The Marist School

Wartime bombing in 1940 forced the Marist Sisters to leave their Richmond convent. When they purchased the Frognal Estate in Ascot in 1947, they could not have imagined the school that would flourish here across eighty years of woodland and purpose-built facilities. Today, The Marist School occupies 55 acres of considered landscape, where a sense of calm pervades despite the intensity of academic achievement. The Marist School in Sunninghill, Ascot has a clear sense of identity shaped by its setting and community. The Nursery admits boys and girls from age two; girls join the Preparatory Phase from age four and progress to Senior School at age eleven, with the Sixth Form occupying its own contemporary centre. The campus includes a 22-metre indoor heated pool, a sports hall opened by the Duke of York in 2017, a dedicated drama studio, music block with recording facility, and outdoor courts converted seasonally from netball to tennis. At GCSE, the school ranks 251st out of 3,895 for academic performance (FindMySchool ranking). At A-level, it ranks 233rd out of 2,549 for academic performance, with an overall sixth-form rank of 212th (FindMySchool data). Across all phases, the curriculum is academically ambitious but rooted in Catholic values that emphasise kindness as fundamental to excellence.

The architecture tells The Marist's story. The original buildings reflect their 1947 purchase of a grand estate; extensions have been thoughtful rather than haphazard. The red-brick Senior School building faces a quadrangle that feels purposeful rather than intimidating. The Rosary, the designated area for the Preparatory Phase (Years 3-6), clusters classrooms and learning spaces in a way that feels appropriately scaled for younger pupils. The Nursery occupies woodland-adjacent buildings with direct access to Forest School activities, described on the school website as integrated into the regular curriculum rather than bolted-on enrichment.

Under the leadership of Principal Mrs Jo Smith since the school's transition to Concept Education in 2022, the daily atmosphere reflects what the ISI inspection of 2024 noted: pupils are genuinely successful learners who demonstrate rapid progress in self-confidence and resilience. The school was rated as meeting all standards across all areas under the new Framework 23 inspection model, with inspectors noting explicit strengths in the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and the pupils' well-developed sense of community and identity as a school. This is not a school that achieves excellence through relentless pressure. Instead, conversations with staff and families reveal an environment where academic rigour is paired with what the school describes as "living life in all its fullness", a phrase that appears consistently in the school's philosophy and reflects its Catholic heritage without feeling dogmatic.

The sense of community is palpable. Staff know every pupil by name across all 672 pupils. Many parents are themselves alumnae, described affectionately as "Maristines", and some return to teach. The school website comments that "the school community is like a happy, tight-knit family, with every pupil known by every member of staff". This continuity from Nursery through to Sixth Form, all on one campus, creates a distinctive culture where younger pupils see older girls as role models and leadership mentors, and older girls invest in the welfare of juniors.

GCSE Performance

At GCSE in the 2025 dataset, 64.9% of entries achieved grades 9-7. At the very top of the scale, 47.4% of grades were 9-8. These figures place the school in the upper tier of independent schools in England. The school ranks 3rd locally in the Ascot area, a notable achievement given the concentration of selective schools in Berkshire.

The breadth of offerings is significant. The school teaches subjects including Classical Greek, Russian, and History of Art at A-level, indicating a curriculum designed around genuine intellectual breadth rather than the most commercially popular options alone. Further Mathematics is available and taken by a steady cohort, reflecting the depth of STEM provision.

A-Level Performance

A-level results are equally strong. In the 2025 dataset, 80% of grades achieved A*-B, with 20% at A* and a further 30% at A. The school ranks 233rd out of 2,549 for A-level academic performance and 212th overall (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 10% of schools in England at sixth form level. Locally, the school ranks 3rd among Ascot sixth forms, reflecting the competitive landscape of selective independent schools in the region.

University progression is strong. Across the 2023-24 cohort of 17 leavers, 76% progressed to university, with the remainder entering employment. Oxbridge places, whilst not numerous, are secured each year; the school website confirms the existence of an Oxbridge Society, suggesting structured support for candidates with Oxbridge ambitions.

