Founded as a Church of England School for Girls in 1885, welcoming both day girls and boarders, St Catherine’s is one of the UK’s premier girls’ schools. St Catherine’s is situated in the heart of the attractive Surrey village of Bramley, three miles south of Guildford which has a mainline station (Waterloo 35 minutes). The school operates a home to school transport system which is managed by Zeelo. There is easy access to Heathrow and Gatwick and travel arrangements are made for overseas boarders. Close proximity to London allows frequent visits to theatres and galleries and the miles of countryside on our doorstep is an asset to the many girls who take part in The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme.
In The ISI Report, October 2016, we were pleased to receive ‘Excellent’ in all three focus areas. Wherever the Inspectors visited from PP1 (Reception) to the U6, and from Day to Boarding, they encountered girls and staff who were proud to represent St Catherine’s. A recurring theme of the Report was the close teamwork between the girls and their teachers. ‘Pupils attitude to learning are exemplary. Teachers create an ambience of encouragement in which learning thrives’.
Exam Results. Superb examination results are testament to the quality of teaching and learning, where students are not afraid to show enthusiasm and ambition. Lessons are taught in well-appointed classrooms by subject specialists. In 2023, 87% of girls achieved A*–B at A Level and 88% achieved Grades 9–7 at GCSE.
The outstanding results gained by our students in public examinations secure them places at the top universities, in competitive disciplines like medicine and veterinary science, law and languages. This success comes not only as a result of the fine quality of the teaching, but is also due to the individual attention received by every girl. St Catherine’s places great emphasis on creating a happy environment where every girl is encouraged to work hard to maximise her talents. The atmosphere is friendly and one in which children can develop and grow in a very stimulating environment.
School Structure. A well-established House system underpins the whole School, allowing new girls to feel at home very quickly, encouraging an ethos of care and concern for others as well as a friendly competitive spirit.
Pivotal to the life of St Catherine’s are the six school Houses. The girls’ loyalty and affection for their Houses is impressive with memories of inter-house plays, competitions and matches enduring long after School days have ended.
A broad and varied curriculum allows all pupils to participate in many challenging and rewarding extracurricular activities. As a Church of England School girls are encouraged to think of others and impressive sums of money are raised for charity each year. The School has its own beautiful chapel which is used by the girls on a daily basis.
Activities Week is held each year in the Summer Term when every girl in the School participates in a variety of programmes organised to both support the curriculum and offer challenges not normally met in the classroom. Pupils participate in outward bound ventures, such as modern language courses in France, Germany and Spain, whilst Sixth Formers focus on university choices. Activities Week costs are included in the fees.
International links are also very important. St Catherine’s has an exchange programme with St Catherine’s Melbourne, Australia and there are also links with schools in Kenya, South Africa and Lebanon.
Facilities. With extensive playing fields, superb sports facilities and an auditorium which boasts better acoustics than many London venues, it is no surprise that St Catherine’s is always buzzing with life after the teaching day is over.
Facilities include 3 lacrosse pitches, a multi-purpose sports hall, fitness suite and indoor pool. The auditorium provides superb acoustics for our musical and theatrical productions. The Sixth Form girls have their own Library which provides a perfect study environment right at the heart of the School. The Anniversary Halls and the Speech Hall Library were officially opened by the School’s patron, Her Majesty the Queen Consort; the first Baron Ashcombe, her Majesty’s Great-Great Grandfather was one of the original founders and benefactors of St Catherine’s.
The successful completion of The 6, a Sixth Form centre, now offers modern boarding accommodation and a contemporary Common Room for day girls and boarders alike. Opened in 2022 is our fabulous creative art facility with Design & Technology Studios, two Textile Studios, a Photographic Studio with Dark Room and a ‘MasterChef’ style Culinary Art studio. A new science and digital learning space is being planned.
The School’s flexible approach to boarding makes it increasingly attractive to busy, professional families; the ISI team picked out boarding as one of the outstanding features of St Catherine’s. The School welcomes both weekly and full boarders who enjoy a busy and exciting programme. The Four cornerstones of boarding at St Catherine’s are: Expert care from experienced and highly trained boarding staff; a huge raft of on-site activities with superb facilities; a friendly and welcoming community; and, last but not least, boarding at St Catherine’s represents excellent value for money.
