Girls’ School

George Road
Kingston
Surry
KT2 7PE

11 – 18 years
£31,320 to £53,010 pre VAT, per year

IB: 36 points average

Marymount fills a gap in the London school’s scene that you didn’t realise was there, until you see it. The
seven-acre site is closeted in a private housing estate, on a leafy residential road in Kingston, and is the
only all girls, Catholic (although welcomes all faiths), day and boarding school in the UK to offer the IB.
Entrance is not the knives out experience of the 11+, and while prospective candidates are assessed in
English, maths, reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, selection is more about the school being the right
place for the child. This gentler approach is reflected in the atmosphere of the school as a whole, which
in conjunction with its relatively small size (around 300 pupils), cosy mix of period and modern buildings,
and green space, gives the impression that it is a place for girls to breathe, relax and enjoy their
adolescence, sheltered from many of the pressures that are often found in larger schools. That is not to
say the girls don’t do well academically. There are no GCSEs to study for, however working towards the
IB starts in earnest in Year 7. Classes are small, not more than 10/11, so there is no where to hide, and
there is a strong focus on essay writing and critical thinking. SEN support is done exceptionally well here,
as well as input for gifted and talented children. Music, art and sport are strong considering the smaller
size and there is a fantastic gym for volleyball and badminton. Note here, the sports tend to be more
American than English. Boarding (mainly for overseas girls) can be weekly, flexi or full and girls sleep in a
friendly and clean looking boarding house. Children arrive at any age. Around 25-30 start in Year 7 and
by sixth form there are up to 60 in a year. As expected, the make-up of the school is incredibly
international, from approx. 55 different countries, and while many families live in neighbouring
Wimbledon or Kew, they are mainly long-term expat residents. As with most of the international schools
in London, it is expensive with fees ranging from £31,320 to £53,010 pre-VAT, depending on the day or
boarding option you take but it is one of the nicest international schools in the city.