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
We are passionate about fostering a love of reading at St Mary’s Prep! This morning, we were thrilled to extend that learning beyond the classroom with a whole-school visit to The Bell Bookshop in Henley.
Each child had the opportunity to explore the shelves and select a book of their choosing. Back in school, they will be using their reading to create thoughtful book reviews, which will be displayed in the shop window for the local community to enjoy.
This visit supports our excellent teaching of literacy and gives pupils a chance to extend their learning beyond the classroom. We’re also delighted to continue building meaningful links with our local independent bookshop and to give our pupils a real audience for their writing.
#stmarysprep #henleyonthames #bookshopvisit #independentbookshop #bellbookshophenley
We would like to invite you to a Parent Talk taking place on Thursday 5th June, 7-8.30pm at St Mary’s Prep. The Talk is led by @drhesterbancroft and focuses on equipping parents with coaching techniques to support their children through challenges. You`ll learn strategies and techniques on how to empower your child with strong communication, problem-solving skills, and resilience.
✨ This event is open to everyone – not just parents from our school! ✨
To book your free space email info@stmarys-henley.co.uk.
#stmarysprephenley #stmarysprepschool #hesterbancroft #resilienceforchildren#henley
The Junior UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT) @ukmathstrust Challenge took place on 1st May, with children from Years 4, 5 and 6 taking part. The UKMT challenge, typically taken by senior school children in Year 7 and 8, is designed to encourage mathematical reasoning, precision, and fluency—and our children certainly rose to the occasion! This year, we were delighted to achieve 9 awards including 5 Silver and 4 Bronze Awards. Congratulations to all of our children who took part and an extra special mention for our pupil in Year 4 who did incredibly well – we are so proud of you all!
#stmarysprephenley #stmarysprepschool #UKMT #juniorukmt #henley
What a fantastic week our Year 3 and Year 4 class had on their residential trips! Year 3 headed to @Ufton.court and took part in archery, fire building, woodland games, photo mapping, and a super fun disco! For many of the children this was their first night away, and staying in cabins with their friends was a brilliant experience. The class supported each other through all of the activities and showed great teamwork, kindness and resilience.
Year 4 had an amazing time @Thorpewoodlandsadventure . From archery to caving, canoeing to climbing, team-building to the Big Swing, the children tackled all of the activities with great confidence and collaboration. We are very proud of their courageous approach and the support they gave to each other.
What fabulous memories for Year 3 and Year 4!
#stmarysprephenley #uftoncourt #thorpewoodlandsadventurecentre #year3 #year4 #residentialtripsforschools #henley
Great afternoon at @theoratoryschool @oratory_sport playing golf with our friends at @moulsford
Oratory once again being impeccable hosts. #prepschool #golf #stmarysprep
As part of their PSHE careers topic, Year 6 enjoyed an inspiring visit to @therelaishenley in Henley. They heard from the General Manager, Head Chef Dominic, and other team members about their global careers in hospitality. The children were taken on a tour of the hotel, learning all about the various design choices, Michelin stars, royal guests (including the Queen!)
Thank you to The Relais team for the warm welcome! It was a fantastic insight into the hard work and teamwork that goes on behind the scenes of a hotel and a great learning opportunity for Year 6.
#stmarysprephenley #year6learning #hospitalitycareers #therelaishenley #henleyonthames
Our Year 6 pupils were thrilled to receive their leavers’ hoodies—a much-loved tradition and a wonderful memento of their junior years. What a proud moment for our leavers as they look ahead to their next adventure!
#stmarysprepschool #year6leavers #henleyonthames#henley
Robot Wars took over St Mary’s Prep!
On Friday, our Year 5 and 6 pupils put their coding skills to the test - designing, building and battling Micro:bit-powered robots in an all-action STEAM morning. It was wonderful to see their creativity, teamwork and resilience, cheered on by staff.
A big thank you to everyone who engineered, problem-solved and celebrated every sparks-flying moment. We can’t wait to see where the children go to next with their learning journey on coding!
#stemactivityforkids #henley#stmarysprepschool #prepschoolhenley #STEM #robotwars #microbit
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.
