Founded in 1885, it is set in attractive grounds and gardens in the village of Bramley, three miles south of Guildford. The buildings are a mixture of traditional and modern, red-brick. Excellent teaching facilities include language and science laboratories, dedicated music and art centres. There are extensive playing fields and facilities for sports and games, including an indoor swimming pool. It is a Church of England school with its own chapel in which there are regular services. There is a good staff:pupil ratio of about 1:9. Academic standards are high and examination results consistently very good. It is a warm and friendly environment where girls are encouraged to take part in all sorts of activities at whatever level they feel comfortable. The school fosters a ‘can do' ethos and independent thinking. There is a considerable emphasis on music, with numerous choirs, orchestras, concert band, ensembles and jazz group. Drama and art also flourish. A range of sports and games is available and teams have been regularly successful at county and national levels. Numerous clubs and societies cater for extra-curricular activities. A number of girls achieve gold award with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme and Young Enterprise teams have been very successful with all profits donated to charity.
Pupils: Total age range 4-18, 820 girls (680 day, 140 boarding). Senior department 11-18, 570 girls. Entrance: Main entry age, 4, 11, 16. Own entrance exam; for sixth form entry, 6 GCSEs at least grade B. State school entry 10% main senior intake; 35% from own prep school, St Catherine's Prep School (transfer not automatic).
Some 20 scholarships awarded annually: 4 academic, 2 music at age 11; in sixth form 11 academic (some internal, some external), 1 each for music, art and an organ scholarship (joint with Guildford Cathedral). Means-tested bursaries are available in the sixth form, value up to 100% of fees.
Headmistress: Mrs A Phillips, in post since 2000. Educated at Kendal High School and Cambridge University (English). Previously Deputy Head of Tormead. Teaching staff: 76 full time, 26 part time. Annual turnover 8%.
GCSE: 86 pupils in upper fifth, all gained at least grade C in 8+ subjects. A-levels: 78 in upper sixth: 39% passed in 4+ subjects; 61% in 3 subjects, with an average final point score of 394.
All sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (36% after a gap year), 10% to Oxbridge. 9% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 20% in science and engineering, 5% in law, 43% in humanities and social sciences, 8% in languages, 15% in art or vocational subjects such as physiotherapy, education, sports studies.
GCSE, AS and A-levels. 21 GCSE subjects, 28 AS/A-level. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; in addition, all take AS-level general studies (A-level optional). 37% take science A-levels; 43% arts/humanities; 20% both. Key skills (communication and ICT) integrated into sixth form courses. Vocational: Work experience available (one week in lower sixth). Languages: French and German or Spanish (from 11), Latin and classical Greek offered to GCSE and A-level; also GCSE and A-level Italian in sixth form, Mandarin as extra-curricular subject. Annual exchanges (to France, Spain and Germany). ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject throughout the school and across the curriculum. All pupils take ICT qualifications (GCSE short course, Clait; ICT key skills level 3). Computers for pupil use around the school, including modern CAD suite, all networked and most with email and internet access. Sixth form has wireless internet access.
Music: Nearly 50% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Musical groups including 8 choirs, orchestra, concert bands, jazz group, chamber groups, flute choir, harp ensemble. Organ scholarship and teaching offered. Strong choral tradition. Approximately 30 concerts pa. Drama and dance: Both offered. LAMDA and RAD exams may be taken. Two major school productions annually; all take part in house/other productions. Art and design: Pottery, textiles, photography, print-making, sculpture, drawing, painting and graphics offered.
Sport: Netball, lacrosse, rounders, athletics, swimming, tennis compulsory. Optional: squash, tennis coaching, gymnastics. Fifth form only: basketball, volleyball, football, dance, yoga, aerobics. Multi sports available at Guildford Spectrum and Surrey University. GCSE and A-level sport offered. U15 lacrosse B team national winners (2009). 11 girls play lacrosse for national teams. Activities: Most pupils take bronze and silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award, some for gold. Active sixth form charities board, raising substantial sums each year. Numerous clubs, including dancing, textiles, drama, judo, swimming, art, ceramics, needlecraft, Tante Marie class, lifesaving, computer, CDT, Culture Vultures, Christian Union, musical activities.
Uniform: School uniform worn except in sixth form (suits on specified occasions). Houses and prefects: 6 competitive houses. Prefects, 2 head girls (appointed by the Headmistress), and numerous responsibilites for sixth formers. Religion: Church of England. Attendance at religious worship compulsory. Social: Regular joint events with other local boys' schools. Activities week for all includes visits to places of interest in UK or abroad. Music, sports and academic trips abroad (eg Russia, USA, Iceland). Upper sixth day girls may bring own car to school. Meals self-service. School shop.
Girls abide by the Traditions of St Catherine's, which they have contributed to themselves. Discipline aims to be supportive rather than punitive. Pupils failing to hand in prep are always expected to catch up; those caught smoking cannabis on the premises might expect suspension or expulsion.
Dame Dorothy Tutin, Joan Greenwood, Juliet Stevenson (actresses); Zena Skinner (writer); Francine Stock (writer and presenter); Sarah Crowe (casting director); Charlie Figgis (newsreader); Elinor Goodman (journalist and former political editor of Channel 4 News).
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