St Mary's Calne and St Margaret's Prep Review 2026: A Leading All-Through Independent School

In the 1890s, when Rachael Donaldson served as Headmistress, she composed a school hymn, Consider the Lilies, that would define the institution for generations to come. Today, over 150 years after Canon John Duncan established the school in 1873 as a haven for girls' education, that same symbol appears everywhere: embossed on leather book covers, etched into chapel glass, woven into the fabric of a community that has remained steadfastly dedicated to developing independent, confident young women. Located across a stunning 27-acre campus in the heart of Wiltshire, St Mary's Calne combines rigorous academics with an unusually cohesive boarding experience, where the majority of its 360 pupils (80% boarding, 20% day) genuinely thrive. The school ranks 99th for GCSE performance, placing it comfortably in the top 2% in England (FindMySchool ranking). With 82% of GCSE entries achieving grades 9-7, and 86% of A-level grades reaching A*-B, results speak to consistent academic excellence matched by a pastoral environment where individual girls are known, valued, and empowered to pursue their passions, whether in the sciences, performing arts, languages, or sport.

At morning drop-off, the campus reveals itself in layers: Victorian red-brick heritage buildings stand alongside modern facilities that speak to thoughtful investment. The chapel bells mark the hours. The award-winning library overlooks an orchard. Girls move with purposeful energy between lessons, between rehearsals, between the tennis courts and the 25-metre indoor pool. There is no sense of frantic pressure despite the strong academic reputation; instead, the atmosphere is one of purposeful engagement.

Dr Felicia Kirk, Headmistress since 2013, arrived from Ipswich High School with a clear vision of modern girls' education anchored in 150 years of tradition. She trained at Brown University and holds a doctorate, bringing intellectual rigour and contemporary thinking to a school that might otherwise rest on its laurels. What distinguishes her leadership is a refusal to choose between excellence and inclusivity. The school motto, Sapere Aude (Dare to Know), is lived rather than merely displayed. Girls are encouraged to think critically, to question, to take intellectual risks.

The school culture of "Be Bold, Be Kind and Be You" operates throughout daily life. Pastoral care is woven so deeply into school structures that it feels less like a system and more like the natural rhythm of community. Each girl has a personal tutor who meets with her weekly. Horizontal boarding, where girls of the same year group live together rather than in mixed-age houses, creates close friendships that last lifetimes. Seven boarding houses (School House, St. Prisca's, St. Cecilia's, Gibbins, Joyce Walters, Florence Dyas, and Helen Wright House) each develop their own character while remaining part of a coherent whole. The school is divided into five Companies, Edmund Rich, Grossetête, Moberly, Osmund, and Poore, named after bishops with local connections, which remain constant throughout each girl's time at school, fostering identity and inter-year friendships through competition in drama, music, sport, and academic challenges.

The Boarding Experience

Boarding here is genuinely full-time immersion. Most pupils board; day pupils are fully integrated into school life rather than peripheral to it. Weekends follow a carefully curated schedule: Saturday morning school, afternoon fixtures, Sunday chapel. Exeats (three-week breaks where boarders go home) are structured to balance school intensity with family time. Weekend activities range from ice-skating and horse-riding to theatre trips, cooking workshops, and socials with boys' schools including Eton, Radley, Winchester, and Horris Hill. From Year 4 onwards, girls can request boarding; from Year 5, full boarding places open. By the sixth form, most students have single rooms with study areas, encouraging independence and personal learning space that will prepare them for university.

The boarding houses feel genuinely like homes. Staff live on-site; housemistresses know when girls are unwell, homesick, or struggling academically. This level of care does not mean permissiveness, boundaries are clear, but rather a commitment to each girl as a whole person, not merely a collection of exam grades.

GCSE Performance

In 2024, 82% of GCSE entries achieved grades 9-7 (A*-A under the old system), well above the England average of 54%. The school's GCSE rank of 99th places it in the top 2% of schools in England (FindMySchool ranking), with particularly strong results in sciences, languages, and humanities. This performance reflects not an outlier cohort but consistent achievement year after year. The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is offered to sixth formers, with many undertaking substantial independent research that feeds into university applications.

The school does not publish detailed Progress 8 data, but external assessment suggests pupils make above-average progress relative to their starting points. Importantly, the breadth of subjects offered, including Latin, Greek, Further Maths, and specialized sciences, indicates that girls are not merely achieving high grades but engaging with rigorous, traditional academic content.

A-Level Performance

At A-level, performance is exceptional. In 2024, 86% of grades reached A*-B, compared to the England average of 47%. The school's A-level rank of 130th places it firmly in the top 5% of schools in England (FindMySchool ranking). The 2016 DfE Value Added measure showed the school achieving the highest score in England, indicating that progress from GCSE to A-level vastly exceeds that of comparable cohorts across the country. The school continues to score "well above the England average," ranking in the top 4% for value added.

