Founded in 1873 by Canon John Duncan, the Vicar of Calne, it occupies a large site at the edge of the Wiltshire Downs. The school has excellent facilities, including a purpose-built theatre and a sports centre with 25m indoor pool and fitness suite. A new sixth-form centre is designed to provide a pre-university experience and includes an internet café. Small by design, it is a personal school that is structured for the individual. A large staff allows a staff:pupil ratio of about 1:4 and examination results are excellent. Pastoral care is a particular strength. Music is vigorously supported and drama and art are major activities. A wide range of sports and games is available and there is a wealth of extra-curricular activities. A considerable number of girls take part in local community schemes and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award has become increasingly important.
Pupils: Age range 11-18; 310 girls (50 day, 260 boarding). Entrance: Main entry ages 11, 12, 13 and 16. Common Entrance and own entrance examinations used; for sixth form entry, 8 GCSEs at least grade C (grade A in sixth-form subjects). Pupils admitted on the basis of examination performance, reports from their current school and all-round ability. No special skills or religious requirements. Feeder schools include St Margaret's Preparatory School, Beaudesert Park, Pinewood, The Manor, Thomas's Battersea, Daneshill, Kitebrook, St Francis, Farleigh and Cheam.
12 pa scholarships, up to 40% of fees: 7 academic, 1 all-rounder, 2 music, 1 sport and open scholarships for art, drama and music may be available; also exhibitions, up to 10% of fees, for ability in a single subject. Bursaries may be available, based on financial need. Foundation awards offered to girls from the state school sector at age 11 and 16.
Headmistress: Dr Helen Wright, in post from 2003. Educated at James Gillespie's High School, Edinburgh, and at universities of Oxford (French and German), Leicester (MA applied linguistics) and Exeter (PhD moral leadership in education). Previously Headmistress at Heathfield School, Ascot, and Head of German and Deputy Housemistress at St Edward's, Oxford. Teaching staff: 88 full and part time (including peripatetic teachers).
GCSE: 49 pupils in Year 11, all gained at least grade C in 8+ subjects (over half with at least 8 A/A* grades). A-level: 48 in upper sixth, passing an average of 3 subjects with a final point score of 374.
100% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (50% after a gap year), 16% to Oxbridge. 15% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 25% in science and engineering, 57% in humanities and social sciences, 3% in art and design.
GCSE, AS and A-levels: 24+ subjects at AS/A-level. Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level and 3 subjects at A-level. 33% of pupils take science A-levels. All girls study critical thinking. Vocational: Work experience available. Special provision: Learning support teachers and EFL available. Languages: French, Spanish, German, Chinese, Japanese, Italian and Russian. All take a language at GCSE, 25% take 2. ICT: Taught as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. 70+ computers for pupil use (13 hours a day), networked and with email and internet access. All pupils take ECDL.
Music: 80% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Many music groups, including choirs for all year groups, chamber choir, orchestra, string groups, brass band, wind band, jazz band. Chamber choir sings at festivals and cathedrals (including world premiere of David Bednall's Requiem, London and USA). Drama and dance: AS and A-level theatre studies may be taken, also LAMDA and ESB exams; RADA course in advanced communication skills available to upper sixth. Recent school productions include The Royal Hunt of the Sun (transferred to RADA theatre), Grease and Truly Madly Deeply. Links with visiting theatre companies and professionals. Art and design: Art and history of art popular at A-level. Design, pottery, textiles, photography, screen printing, etching, sculpture and life drawing also offered. Close links with local professional artists and craftsmen; school has an artist in residence specialising in textiles.
Sport: Lacrosse, hockey, netball, tennis, swimming, athletics, gym, dance compulsory. Optional: water polo, synchronised swimming, watersports, riding, squash, fitness, ballet, self-defence, fencing and skiing. Sixth form only: football, golf, ice skating, polo. RLSS exams may be taken. International riders and dressage; girls compete nationally in athletics and lacrosse and at county level in netball and cross-country. Activities: Challenge and adventure for all Years 7 and 8. All Year 10 take bronze Duke of Edinburgh's Award, 70+% of Year 11 take silver, 30%-60% sixth form take Gold. Up to 30 clubs, including athletics, computing, cookery, debating, drama, pottery and politics.
Uniform: school uniform worn; dress code for sixth form. Houses and prefects: Competitive companies. Head girl and deputies, heads of company and heads of year selected by staff and school. School council. Religion: Church of England. Morning assembly. Sunday chapel. Social: Day and evening socials with co-ed and boys' schools and a varied weekend activity programme. Organised trips abroad to places such as Belize, Italy, Crete and New York. Meals self-service.
Pupils failing to produce homework once might get a warning; minor misdemeanours dealt with by tutors. Any girl possessing drugs in school is likely to be expelled.
Year 10 upwards all have own study bedroom (ensuite in sixth form). Houses of approx 50, divided by age; sixth-form centre, with internet café, to provide pre-university experience. Two resident qualified nurses. Central dining room. Upper sixth can provide and cook own snacks, but main meals compulsory. 2 fixed exeats each term plus others. Visits to local town allowed at lunchtime, dependent upon age.
is run by Miss Lilian Leadbetter, Director of Alumnae Relations, (01249 857366, development@stmaryscalne.org)
Eva Rice (author); Jade Jagger (designer); Dame Suzi Leather (Chair of the Charity Commission); Chloe Fox (journalist); Laura Bechtolsheimer (dressage rider).
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