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St Mary's School Calne  圣玛莉卡恩学校

St Mary’s School/Calne, Calne,
Wiltshire SN11 0DF
Tel: 01249 857200 Fax: 01249 857207
Website: www.stmaryscalne.org
• GIRLS, 11–18, Day & Boarding
• Pupils 290, Upper sixth 40
• Termly fees £4800 (Day), £7100 (Boarding)
• GSA, BSA
• Enquiries/application to the Registrar

What it’s like
Founded in 1873 by Canon Duncan, the Vicar of Calne, it occupies a pleasant site of 25 acres on the outskirts of the small town at the edge of the Wiltshire Downs. All the school buildings are within the grounds which include attractive gardens. Since 1950 there has been a continuous development programme and the school has some excellent modern facilities. An Anglican foundation, it puts some emphasis on worship and religious education (a chapel was built in the seventies). It is a personal school structured for the individual and has a friendly atmosphere. A large staff allows a staff:pupil ratio of about 1:6 and examination results are excellent. Pastoral care is a particular strength. Music is vigorously supported (majority of girls learn at least one instrument; many study two or more). Drama and art are major activities – there is a purpose-built theatre and art school. A standard range of sports and games is available and there are plentiful extra-curricular activities. A considerable number of girls take part in local community schemes and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme has become increasingly important.

School profile

Pupils & entrance
Pupils: Age range 11–18; 290 girls (48 day, 242 boarding).
Entrance: Main entry ages 11, 12, 13 and 16. Common Entrance exam used; for sixth-form entry, 7 GCSEs at least grade C (grade B in sixth-form subjects). No special skills or religious requirements. Some entrants from own prep (enquiries to the Headmistress, St Margaret’s Preparatory School, Calne, tel 01249 857220).

Scholarships & bursaries 15 pa scholarships 25%–33% fees: 10 academic, 1 art, 1 drama and 3 music (7 at 11 or 13; 8 at 16). Some bursaries, based on financial need when pupil in an exam year (GCSE or A-level).

Head & staff
Headmistress: Mrs Helen Wright, in post from 2003. Educated at James Gillespie’s High School, Edinburgh, and at universities of Oxford (French & German) and Leicester (MA applied linguistics). Previously Headmistress at Heathfield School, Ascot, and Head of German and Deputy Housemistress at St Edward’s, Oxford.
Teaching staff: 45 full time, 28 part time. Annual turnover low but variable.

Exam results
GCSE: In 2003, 44 pupils in Year 11, all gained grade C or above in 8+ subjects. Average GCSE score 63 (64 over 5 years).
A-levels: 42 in upper sixth: 10% passed in 4+ subjects; 90% in 3. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 375.

University & college entrance 100% of 2003 sixth-form leavers went on to a degree course (35% after a gap year), 27% to Oxbridge. 10% took courses in medicine, dentistry & veterinary science, 16% in science & engineering, 73% in humanities & social sciences, 3% in art & design.

Curriculum GCSE, AS and A-levels: 19 subjects offered.
Sixth form: 25% take science A-levels; 75% arts/humanities; 20% both. No A-level general studies.
Vocational: Work experience available.
Special provision: Tutors can be arranged.
Languages: French, Spanish or German offered to GCSE and A-level (French compulsory to GCSE); also Italian GCSE in sixth form.
ICT: Taught as a discrete subject (1–2 lessons a week in Years 7–11) and across the curriculum. 62 computers for pupil use (13 hours a day), many networked and with e-mail and internet access. Most pupils take CIT modules in word processing and DTP.

The arts
Music: 80% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 8+ musical groups including orchestra, string orchestras, wind band, choirs, jazz band, flute choir and many chamber groups. Chamber choir sings at festivals and cathedrals; reached semi-finals of Sainsbury’s Choir of the Year, won HTV ‘Sing Out’.
Drama & dance: Both offered (dance as part of PE; ballet as an extra). GCSE drama, A-level theatre studies, Lamda and ESB exams may be taken. Recent school productions include In Love with Shakespeare (devised by Head of Drama), St Joan, Amadeus. Links with visiting theatre companies and professionals.
Art & design: On average, 25 take GCSE, 5 A-level, 6 A-level history of art. Design, pottery, textiles, photography, screenprinting/etching, sculpture and life drawing also offered. Close links established with a number of local professional artists and craftsmen.

Sport & activities
Sport: Lacrosse, hockey, netball, tennis, swimming, athletics, gym, dance compulsory. Optional: Watersports, riding, squash, fitness, ballet, fencing. Sixth form only: football, golf, ice skating. BAGA, RLSS and BTF (trampolining) exams may be taken. County and international players in netball, athletics, lacrosse, hockey cross-country and tennis.
Activities: All Year 10 take bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, 75% of Year 11 in silver, 50% of lower sixth in gold. Community service optional. Up to 30 clubs, eg athletics, computing, cookery, debating, drama, photography, pottery, trampoline, woodwork.

School life
Uniform: School uniform worn; dress code for sixth form.
Houses & prefects: Competitive companies. No prefects. Head girl, heads of company and heads of year selected by staff and school. School Council.
Religion: Morning assembly. Sunday chapel.
Social: Organised trips abroad eg to Israel, Canada, Rome, Sweden, Normandy. Meals self-service. No tobacco or alcohol allowed.

Discipline Pupils failing to produce homework once might get a warning; minor misdemeanours dealt with by tutors. Any girl possessing drugs in school is likely to be expelled.

Boarding Year 11 upwards all have own study bedroom. Houses of approx 40, divided by age. Two resident qualified nurses. Central dining room. Upper sixth can provide and cook own snacks, but main meals compulsory. Two fixed exeats each term plus others. Visits to local town allowed at lunchtime.