Individual subjects show marked strength. A significant percentage of students achieve A* grades; A-level results regularly feature in national top 5 rankings for girls' independent schools. Twenty-six subjects are offered at A-level, allowing genuine breadth: sciences are taught separately (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), with Further Maths and Additional Maths both available. Classical subjects (Latin, Ancient Greek, Classical Civilisation) reflect the school's traditional ethos. Art, Drama, and Music offer practical pathways. Modern languages (French, Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin) prepare girls for globalised careers.

Academic Culture

Academic life is founded on the principle of "connected teaching and learning," encouraging girls to think broadly and deeply rather than merely to the exam specification. The school website notes this explicitly: staff challenge girls to grow and develop personally, academically, and socially, empowering them to be independent learners. This translates into classroom practice characterised by high expectations, expert subject knowledge, and genuine engagement with ideas.

Teachers demonstrate deep subject expertise. The sciences are taught by specialists in separate departments. Languages staff often have lived experience abroad. English teachers encourage close reading and sustained analytical writing. Mathematics teaching progresses from foundations to Further Maths with rigour. The school's ethos emphasises not competitive grading but mastery and individual progress, girls understand their own learning targets and are supported to reach them.

Lessons are supplemented by enrichment beyond the curriculum. Debate clubs, academic competitions (including Maths Olympiad participation), science lecture programmes, and visiting speakers bring external perspective and intellectual challenge. The school regularly participates in national competitions and external assessments beyond GCSEs and A-levels, positioning learning as broader than formal exams.

Science and Innovation

St Mary's holds the prestigious Platinum Science Mark, the first independent school in the UK to receive this recognition. This reflects sustained excellence in science teaching, engagement, and innovation. Laboratory facilities are modern and well-equipped, enabling practical work across biology, chemistry, and physics that goes beyond the minimum specification. The school's science culture extends beyond the classroom into clubs, competitions, and a clear pathway into science-based universities and careers.

The Sixth Form Centre, a purpose-built facility, provides dedicated space for approximately 120 girls in Lower and Upper Sixth. Beyond academic subjects, the Sixth Form Futures Programme includes a bespoke lecture series, debating competitions, careers advice delivered by external university advisers (including a US universities specialist), leadership roles, and Extended Project Qualification mentoring. This comprehensive support ensures girls leave school not merely with strong A-level grades but with clarity about their next steps and confidence in their ability to navigate university and beyond.

Girls regularly gain places at their first-choice universities. The majority progress to Russell Group universities, Durham, Edinburgh, Exeter, Imperial College, LSE, Newcastle, UCL, and Warwick feature prominently in leaver destinations. In 2024, one student secured a Cambridge place in the measurement period, demonstrating ongoing access to elite universities despite the school's modest Oxbridge numbers relative to some independent peers.

Sixth Form Destinations

The 2024 leavers' cohort (57 students) shows 44% progressing to university, 18% to employment, with remainder distributed across other pathways. This lower-than-typical university percentage reflects the school's mixed destination profile: some students pursue apprenticeships, some enter the workforce directly, and some pursue alternative routes (gap years, art colleges, military service). The school deliberately prepares girls for diverse futures, not merely university entrance.

Among those attending university, destination data suggests strong progression to prestigious institutions. Beyond Oxbridge, girls regularly secure places at Imperial College, UCL, Edinburgh, Durham, and Warwick. Degree choices span engineering, medicine, law, sciences, modern languages, humanities, and creative subjects, reflecting the breadth of the A-level curriculum and the school's success in nurturing girls with genuinely diverse interests.

University of First Choice

A striking feature of the school's marketing is the claim that "the majority go on to their first-choice university." This reflects both high academic attainment and the school's extensive careers support. The Futures Programme includes mock interviews, personal statement workshops, subject-specific university taster events, and ongoing liaison with university admissions teams.

Notable alumni include Belinda Stewart-Wilson (actress), Laura Tomlinson MBE (Olympic equestrian, Team Gold and Individual Bronze at London 2012), Lucy Hughes-Hallett (author and 2013 Samuel Johnson Prize winner), and Roya Nikkhah (journalist and broadcaster). Rosamund Strode served as Benjamin Britten's musical assistant for the final 12 years of his life. The Calne Girls' Association, with over 3,500 members worldwide, includes "gold medalist Olympians to award-winning writers, scientists, doctors, artists and actresses."

The co-curricular programme is genuinely extensive, with particular strength in music, drama, sport, and STEM activities. This is not a checklist of available options but a carefully curated ecosystem where multiple pathways allow girls to develop real expertise.