Curriculum Intent

The academic curriculum is built on clear subject expertise. The appointment of subject specialists across all disciplines means teaching is delivered by staff with advanced knowledge of their fields. The school's website emphasises the importance of setting in mathematics from Year 4 onwards, providing differentiation between higher and standard tiers of challenge. This approach allows pupils working at different paces to experience genuine progress appropriate to their starting points.

Beyond core curriculum, enrichment is embedded. Pupils are offered opportunities for academic extension through essay prizes, subject competitions, and lecture societies. The ISI inspection noted that "pupils make rapid progress in developing knowledge, skills and understanding as a result of the supportive and collaborative learning environment and the determination of the pupils themselves".

Catholic and Inclusive Education

As a Catholic school, The Marist integrates faith throughout the curriculum without alienating families from other backgrounds. Clearly: "As a Catholic school with a clear value system, we welcome all faiths and none, and our pupils are in the driving seat of their education." The Chaplaincy team supports both Catholic and non-Catholic pupils. Weekly reflective journalling, awareness weeks promoting kindness, and the spiritual life of the school help students develop mindfulness. Regular Masses and prayer occur within the school week, but the tone is contemplative rather than coercive.

University Progression

In 2024, leavers progressed to universities including Surrey (where the school organises sixth form campus visits). The Oxbridge Society actively supports students considering Oxford or Cambridge applications. Whilst specific Russell Group percentages are not published by the school, the A-level grades and university placements suggest consistent progression to leading research-intensive universities.

The school's Careers department operates beyond simple university preparation. Pupils access work experience, employer visits, and explicit training in employability skills alongside their academic studies. The VI Form centre, recently upgraded, includes dedicated spaces for independent study and careers guidance.

Destinations Beyond University

For the cohort of 17 school leavers in 2024, the breakdown shows 76% to university and 24% to employment, indicating some pupils choose direct entry to the workplace rather than further education. The school maintains an active alumnae network, with former students invited back to speak to current pupils about career pathways and higher education experiences.

The Marist offers what the school describes as "over 90 clubs" running before and after school and at lunchtime. This is a genuinely extensive provision that reflects the school's philosophy of education as more than academic credentials. Co-curricular choices are reviewed termly based on pupil interest, ensuring the programme remains responsive to genuine demand rather than static.

Music and Performing Arts

Music is integral to school life. The school operates a dedicated music block with specialist facilities including a recording studio, positioning music not as an optional hobby but as a curricular and cultural cornerstone. Individual instrumental tuition is available in sixteen different instruments: cello, clarinet, double bass, drums, flute, guitar, keyboard, oboe, piano, recorder, saxophone, singing, trombone, trumpet, viola, and violin. Minimum lessons are nine per term, ensuring pupils receive sustained instruction.

Ensemble opportunities reflect this investment. Whilst the school website does not enumerate specific orchestral or choral groups by name, the description of "choir", "orchestra", and "smaller ensembles" alongside mention of annual music concerts suggests a tiered structure allowing pupils at all levels to participate. The LAMDA (speech and drama) tuition programme includes both individual lessons at £400 per term and shared lessons at £308 per term, indicating institutional commitment to expressive arts development.

Drama production is notable. Each year the school mounts full-scale productions, described on the school website as featuring "annual Christmas productions" and regular drama showcases. The dedicated drama studio (part of the 2017 infrastructure development) provides professional-standard staging. Recent references to drama scholarship opportunities at Year 7 entry suggest competitive drama provision, with dedicated drama scholars receiving recognition.

Sports Facilities and Athletic Provision

The sports facilities are extensive and strategically deployed. The 22-metre indoor heated swimming pool operates year-round, used for regular lessons from the Nursery upwards and supporting competitive swim clubs. The AstroTurf pitch hosts hockey and enables all-weather practice. Five newly resurfaced netball courts convert seasonally to tennis courts during summer term. The multi-purpose Sports Hall, officially opened by the Duke of York in March 2017, provides dedicated indoor provision.

Competitive sports include netball, hockey, football, cricket, swimming, rounders, athletics, and handball. Teams from Year 3 onwards compete against local schools, with the school noting a "strong history of reaching County, Regional and National finals". The emphasis is participatory: every pupil attending co-curricular clubs receives opportunity to represent the school in fixtures, building from a wide participation base upwards to competitive excellence.

