St Mary’s School, Gerrards Cross is an independent day school for girls aged 3–18 situated in the heart of Gerrards Cross in South Buckinghamshire, England.
The current Head is Lars Fox. There are around 350 pupils, 110 of whom are in the Prep Department.
History St Mary’s School was established in 1872 by the Anglican Foundation of The Sister of the Community of St Mary the Virgin in Paddington, London. However the finances became precarious and in 1901 the college was relaunched by a new management committee. Jane Latham became the principal of both the college and the school. In 1904 the school passed its inspection and Latham was credited with much of the improvement. Latham left the school to establish a new career as a missionary in India.
The school relocated to Lancaster Gate in 1911, where it was known as St Mary’s College. In 1937 the school relocated to its present site, Orchehill House, in Gerrards Cross.
The religious teaching in the school has changed since it was first established by the Community of St Mary the Virgin but the school remains associated with the Church of England, though girls of all religions and denominations are admitted.
In 2016 the Sixth Form facilities were upgraded with the opening of Cedar House and a new classroom block, Cherry Tree House, was added in 2018.
Facilities
The school has traditional buildings with period features as well as new classroom blocks, providing a wide range of facilities. Pre-Prep are in Paddington House, whilst the remaining year groups of the Prep Department are in the Oakdene and Smith buildings.
Senior House is in Orchehill House, the original building, as well as Cherry Tree House. The Sixth Form is in a dedicated facility, Cedar House.
Co-curricular There is a range of co-curricular clubs available in both the Prep Department and Senior School including tap dancing, chess, gymnastics, crafting, a wide variety of sports, language clubs, cookery, puzzle club, football, Economics Society, media club, dance, playwriting, choirs, orchestra and bands, book club, drama club, street dance, debating, the Duke of Edinburgh awards.
Headteachers Sister Kate (C.S.M.V), 1874 Sister Mary Louisa (C.S.M.V), 1876 Sister Mary Monica (C.S.M.V), 1877 Sister Geraldine (C.S.M.V), 1885 Sister Louisa (C.S.M.V), 1885 Sister Mary Margaret (C.S.M.V), 1886 Sister Madeline (C.S.M.V), 1886 Jane Leeke Latham, 1901-1909 Helena Powell, 1909-1925 Dorothy Apperson, 1925-1942 Winifred Joan Chalk, 1942-1967 Hazel Thomas, 1967-1969 Victor Joseph Bailey, 1969-1973 Audrey Timberlake, 1973-1984 Joan Lilwall Smith, 1984-1995 Fanny Balcombe, 1995-2010 Jean Ross, 2010-2018 Patricia Adams, 2018 - 2025
Notable alumnae Gwyneth Bebb
She was the first woman to graduate from Oxford with a First in Jurisprudence and was the sole woman in her undergraduate class of 400. Gwyneth famously argued the case of Bebb v. The Law Society in 1913. Though the judgment was against her, this case paved the way for women to be admitted to the legal profession in Britain in 1919.
Marie Laura Violet Gayler
A metallurgist who specialized in aluminium alloys and dental amalgams. Gayler was one of the first two women to join the scientific staff at the National Physical Laboratory.
Tessa Hilton
A prominent British magazine executive and a former newspaper editor.
Lin Huiyin
A renowned writer and the pioneer as the first female architect in modern China.
References
External links
St Mary's School, Gerrards Cross listing at Independent Schools Council St Mary's School, Gerrards Cross listing at Girls' Schools Association