Music: A Central Pillar

80% of girls learn a musical instrument, and the school's music programme is exceptional. The award-winning choir performs locally and further afield; the orchestra encompasses 50+ musicians. Chamber groups, jazz ensembles, and smaller vocal and instrumental groups provide opportunities at every level. Music tours regularly take groups abroad, to Italy, America, and other international destinations, combining cultural experience with performance opportunity.

The schools facilities include purpose-built music spaces. Music lessons are integrated into the curriculum (all students receive music education), with specialist instrumental teaching available through both school staff and visiting professionals. The drama department maintains a unique relationship with RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art), offering advanced communication skills training to sixth formers and positioning girls for drama school applications.

Drama: Professional Standard

Drama productions in the purpose-built theatre are of the highest standard and have transferred to the London stage, a remarkable achievement for a school-based drama programme. The school's partnership with RADA and annual performances at the Edinburgh Fringe demonstrate that theatre here is treated with genuine professional seriousness. Girls perform in large-scale productions, smaller chamber pieces, and participate in Inter-Company drama competitions. Year 7 and 8 girls often appear in mainstream productions, building confidence and ensemble skills from entry to the school.

Sports: Comprehensive and Elite

St Mary's Calne was recently the top-achieving independent school in the South West for sports. The sports facilities justify this reputation: a 25-metre, six-lane swimming pool; a state-of-the-art sports hall and gymnasium; 20 tennis courts (12 astro, 8 hard); eight netball courts; a full-sized astro-turf pitch; grass pitches; and a floodlit sports complex. The St Mary's Tennis Academy provides professional coaching to all students requesting lessons, regardless of ability. The school is represented at county level in multiple major sports, in England in athletics and lacrosse, and internationally in horse-riding. Girls regularly ride at the St Mary's Calne Horse Show, held annually at West Wilts Equestrian Centre.

Compulsory sport in lower school transitions to choice-based sport in senior school, ensuring girls can pursue genuine passion rather than token participation. Weekend fixtures are regular, and competition is serious without being ruthlessly selective.

Clubs and Societies

Beyond the formal curriculum, the school offers an impressive range of special interest clubs: the Writer's Guild, Art Palette Pals, archery, K-Pop, climbing, photography, debating, First Aid, cooking, and more. The school parliament provides student voice and engagement in school governance. Academic competitions, including Maths Olympiad participation, extend learning beyond the classroom. Model United Nations engages internationally-minded students.

Specialist Awards and Designations

St Mary's holds the Platinum Science Mark, recognising sustained excellence in science education and engagement. The school consistently appears in the Sunday Times Parent Power Guide as a top academic ranking school, reflecting independent verification of educational quality. The school is a registered charity and member of ISC (Independent Schools Council).

Tuition Fees

Termly fees for 2025-2026 are £14,520 for day pupils and £19,470 for boarding pupils, payable in three terms per year. This positions the school in the mid-range of independent boarding schools. Fees are inclusive of VAT. Registration fee on admission is £300 (non-refundable). Acceptance Fee/Deposit of £2,400 comprises a £900 acceptance fee and £1,500 refundable deposit. Families resident outside the UK pay an additional deposit equivalent to one term's boarding fees.

Scholarships and Bursaries

The school operates multiple financial support schemes. Scholarships are available for academic achievement, music, sport, and art, typically valued at 10-25% of fees. The CGA Bursaries (from the Calne Foundation Trust Bursary Fund) provide means-tested support. The Foundation Awards, as noted, can reduce day fees by up to 100%.

Importantly, the school notes that "as a charity, all of our income is invested in the education, facilities and opportunities for pupils at Calne. We have no debt and pay no rent as we own all of our land." This transparency about financial stewardship is reassuring to families making substantial fee commitments.

Entry Points and Process

Girls can enter at 11+, 12+, 13+ (via Common Entrance or the school's own assessments), Year 10, and Sixth Form. The school runs a Taster Day (informal activities enabling girls to meet each other and become familiar with the school) followed by an Entrance Day, with individual assessment via interview and written papers. Entry is selective; in recent years, demand has exceeded supply.

Registration and Timeline

Initial enquiry leads to a guided tour and meeting with the Headmistress. Parents then register their daughter by submitting a completed Registration Form and non-refundable fee of £300. Girls registered for 11+, 12+, or 13+ are invited to a Taster Day. Entrance assessments follow, with offers made conditional on satisfactory GCSE results (for 13+ entry) or school reference and interview (for other entry points).

For 11+ entry, the Foundation Award, one place annually, is available to gifted and talented pupils from state education who might otherwise be financially prevented from applying. These scholarships are means-tested and could reduce day fees by up to 100%.

Sixth Form Entry

The school welcomes enquiries for Sixth Form entry. Candidates must have achieved top grades in subjects they wish to study at A-level. The process mirrors lower school: enquiry, tour, registration (£300 fee), and assessment via interview and consideration of GCSE results.

