Welcome to
St. Mary's Preparatory School
We have been at the centre of education in Henley for almost 100 years, helping generations of children to learn in a stimulating and inspiring environment. Situated in the heart of the town in a beautiful Victorian townhouse, our vibrant co-ed prep school provides an outstanding education for children aged 3 – 11 years.
Proud of our reputation for delivering academic excellence – the attainment of St. Mary’s pupils is above national age-related expectations in all subjects, and our more able pupils are challenged and stretched with a range of classroom work and additional activities.
Our pupils are well prepared to make the transition on to the next stage in their education, with children consistently receiving offers from their first choice of the most prestigious schools in the area, including scholarships and awards.
Meet our Headteacher, Mr Stephen Blundell
Welcoming a new headteacher for the first time in 15 years, this autumn is a very exciting time for St. Mary’s Preparatory School and Nursery. Stephen Blundell joins St Mary’s after spending 10 years at Wetherby Prep in London, where he served as Deputy Head for 5 years.
"As soon as I stepped into the school, I was immediately drawn to the happiness of the children. The interactions between boys and girls of all ages give a clear sense of a nurturing, family oriented environment underpinned by exceptional pastoral care. These strong foundations are vital in allowing each pupil to develop personally, academically and creatively whilst at St Mary's."
- Mr. Stephen Blundell
FACILITIES & LOCATION
Nurturing excellence
in the heart of Henley
Our outstanding onsite facilities are enhanced by excellent sports and outdoor options in Henley-on-Thames and the local area.
Our specialist classrooms such as a fully equipped science lab, light and airy art studio, music room and vibrant well stocked library, foster a dynamic learning environment. Our wonderful outdoor spaces include a recently refurbished courtyard playground and all-weather sports area, climbing frame and soft surface. Our Nursery and Early Years children also benefit from their own specialist fun and interactive outdoor area in addition to the main school facilities.
Laptops, iPads and interactive whiteboards, in our classrooms, all connected through our school-wide wireless network, promote interactive learning.
We have close relationships with a number of local organisations, enabling us to provide our pupils with exciting learning environments, all just a short walk or minibus journey away.
Join us for a Personal Tour
Shape a bright future for your child
Book a personal tour today to discover excellence in education, experience our nurturing community, and envision a future full of promise for your child.
Follow us on Social Media
Enjoy regular updates on life in our School and Nursery
A big congratulations to our wonderful PE teacher, Miss Stacey Gould, who has been selected for the GB Mixed Seniors Training Squad for Tag Rugby. Stacey hopes to play in the British and Irish Cup in August and potentially in the Tag Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Stacey’s sporting background is predominately in gymnastics and dance, however, she got involved with Tag Rugby when she started her teaching career back in 2014 and has been playing it herself ever since. She has gone on to represent Thames Valley at Nationals for the last 7 years in both mixed and women’s teams. We are very proud of your achievement Stacey and feel lucky to have you here as a teacher at St Mary’s Prep encouraging our children with their sport and fitness.
#stmarysprephenley #prepschoolhenley #tagrugby🏉
We understand the stress and uncertainty around National Offer Day for your child’s Primary School allocation. If you are not successful in gaining a place for your child at your choice of school, or are considering your options, we are here to help at St Mary’s Prep. With our close-knit, family-like environment, your child will find a welcoming community, inspiring teachers, and the ideal conditions for academic success.
Every child deserves to be happy and supported, and we’re committed to making that a reality. For more details, reach out to Admissions at admissions@stmarys-henley.co.uk or call 01491 573118.
#prepschoolhenley #prepschool #stmarysprephenley
Year 2 learned about waterproof materials by investigating which would be best for making a waterproof coat. They linked their learning to Charles Macintosh, who invented waterproof fabric, and used their scientific enquiry skills to test materials and record results. The activity helped them understand how science is used in real life—all while having fun in the sunshine!
#prepschool #stmarysprephenley #prepschoolhenley
We were delighted to announce the winners of the Year 5 and 6 House Photography Cup last week. The pupils had all taken part in a Henley Youth Festival Digital photography workshop with Kathryn Fell Photographer and she kindly judged the competition for us.
First place was awarded to Jack (Year 6) for his creativity and thinking outside of the box with his ‘Young Girl in the Football Shirt’ photograph. Elodie (Year 6) was awarded second place for her photo of the lambs looking into the camera, which is not an easy photo to set up. Third place was awarded to Elijah (Year 6) for his field and tree photograph which was taken at a lower angle allowing good composition and Milo (Year 6 ) was also given a highly commended for his lovely pop of colour with yellow flowers.
Well done to all the entrants and taking the time to slow down, be mindful and implement what was covered in the Henley Youth Festival Digital photography workshops.
#kathrynfellphotography #prepschool #stmarysprephenley #HenleyYouthFestival
Reception class having fun in the sunshine mastering their multi-skills at PE. The children learn a variety of skills to help improve their spatial awareness, balance and coordination. They also teach the children how to work as a team and follow instructions.
#prepschool #henley #stmarysprephenley
We hope all our pupils have a wonderful Easter break and enjoy the warmer weather.☀️
While the school is closed, our Admissions Team are still here and available for anyone considering joining St Mary`s Prep whether it`s to discuss a mid-year or September start or to request a tour.
To get in touch,
✉email admissions@stmarys-school.co.uk or 📞 01491 573118
#startingschool #prepschool #midyearadmissions #stmarysprephenley #prepschoolhenley
A group of Year 1 and 2 enjoyed playing some games together to help practise their `red` or tricky words, like school and friend. They played snakes and ladders, having to read the words they landed on and a game where they had to find letters to make into words which they then wrote into sentences. It was great to see the children work so well together, improving their reading, writing, and spelling skills through fun games.
#prepschoolhenley #stmarysprephenley #stmaryshenley
St Mary's Preparatory School is a Microsoft Showcase School
We are proud that St Mary's Preparatory School has been recognised as a Microsoft Showcase School, dedicated to using technology for personalised learning and school-wide transformation.
With 1:1 devices and cutting-edge tools like Microsoft Teams, Office 365, and OneNote, we enrich students' learning experiences.
Our goal is to make their skills relevant in real-world scenarios, seamlessly integrating knowledge into daily life and future projects.
Parent & Pupil Feedback
100%
Parents agree that:
the school safeguards their children effectively.
the school helps their children to be confident and independent.
the range of subjects is suitable for their child.
their child is well prepared for senior school.
the school equips their child with the skills they need later in life.
100% pupils agree that the school expects the children to behave well.
Unlock Your Child's Potential
Discover the enriching journey your child will embark on
through the various school stages at St. Mary’s Preparatory School.