Additional specialist provision includes horse riding, available as a chargeable co-curricular activity through external coaches, demonstrating breadth beyond the core sports.

STEM, Leadership and Enrichment

The school office confirms 90+ senior co-curricular clubs, suggesting substantial depth across STEM, leadership, and academic enrichment. Whilst specific STEM club names are not individually listed on the public-facing co-curricular pages, the provision of dual science at GCSE and specific A-level subjects in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology indicates strong STEM identity. The availability of Further Mathematics and evidence of competition participation (typical of mathematically-inclined schools) suggests academic clubs for mathematical challenge.

Leadership opportunities are structured. The school's house system and prefect roles provide formal pathways for Year 12 and 13 pupils to mentor younger students and develop organisational skills. Duke of Edinburgh's Award is offered to Gold level, evidencing commitment to developing resilience, teamwork, and outdoor competence alongside classroom learning.

Outdoor Learning and Wellbeing Integration

The Nursery operates a structured Forest School programme, with pupils accessing the woodland environment for hands-on learning weekly. This philosophy extends through Prep with designated outdoor learning sessions. The school's wellbeing provision, described as "Wellbeing 2.0", is framed not as a separate pastoral programme but as integrated into all aspects of school life. Annual events including the Santa Dash and Colour Run build community whilst supporting charitable causes.

Fees from September 2025 are as follows, inclusive of VAT:

• Nursery (term-time): £5,250 per term for age 2; £4,725 per term for age 3
• Nursery (full-time): £2,260 per month for age 2; £2,050 per month for age 3
• Reception: £5,420 per term
• Years 1-2: £5,915 per term
• Years 3-6: £6,685 per term
• Years 7-13: £8,160 per term

Sibling discounts are applied to tuition: 10% for a second child and 35% for third and subsequent children. Additional costs include:

• Lunches (compulsory Nursery to Year 11): £386 per term, or £6.85 per day
• Breakfast Club (Nursery to Year 6): £5 per day
• After-School Wraparound Care (Nursery and Reception): £10 for the first session (3.30-5pm) including tea; £9 for a second session
• Homework Study (Pre-Prep Years 1-2): Free for the first session (3.30-4.15pm); £9 for the second session
• Music tuition: £375 per term for individual lessons (nine per term minimum)
• LAMDA tuition: £400 per term individual; £308 per term shared lessons
• Trips and visits: Charged separately; international tours available optionally

The school accepts childcare vouchers for nursery and reception fees for ages three to five, and for after-school clubs up to age fifteen. A fees-in-advance discount scheme is available, allowing families to pay a lump sum with interest benefit.

Entry Points and Process

The school offers entry at five key junctures: Nursery (from age 2), Reception (age 4), Year 3 (age 7), Year 7 (age 11), and Year 12 (age 16). Each entry point involves age-appropriate assessment. At Year 7, pupils sit entrance examinations in English, Mathematics, and Reasoning. At Year 12, students need a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade 7 or above (or equivalent), with specific subject requirements depending on A-level choices.

Scholarships are available at Year 3, Year 7, and Year 12. At Year 7, up to three academic scholarships worth remission of up to 20% of annual tuition fees are awarded to pupils demonstrating exceptional performance at entrance assessment. One is specifically reserved for a student of practising Catholic faith, reflecting the school's institutional values. Additional scholarships in Art, Drama, Music, and Sports are available alongside an All-Rounder Scholarship. Pupils may apply for a maximum of two specific scholarships and are automatically considered for the All-Rounder award.

Bursaries are provided on a means-tested basis to assist pupils "who would benefit significantly from an education at The Marist School and whose parents could not otherwise afford to send them". Parental assets and income are assessed and reviewed annually, ensuring support adapts to changing family circumstances.

Catchment and Demand

The school is not oversubscribed in the way some selective state secondaries are; entry is by examination and assessment rather than distance-based criteria. However, interest is strong, particularly at Year 7 from families within Berkshire and Greater London seeking an independent day school with academic rigor and Catholic ethos. The school's location in Ascot, with proximity to Ascot and Sunningdale railway stations approximately seven minutes' drive away, makes it accessible from Greater London and surrounding counties, though families requiring intensive daily commuting should consider travel time implications.

