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St Mary’s School, Cambridge celebrates 120 years of excellence in education

St Mary’s School, Cambridge celebrates 120 years of excellence in education

Today St Mary’s School, Cambridge – a well-established and respected day and boarding school for girls aged 4-18 – launched a year of celebrations for their 120th anniversary.

Renowned for providing some of the top A Level and GCSE results in the city, in a warm and nurturing environment where girls’ mental health and well-being is valued at the same level of importance as the number of A*s they achieve, St Mary’s School, Cambridge provides girls with an academic education that fosters an independent love of learning, intellectual curiosity and knowledge.

Much of this is due to the legacy of the School’s remarkable foundress, Mary Ward (1585-1645), a wonderful role model to the school community who dedicated her life to providing educational opportunities for girls and attempting to open up new opportunities for women.

The girls, staff, alumnae and friends have an exciting year planned to celebrate, including a dedicated piece of music composed by renowned composer Ēriks Ešenvalds, to be launched at the annual Christmas Concert at West Road, and an ‘In her Shoes’ initiative which will set a pair of Mary Ward shoes - recreated by talented artists in St Mary’s Junior School - off on their travels around the world. The campaign symbolises Mary Ward's herculean 1500-mile walks to Rome to present plans for her Institute to three different Popes. There are also a series of events and lectures planned from notable speakers who are visiting the school.

The anniversary is not just of significance to the School community. Thanks to a highly-developed and full programme of local community activities that run throughout the year, the excellent work has a much further reach.

The School is delighted to be working with a network of local secondary schools, including North Cambridge Academy, Parkside Federation and Trumpington Community College. The school runs a Free School Meals Empowerment Project, holds STEM Enrichment Days, and delivers teaching to pupils from these schools. St Mary’s also gives opportunities to many girls through a generous bursary scheme, which enables them to experience their unique and supportive education.

Looking further afield, the School also supports charities and causes that provide a positive impact abroad. They have just announced a fundraising total for last year in excess of £12,000. This money will be used to support several link charities, including a project to help fund a new Mary Ward School in Mbizo, Zimbabwe. Of the anniversary, Headmistress and Vice-President of the Girls’ School Association, Charlotte Avery, said:

“We are looking forward to a year that celebrates the School’s past achievements, but more importantly will be sharing many exciting new plans that will not only secure the next 120 years of our unique school that has educated so many girls but also will continue to help shape education in Cambridge itself.”

Notes for editors:

St Mary’s School is the leading independent day and boarding school for girls aged 4-18 in Cambridge.

In our dynamic, nurturing environment every girl is valued, supported and inspired. A St Mary’s girl is known for her confidence and curiosity, her community spirit, her agile mind, her resilience and drive.

By providing girls a space in which their intellectual and social confidence can flourish, we empower girls to aim high, to follow their dreams and to make a positive contribution to society.

As a Mary Ward School, we balance tradition with innovation. Traditional values such as integrity, justice, hard work and freedom sit at the heart of our forward-looking approach to education.

Girls from all faiths and non-secular backgrounds join our happy, diverse school community. They leave us ready for the future; equipped with the skills, qualities and values they need to pursue a life of fulfillment.