Tutor System and Personal Support

Every girl has a personal tutor who meets her weekly to discuss organisational skills, subject choices, academic progress, co-curricular interests, and school life. This is not a perfunctory check-in but genuine mentoring. Tutors know their tutees deeply and advocate for them within the school system.

The school emphasises that "girls can approach anyone for support", an ethos backed up by practical structures. A trained counsellor visits weekly. The Wellbeing team includes specialists in mental health and pastoral care. The boarding houses provide 24/7 support; housemistresses are alert to emotional needs, homesickness, and personal difficulties.

Behaviour and Community

Behaviour expectations are clear and consistently enforced, but the tone is one of developing responsibility rather than punitive discipline. The school's values of curiosity, compassion, and courage inform not just academic life but the entire culture. Anti-bullying procedures are robust. The sense of community, built on horizontal boarding and the Company system, means that individuals are genuinely known and included.

Location and Transport

The school is located near the market town of Calne, amidst the Wiltshire Downs, approximately one hour from London by train (Chippenham station), with Oxford, Bath, and Bristol within easy reach. The M4 motorway provides car access. These transport links ensure that day pupils can be recruited from a reasonable radius, while boarders can access London for university visits, cultural trips, and connections to home.

Staff-escorted coaches and taxis arrange transport for boarders at the start and end of term and exeats. A dedicated daily minibus network serves local towns and villages, supporting both day pupils and boarders managing weekend activities.

School Hours and Calendar

School operates within standard UK independent school term dates (typically three terms: September-December, January-Easter, Easter-July). Daily school hours are not specified in publicly available materials, but boarding life begins with pre-breakfast activities and extends through evening study halls and supervised prep.

St Mary's Calne operates alongside St Margaret's Preparatory School, a co-educational prep for pupils aged 2-11, sharing the same 27-acre campus. St Margaret's benefits from access to the senior school's facilities, the 25-metre pool, astro-turf pitches, climbing wall, science labs, theatre, and chapel. Pupils from St Margaret's naturally progress to St Mary's Calne at 11+, though entry is not automatic; they undergo the same entrance assessment as external candidates.

St Margaret's operates a Nursery (ages 2-4) and Primary provision through Year 6. The school emphasizes "igniting interests, nurturing individuality, fostering exploration, and realising potential", language that aligns with St Mary's philosophy. Head of St Margaret's Prep is Alex Hopkins (appointed September 2024). The prep provides the junior experience within the Calne Independent Schools ecosystem, ensuring continuity for families choosing the all-through option.

Boarding is full-time and full immersion. There are no day-only options for those wanting a traditional five-day week; the school's ethos is built on 24/7 community. Boarders do go home for exeats and holidays, but the expectation is genuine commitment to boarding life. For some families, this is precisely what they seek; for others, it may feel restrictive.

Entrance is selective and increasingly competitive. Registration and Entrance Day are not mere formalities; the school receives significantly more applications than places available. Girls need genuine academic capability, intellectual curiosity, and alignment with the school's values. Parents should prepare daughters thoroughly for entrance assessments and interviews.

Fees are substantial. At £19,470 per term (approximately £58,410 annually for boarding), this is a significant investment. While bursaries and scholarships exist, they are means-tested and limited in number. The Foundation Award (one per year) is highly competitive. Families should verify their ability to afford fees before investing time in the application process.

The school is single-sex. This is fundamental to the school's identity and philosophy. For families seeking co-education, this is not the right fit. The school does arrange socials with boys' schools, but daily immersion in an all-girls environment is the norm.

Academic expectations are high. This is a school for girls who enjoy learning and respond positively to intellectual challenge. Girls who struggle with academic pressure, regardless of ability, may find the culture stressful. The pastoral systems are excellent, but the academic culture is unambiguously rigorous.

St Mary's Calne represents something increasingly rare in English independent education: a school that has maintained its core purpose, educating girls to think independently and live purposefully, while genuinely modernising in response to contemporary needs. One hundred and fifty years after Canon John Duncan founded the school, the lily symbol endures, but the education itself is forward-thinking, rigorous, and deeply attentive to individual girls' development.

Results speak clearly: 99th for GCSE (top 2%), 130th in England for A-level (top 5%), with consistent progression to selective universities and diverse, fulfilling post-school destinations. But results are not the whole story. What distinguishes the school is the quality of the boarding community, the genuine care for girls as whole people, and a culture that celebrates both academic ambition and individual identity.

Best suited to girls who thrive in boarding environments, who possess intellectual curiosity, who respond well to high expectations, and whose families can sustain the financial commitment. The main hurdles are entry (genuinely selective) and fees (substantial, though bursaries exist). For those who clear these barriers, the school delivers a transformative education and lasting community.