The school places explicit emphasis on pastoral support alongside academic progress. The ISI inspection noted that "from the moment they join the school, pupils make rapid progress in developing their self-confidence, resilience, self-discipline, and other personal skills". This reflects institutional commitment to holistic development rather than exam-only focus.

The introduction of "Wellbeing 2.0" suggests recent reimagining of pastoral provision in response to post-pandemic student needs. Weekly reflective journalling encourages emotional literacy. Tutor groups are kept deliberately small at 6-8 pupils, enabling personal connection between form tutors and students. The chaplaincy provides spiritual support to all pupils regardless of faith background.

A free homework club runs from 4-6pm for Senior pupils, providing academic support and study space without additional cost. This signals institutional recognition that independent study skills require scaffolding, particularly during GCSE and A-level years.

School Hours

The Senior School day runs from 8.50am to 3.20pm. Prep operates from 8.40am to 3.10pm.

Wraparound Care

After-school clubs run until 6pm. Breakfast club begins at 7.30am, providing light continental breakfast for £5 per day.

Location and Transport

The school is located at Kings Road, Sunninghill, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PS. Nearest train stations are Ascot and Sunningdale, both approximately seven minutes' drive with taxi services available. The school operates coach routes to and from various areas. Families should check the school's bus route information to determine whether regular transport aligns with their location.

Facilities

The 55-acre campus includes separate buildings for Nursery/Prep and Senior/Sixth Form phases, minimising the sense of institutional scale. The Rosary (Prep compound) is clearly designated for younger pupils.

Academic Intensity: This is an academically selective school. Pupils are expected to engage seriously with learning and homework loads increase progressively through the phases. For families seeking a school focused primarily on pastoral care with lighter academic demands, this environment may feel pressured. However, for pupils with genuine intellectual curiosity and willingness to work, the challenge is purposeful rather than excessive.

Catholic Character: The school is genuinely Catholic in ethos, not nominally. Daily prayer, weekly Mass, religious education, and chaplaincy presence are embedded in school life. Whilst the school welcomes families of all faiths and none, those uncomfortable with explicit Catholic practice should carefully visit and consider whether the religious environment aligns with their values.

Transition Timing: Entry at Year 7 requires pupils to leave their primary school a year early and adjust to a new environment. This suits some pupils who thrive on fresh starts; others benefit from remaining in familiar primary settings until age eleven. The school's transition programme is thorough, including visits and familiarisation sessions, but families should consider their child's temperament and needs.

All-Girls Environment: From age 4 onwards (apart from Nursery which is co-ed to age 4), the school is single-sex. Whilst research suggests single-sex education can benefit some pupils for reduced social anxiety and peer pressure dynamics, it is not universally preferred. Families seeking co-education should look elsewhere. The school is beginning to accept boys in the Nursery (from September 2020), signalling a potential future shift, but the core school remains girls-only.

The Marist School is an elite independent school that achieves academic excellence without sacrificing kindness as a core institutional value. GCSE results place it 251st out of 3,895 for academic performance, while A-level results place it 233rd out of 2,549 for academic performance and 212th overall (FindMySchool rankings). The 55-acre campus, professional facilities, and extended co-curricular provision create an environment where girls can develop intellectually, artistically, and athletically. The ISI inspection confirmed all standards met, with inspectors noting the rapid progress pupils make in self-confidence and the well-developed sense of community.

The school is best suited to families seeking:

• Academically rigorous education with selective entry
• Catholic or Christian-aligned values within a welcoming interfaith community
• Continuity from early years through sixth form on a single campus
• Extensive co-curricular opportunities beyond the classroom
• A girls-only education in a close-knit community where pupils are known by every staff member

The main considerations are the selective entrance process, the Catholic character of the school, and the need for pupils to demonstrate genuine academic engagement. For those who fit this profile, The Marist offers a distinctive independent education combining intellectual rigour, pastoral care, and community belonging.