Enrichment Opportunities. St Catherine’s has an unrivalled reputation in art, music, sport and drama; photography and Design Technology are popular options amongst the Sixth Form, and younger girls are encouraged by an enthusiastic Art and Design department to take advantage of the superb facilities, and join many after-school clubs.
Music is an important feature of school life, with numerous choirs, orchestras and concert bands rehearsing each week and performing regularly. There are in excess of 550 individual music lessons taking place each week where over half the girls learn to play a musical instrument. There are flute choirs, string quartets, recorder groups and ensembles to cater for all levels of ability. Concerts and recitals are held regularly. There is the Jennifer Bate Organ Academy and the Jennifer Bate Memorial Organ Scholarship in conjunction with Guildford Cathedral. The School boasts two organs, one in the School Chapel and a second in the Preparatory School.
Drama and Theatre Studies are extremely popular options; girls are encouraged to audition for the annual middle and senior school plays. As well as acting opportunities, pupils are also offered the opportunity to help backstage and front of house and learn many valuable skills as a result. LAMDA classes are offered to all year groups. St Catherine’s also has its own very popular School of Dance.
Given the School’s outstanding sports facilities it is perhaps no surprise that many girls go on to represent their county in netball, lacrosse, swimming, squash and athletics. Every girl is encouraged to take part in sport at school, whatever her level of expertise. The PE Department regularly fields four or five teams for lacrosse and netball, allowing every girl who wishes to play competitively the opportunity to do so.
The Prep School. Most girls join at 4 with a limited number of places available in other years. It aims to support families in helping younger pupils develop a strong sense of values, high standards of behaviour and consideration to others, as well as achieving excellent academic success. The girls benefit from specialist teaching, combining the best of traditional methods with modern technology to prepare them for the Entrance Examinations to all Senior Schools at 11+, including St Catherine’s.
Fees per term (2023-2024). (From December 2023) Day Girls: £4,140 (Pre-Prep 1), £4,420 (Pre-Prep 2), £5,225 (Pre-Prep 3), £6,165 (Prep School), £7,465 (Senior School).
Boarders: Middle and Senior Boarding and Tuition £12,650.
Fees include the Activities Week programme for Senior School girls and lunches for all pupils aged 4–18.
Entry. This is by Entrance Examination held in November. The Prep School also holds its own entrance assessments in October.
Scholarships and Bursaries.
11+ (Year 7): There are four Academic Entrance Scholarships available for pupils at age 11. These are awarded on the results of the Entrance Examination. Two scholarships are for 20% of the fees payable and the other two are for 10% of the fees. These are for the first five years of Senior School and are extended through the Sixth Form at the discretion of the Headmistress and in consultation with the teaching staff.
Upper 5 and Sixth Form (Year 11): The following scholarships are awarded during the Summer Term to pupils already in the School in the L5 (Year 10) and in the Autumn Term U5 (Year 11). Selection for the awards is based on the results of the June examinations at the end of the L5, performance throughout the L5 year and a rigorous panel interview.
The available Sixth Form Scholarships are:
•Margaret Kaye Scholarships: These are scholarships of 20% of the fees payable to run for three years, through U5 (Year 11) and the Sixth Form.
•Sixth Form Scholarships: These are scholarships of 10% or 20% of fees. The number can be extended depending on the performance of the candidates and the recommendations of the awarding panel.
•The Sixth Form Music Scholarship: There are two Music Scholarships. One, to the value of 20% of the School fees is awarded during the Autumn Term of U5 to a girl who intends to study Music A Level alongside her practical music-making. The second is to the value of 10% of the School Fees and is awarded to a girl who makes a significant contribution to School music-making but will not take Music A Level.
•The Sixth Form Art and Textiles Scholarship: There is an Art and Textiles Scholarship to the value of 20% of the School Fees, awarded during the Autumn Term of U5 (Year 11).
•The Sixth Form Drama Scholarship: There is a Drama Scholarship to the value of 20% of the School Fees, awarded during the Autumn Term of U5.
