our specialist music school. We pride ourselves on our inspirational approach to education, and the focus for our highly qualified and experienced teaching staff is a combination of academic excellence with modern and imaginative teaching methods. We teach pupils how to think, not what to think. A rigorous yet broad and balanced curriculum is provided across the range of the humanities and sciences. During their first three years our pupils study 14 distinct subjects including separate sciences, Classics, Latin and two foreign languages. In their fourth year - after thorough consultation with pupils and parents - they begin two-year GCSE courses in a minimum of ten subjects, which must include English, English Literature, Mathematics, Religious Studies, and Science (either 3 or 2 GCSEs). A foreign language is strongly recommended to be one of the choices. As well as academic excellence, we place a lot of emphasis on the cultural life of our pupils, with every child entering the college being given the opportunity to play a musical instrument. Drama and dance are also important features of life at St. Mary’s, and our pupils are not afraid to tackle the classics, from Ajax and Electra to Grease and Oliver!
Specialist coaching is provided in numerous sports, including Rugby, Cricket, Football, Hockey, Netball, Swimming, Athletics and Cross-Country, and we have excellent facilities in our Sports Centre and at our 20-acre playing fields at nearby Blundell Park. A wide range of other student interests are catered for by a large number of clubs and societies meeting at lunchtimes or after school. Our Combined Cadet Force (Army and Royal Air Force) offers opportunities including adventure training and air experience flying, while there is also strong participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. Another important objective of the college is to broaden the horizons of our pupils and we do this via regular foreign trips, language exchanges and sport and music tours which have in recent years ventured as far afield as the United States and Australia. St. Mary’s is easily accessible to pupils throughout Merseyside and West Lancashire thanks to our extensive transport network of school coaches. Admission to the College is normally at 11+ by a combination of interview, primary school reference and entrance examination. If places are available, individual admission is possible at other levels of entry, especially into Year 10, when pupils commence their GCSE examinations. The College also welcomes applications for Sixth Form Entry. Admission is based on a combination of interview, present school reports, and performance at GCSE.
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The Sixth Form (16-18 years) The Sixth Form at St. Mary’s College provides an experience like no other, helping our pupils achieve excellent academic results and developing skills and values for life. Each year we welcome a significant number of pupils from other schools into our Sixth Form, who wish to build on their academic studies and benefit from the outstanding education on offer at St. Mary’s. They join the vast majority of Year 11 pupils at St. Mary’s who move into our Sixth Form after completing their GCSE examinations. Whether they are joining us from another school or are existing pupils, all of our Sixth Formers are encouraged to make the most of these two crucial years of their school career and develop the habit and skills of independent study to prepare them for university life.
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Our teaching groups in Sixth Form are small, ensuring students receive individual attention and support. We offer a broad range of A Level subjects delivered by specialist teachers. Our Sixth Formers benefit from a modern, well-appointed common room with its own cafeteria, private study areas and Wi-Fi throughout. They are encouraged to take on roles of leadership and responsibility whether as Prefects, Guardians of young pupils new to the school, officers in the Combined Cadet Force or through charity or community work. Our A Level results are consistently first class, with more than 98 per cent of students proceeding to university degree courses. Thanks to the extensive support we offer students with their university applications, the vast majority of them gain places at their first choice university, including many offers from Russell Group Universities.
St. Mary’s College Everest Road Crosby Liverpool L23 5TW T: 0151 924 3926 E: office@stmarys.lpool.sch.uk W: www.stmarys.ac
St. Mary’s College Preparatory School The Mount Blundellsands Road West Blundellsands Liverpool L23 6TF
Bright Sparks & Early Years Claremont House Liverpool Road Crosby Liverpool L23 5TW
T: 0151 924 6302 E: prep@stmarys.lpool.sch.uk W: www.stmarys.ac/prep
T: 0151 932 0743 E: brightsparks@stmarys.lpool.sch.uk W: www.stmarys.ac/bright-sparks
St. Mary’s College is a registered charity which exists to educate children. St. Mary’s College Trust Limited. Reg. Office: Everest Road, Crosby, Liverpool L23 5TW. Registered in England – Company No. 05412328 Registered Charity No. 1110311