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
On Friday morning, our youngest children at St. Mary’s Prep welcomed their dads into the nursery for a special Father’s Day treat.
The children took on the role of servers for the morning, carefully taking orders and preparing takeaway bacon rolls for their guests. It was a lovely way for our little ones to show appreciation, and they thoroughly enjoyed the responsibility and fun of the experience.
A big thank you to Chef Katie for her early morning efforts and for helping make the event such a success.
Wishing all our St. Mary’s Prep dads a very happy and well-deserved Father’s Day.
#stmarysprephenley #StMarysPrep #henley #henleyonthames #nursery
A brilliant day at @leightonparkschool today with Mr Blundell meeting his old teacher from @rossallschool Eddie Falshaw who taught him 25 years ago! What a small world #stmarysprephenley #prepschool #leightonpark #rossallschool
Congratulations to Nathanael in Year 5 for receiving a Runner-up Award in the @greenerhenley Poetry Competition. The poetry competition, which is part of Henley’s Great Big Green Week, invited young poets to reflect on the theme Reflection on the River - exploring the importance of the river to their community and environment.
The prize giving was held on Monday 9th June at Henley Library, where Nathanael had the opportunity to read his poem to a small audience. A wonderful achievement and a proud moment for our school!
#stmarysprephenley #StMarysPrep #henley #greenerhenley
Join us at our Nursery Summer Open Morning, Friday 27th June 9-10am, and find out why our parents say: "We can`t recommend St. Mary`s Nursery enough!"
Our nurturing Nursery welcomes children aged 2½ to 4, where a caring and dedicated team, creates a happy and stimulating environment for early learning.
Weekly outdoor learning sessions, alongside specialist teaching in music, French and PE, really sets our Nursery apart - our children thrive, confident and ready to make the transition into Reception Class when the time comes.
With limited places left for a September start, book now to find out more: admissions@stmarys-henley.co.uk or 01491 573118
#preschool #nursery #toddler #henley #henleyonthames #parenting #wearecognita
As our Year 6 pupils get ready for their next big step, we asked them to share where they are heading for senior school and what they’re most excited about.
From lifelong friendships to unforgettable memories, it’s been a joy watching them grow and we couldn’t be prouder of all they’ve achieved.
St Mary’s Prep has helped lay strong foundations and we wish our leavers every success in the exciting journey ahead!
#prepschool #henley #stmarysprephenley #year6leavers
A wonderful day at @leightonparkschool for our Year 5 pupils. They thoroughly enjoyed a cooking workshop and took home a delicious apple and berry crumble.
Many thanks for the amazing hospitality, our pupils loved it. #stmarysprephenley #prepschool
Our Nursery and Reception class enjoyed a colourful celebration of nature @wild_ones_of_henley_ recently. The children explored the incredible colours found in nature through butterflies, flowers and everything in between. They created the most magical flower crowns, turning petals and leaves into wearable art. They planted sunflowers using seeds saved from last year’s towering blooms.
They also had butterfly races, played with flowing ribbons and watched the colours dance as they moved through the air. It was a joyful celebration of transformation, creativity and the wild beauty of the natural world!
#prepschool #henley #wildonesofhenley #outdoorplay #nursery #stmarysprep
We have enjoyed a really wonderful French Day in school today! Our younger pupils enjoyed baking palmiers and creating art inspired by French books and artists. Years 3 to 6 explored the wider French-speaking world by learning about Ghana and also tried a traditional French folk dance. Year 6 showed great teamwork building Eiffel Towers using spaghetti and marshmallows, and had fun playing pétanque.
A French-themed lunch was enjoyed by all, and our whole school assembly gave pupils from Nursery to Year 6 the chance to share their French skills and sing together.
French is a valued part of our curriculum at St Mary’s Prep and it was great to bring language learning to life in the most enjoyable way!
#prepschoolhenley #henley #stmarysprephenley #frenchday
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.
