Girls Boarding

Three St Mary's House students wearing fancy dress

St Mary's is the term-time home for approximately 70 girls

St Mary's is located in the Priory, a 1740, Grade II listed building situated on the boundary of the famous Prior Park Landscape Gardens. It has its own private patio and lawn, which is south facing, allowing for a unique place to work, relax or socialise.

The boarding house has a dedicated live-in House Parent, Mel Gittins, whose role is to make sure boarders are happy and safe, and to provide the pastoral care and organisation essential to the community and to every individual. Mel ensures our girls in St Mary's have a caring, comfortable and exciting 'home' at school.

“St Mary’s is a big, warm family”
A Prior Boarder

Junior boarders (Years 7 and 8) have their own area of the house with their own snug and separate shower room. There are a maximum of four girls in a room and more often two or three. Our junior boarders have access to all areas of the boarding house, and are encouraged to join in with all house activities so they are fully integrated with the whole house community.

Many Sixth Form students have recently refurbished single or twin rooms, located on the upper corridors of the Priory.

Main meals are taken in the dining hall of the Mansion, where all boarders, boys and girls, eat together. Our catering department provides nutritious and delicious meals, suitable for all tastes and dietary requirements.

The kitchen in St Mary's allows the girls access to snacks and hot drinks during the evenings and many enjoy baking at weekends. The girls can also relax in the TV rooms, use the extensive on-site sports facilities or simply take an early night after a busy day. A local shop is a five minute walk from site and many girls use their free time to sign out and spend time with their friends. Each evening is brought to a close with Night Prayers.

At weekends, our boarders can enjoy a wide range of activities, sports and free time, ensuring a good work/life balance. Despite the distance separating borders from their families, links with parents are seen as an indispensable part of the support and development of borders and we welcome communication from parents.

We do our very best to ensure that, for all our boarders, living at Prior Park feels like a ‘home from home’.