St Catherine’s is a thriving, dynamic girls day & boarding school offering an education which promotes each girl’s personal and intellectual development for girls aged 3-18.
The School is an academically selective Church of England School with a strong focus on roundedness. It offers all its pupils access to a first rate education in the broadest sense. Though the School has Christian foundations, girls from all faiths and none are warmly welcomed.
As a girls’ school St Catherine’s ensures that its students develop in an environment which suggests to them in everything they see around them that there is nothing that a woman cannot achieve. I believe that St Catherine’s girls are well placed to pursue their higher education when they leave school at eighteen as sensible, caring and competent young women who will have much to offer in life.
There are approximately 860 pupils, aged 3 – 18, with 220 in the Prep School. Of the 640 in the Senior School around 170 are boarders (c.25% of the whole School) and in Sixth Form around 40% of girls board.
Art, Drama, Music and Sport flourish with enjoying outstanding on-site facilities including a Sports Hall, indoor pool, impressive 350 seat auditorium and 23 acres of extensive grounds. There are over 100 extra-curricular clubs on offer and 120 trips take place each year.
Founded in 1885 as a girls’ school for day and boarding pupils, the School’s traditions are well established. The first hundred and thirty years of its history reflect the School’s steady evolution into a forward-looking educational establishment for girls and young women which still retains the best values of the past whilst embracing new educational approaches, committed to preparing young women for their ongoing education and lives beyond School.
The School Houses are at the heart of the pastoral structure of the School. In the Senior School, dedicated and experienced Housemistresses’ and a Housemaster ensure that girls truly belong. Academic staff in each House nurture those in their care and build a strong understanding of each girl as they watch their journeys through the School, with interest and pride.
St Catherine’s offers occasional and full boarding, overseen by resident Housemistresses and a team of staff who live on-site. The largest intake for boarders is at 11+ with a small number of places at 13+ and then a larger number at Sixth Form. Boarders enjoy a range of weekend activities including trips to museums, cinemas, theme parks and historic towns around the UK. There is also seasonal entertainment such as a Burns Night Supper, Lunar New Year celebrations, firework displays and more. Plenty of activities can be accessed on-site to enjoy too, with everything from archery and self-defence to games nights and cooking classes.
The School is situated in Bramley village three miles outside Guildford town centre (the train takes just over 40 minutes to London Waterloo from Guildford) and is also conveniently located for both Gatwick and Heathrow airports.
St Catherine’s global boarding community includes over 24 different nationalities from across the globe. They are also a popular choice for girls from both the local Surrey, Hampshire and Greater London areas along with girls from across the UK.
Excellent teaching, first rate facilities and a caring pastoral team combine to make St Catherine’s a vibrant and highly successful school for both boarders and day girls. Above all, they aim to give pupils both the opportunities and the confidence to develop fully their own individual talents and abilities.
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