•The Clare Gregory Memorial Sports Scholarship: This is awarded for sporting prowess and is for 20% of the day fees in the Sixth Form and is awarded internally at the end of the Spring Term in U5.
•Scholarships for New Entrants to the Sixth Form: There are up to three external academic, Art/Textiles and Music scholarships of up to 20% of fees and these are awarded at the discretion of the Headmistress, to new pupils joining the School in the Sixth Form. The Art/Textiles and Music scholarships are conditional upon the applicant studying Art/Textiles or Music A Level.
Music Scholarships and Awards:
An 11+ Music Scholarship of 20% of the fees and tuition on one instrument, with music and exam entry fees paid, may be awarded annually upon entry to an 11+ candidate judged by the Director of Music and an adjudication panel to have strong musical talent. A second Music Scholarship of 10% of fees and tuition on one instrument can be awarded in years where the field of applicants is particularly strong. Applications should be made by November and auditions are in January. There is an expectation that the successful candidates will take Music GCSE and A Level.
Jennifer Bate Memorial Organ Scholarship is offered in conjunction with Guildford Cathedral to a girl who is already a good organist or shows potential. This award is typically for 20% of fees payable and includes tuition on the organ and one other instrument, with music and exam entry fees. It may also involve a Bursary/Help with Fees if appropriate. Ideally, Jennifer Bate Memorial Organ Scholars are boarders who can take a full part in the Boarders’ Evening Chapel Service each week.
Further Music Awards which cover music tuition, exam fees and sheet music on a range of musical instruments including chapel organ and voice are available to pupils in the Senior School. Some are specifically for those wanting to take up instruments which tend not to be the popular choice of most students, but which contribute greatly to the impact and success of the School’s musical ensembles. e.g. euphonium, double bass, viola, bassoon, French horn, tuba. Auditions for Awards take place at the same time as Music Scholarship auditions.
Bursaries/Help with Fees: The School offers a number of means-tested places to girls at age 7 (Year 3), age 11 (Year 7) and at Sixth Form entry. Help can be provided for up to 100% of the fees.
Charitable status. St Catherine’s School Bramley is a Registered Charity, number 1070858. It exists to provide education for girls in accordance with the principles of the Church of England.
Governors & Staff:
Governing Body:
Chairman: Brigadier M P Lowe, MBE, MA, RCDS
A Alonzo Esq, BSc, PhD
J Blauth Esq, BA, FRSA, MCMI, MRAeS
Prof F Cotter, MBBS, FRCP[UK], FRCPath, FRCP[I], PhD
Mrs P Crouch, LLB
Mrs K Farrell
Mrs C Good
Mrs H Hounsell
Mrs C S Johnstone, MRCS, LRCP, MBBS, MD, FRCP
Dr J McGowan, MBBS, FRCA
Mrs Lynn Narraway
A Pianca Esq, FCA
Mrs Veronica Povey, CBE, FCMA
Mrs S E Shipway
J C M Tippett Esq, BSc, FCA, TEP
D Ulyet Esq, BSc
The Rt Revd Paul Davies
Mr Stuart Hawkes, BSc Hons, FRICS
Headmistress: Mrs Alice Phillips, MA Cantab
Senior Boarding Housemistress: Mrs Helen Harkness
Director of Studies: Dr Elodie Nevin, MA Oxon, PhD, QTS
Senior Housemistress: Mrs Kirsty Meredith, BA Hons London, AKC, PGCE
Director of Staff: Mrs Claire Wyllie, MA Dunelm, PGCE
Head of Sixth Form: Mrs Kate Hawtin
School Administrator: Mrs Sheila Kelsall, MA Open, BSc Hons Open, PGCE
Head of Prep School: Miss Naomi Bartholomew, MA London, BEd Cantab, QTS, MA London
Deputy Heads – Curriculum: Mr Matthew Parry, BSc, MSc Wales, PGCE
Deputy Head – Pre-Prep: Miss Emily Jefford
Deputy Head – Staff: Mrs Wendy Gibbs, BEd Hons Winchester
Administration:
Senior School Registrar: Mrs Clare Woodgates
Prep School Registrar: Mrs Sarah Waller
Marketing Director: Ms Pippa Carte, BD, MA
PA to the Headmistress: Miss Toppy Wharton