St Mary's School for Girls, Colchester
St Mary's School for Girls is an independent school for girls aged 2 to 17 in Colchester. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in February 2026.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
St Mary's School for Girls in detail
St Mary's School for Girls in its own words
In its own words: "At St Mary's, our vision is to empower girls to thrive at St Mary's and beyond. Using our expertise in educating girls and the latest research, we empower girls by inspiring them to see the world as one of limitless possibilities and by equipping them with the knowledge, experiences and skills needed to thrive at St Mary's and beyond."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to St Mary's Colchester. We're an independent all-girls school in north Essex for girls age 4-16. We also have a Kindergarten for children age 2-4. At St Mary's we believe that girls are remarkable and have different educational needs. With us, your daughter will be inspired, build resilience, advance academically, learn what interests her and grow."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include orchestra, Lego, STEM, book club and forest school.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for St Mary's School for Girls can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to St Mary's School for Girls are Colchester Prep & High School (0.5 miles) and Holmwood House School (1.5 miles).
Who goes there
In 2026, 67 pupils (15.8%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Colchester Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Park Road (opposite), 50 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Mary's School for Girls stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 318 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Essex (97), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
10 February 2026
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
31 January 2023
Regulatory Compliance
19 September 2018
Integrated
30 September 2014
Fees for 2026/27
Day fees, per year
£14,925 to £23,070
depending on year group
| Prep (Reception) Class-Year 2 | £14,925 a year |
| Year 3-4 | £16,860 a year |
| Year 5-6 | £18,765 a year |
| Year 7 | £19,980 a year |
| Year 8-9 | £21,540 a year |
| Year 10-11 | £23,070 a year |
Including VAT. From the school's own fee schedule; check with the school before you rely on it.
Private school fees in Essex - 15 schools' published fees side by side
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for St Mary's School for Girls can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
GCSE Subjects Offered
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby all-through schools
Latest from St Mary's School for Girls
St Mary’s pupils achieve outstanding LAMDA success with 98% distinction rate
16 Sep 2026
St Mary’s Lower School celebrates third NACE Challenge Award
9 Sep 2026
St Mary’s pupils celebrate excellent GCSE results
20 Aug 2026
Lily, achieves highest mark in the world for O Level Fashion & Textiles
20 Apr 2026
Inspiring Netball Masterclass for Local Pupils
19 Mar 2026
St Mary’s sees increase in Year 7 acceptances for the forthcoming academic year
6 Mar 2026
From St Mary's School for Girls's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with St Mary's School for Girls
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Mary's School for Girls.
- School's Out Activities at Colchester County High School410m away · Not yet graded
- Kip McGrath Colchester Central810m away · Not yet graded
- H16 - Philip Morant900m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
71%
Available places
424 pupils
600 places
176 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Colchester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Colchester
Across Essex council
Places available
17,590
Applications
16,568
Got 1st preference
83.4%
Got preferred school
97.0%
All secondary applications across Essex council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
67
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
15.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
424
Total Pupils
7
Boys
417
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
St Mary's School for Girls
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about St Mary's School for Girls
What are GCSE results like at St Mary's School for Girls?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for St Mary's School for Girls can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was St Mary's School for Girls last inspected?
St Mary's School for Girls is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in February 2026.
How many pupils go to St Mary's School for Girls?
St Mary's School for Girls has around 424 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to St Mary's School for Girls?
St Mary's School for Girls is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
Does St Mary's School for Girls have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 3 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of St Mary's School for Girls: School's Out Activities at Colchester County High School (410m away, registered, not yet graded), Kip McGrath Colchester Central (810m away, registered, not yet graded) and H16 - Philip Morant (900m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near St Mary's School for Girls?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Mary's School for Girls?
St Mary's School for Girls is at 91 Lexden Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3RB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)