Virtual Open Events
Welcome to St Catherine’s Virtual Open Events
While it is not possible to host our usual Open Day for prospective parents at this time, we would like to reassure you that our admissions process continues to operate as usual and that we are continuing to welcome applications for September 2021 in certain year groups.
You are warmly invited to tour our School from the comfort of your home via our Virtual Open Day page. Please do watch our School video which showcases our beautiful river setting, our friendly and caring ethos and the achievements of our pupils. From here, you are invited to hear from the Headmistress, Mrs McPherson, via our video links, as well as other staff and pupils of St Catherine’s. You are also able to view our range of fantastic School facilities via our Interactive Map and to visualise your daughter’s happy existence as a pupil at St Catherine’s through our photo galleries. Within your Virtual Open Day Tour, you will also be able to get a glimpse into our Virtual School that has been operating during lockdown, by viewing a range of pupil work and wider learning in the galleries and links made available to you.
We are here to guide you through our amended admissions process; if you would like further information or to receive an application pack, please do not hesitate to contact our Admissions Manager, Mrs Julie Harris on admissions@stcatherineschool.co.uk or 0203 3261 0139 who will be delighted to help.
Videos
Virtual School
Following official government guidance, St Catherine’s is currently closed; however, our Virtual School is up and running, allowing our pupils to continue their education with remote learning, pastoral support, extra-curricular activities and assemblies, which all continue as usual.
Interactive Map
Tennis / Netball Courts
Sports Field
Prep Department
Main Hall
Dining Room
Swimming Pool
Science Block
St Joseph's
Sixth Form Centre
Library
FAQs
To help prospective parents during this period of social distancing, we have answered many of the questions that we often hear at Open Days.
For further details regarding our admissions process, please visit our admissions page.
During the Virtual Open Day on 3 February, there will be an opportunity for prospective parents who have previously registered for the open day, to join a live Q&A with the Headmistress. Details will be provided, following your registration.
Table A: General Questions
Entry is sometimes possible throughout the School; however, the usual entry points are Reception, Year 3, Year 5, Year 7 and Year 12.
Yes, private tours can be arranged; please contact our Admissions Manager, Mrs Julie Harris at admissions@stcatherineschool.co.uk
We had a full and varied programme of remote learning, using a range of online platforms. A gallery of photos displaying the fantastic work of our pupils can be seen on this page, or to see our dedicated Virtual School Page.
In the event of a local lockdown or another DFE directive to close the School, we will be able to resume our remote learning strategies and teachers are already preparing for this possibility.
Yes, please contact Mrs Julie Harris at admissions@stcatherineschool.co.uk or call 020 3261 0139 for more information.
Yes, it is possible to arrange a phone conversation or meeting with the Headmistress. Please contact Mrs Julie Harris at admissions@stcatherineschool.co.uk or call 020 3261 0139
During lockdown we used Zoom to continue these interviews and conversations; alongside meeting onsite this method will also be used this year, when it is appropriate to do so.
Girls in Prep are taught French.
Year 7 girls learn French, German and Spanish; Year 8 girls take two of these, and in Year 9-11 one or two languages, depending on ability and interest.
Parents seeking admission for Prep should complete the registration form and return it to Mrs Julie Harris at admissions@stcatherineschool.co.uk with a cheque, or make a bank transfer, for the registration fee. They will then be invited to meet the Head of Prep, who will show them round the department, and the Headmistress, for an interview.
For entry into Early Years, applicants will be invited to spend some time in the Early Years Department with their parents.
For entry into Years 1 through to Year 6, applicants will be invited to sit assessments in Maths and English.
Bursary applications can be made for Senior School places (Years 7-12); bursaries are reviewed annually. To find out more information about Bursaries and the application process please go to our bursaries page or contact Mrs Carolyn Wilder at cwilder@stcatherineschool.co.uk
We are proud to offer a values-based education to girls of all faiths and to welcome all pupils into a Christian community that focuses on friendship and belonging. The faith life of the school is built around these principles and helps girls to consider deeper values and to grow in self-worth, compassion and service of others.
Yes, our community is a very welcoming and friendly one. Approximately 40% of the girls are Catholics, with girls from other Christian denominations making up a little less than that. We are also pleased to have girls from other faiths, who enrich our school community, and all girls join together in school events, and are encouraged to appreciate the different faiths and family backgrounds of their friends.
St Catherine’s has excellent onsite facilities for the girls from Prep to Sixth Form. Our Interactive Map above showcases some of these facilities, including our own indoor Swimming Pool, large playing fields and Sixth Form Centre.
Our wrap around care begins with our very popular breakfast club held daily in the dining room from 7.30am. A hot and nutritious breakfast is available for all pupils of Prep and Senior School under the supervision of our Breakfast Club Manager.
Our After School Club runs every day from 3.30pm to 6.00pm for all girls from Nursery to Year 6. The girls are supervised by qualified, experienced staff and enjoy a variety of creative activities in a safe, calm and caring environment.
Homework supervision is provided for our older pupils and a light tea is provided upon request. Our working parents have commented on how reassuring it is to have their daughters looked after safely in school and have appreciated spending time with them in the evening, homework free!
We have a wide range of sporting, creative and performance activities; see our website for details. Activities vary over the year and there are options for every year group (NB: Current Covid restrictions have meant some changes to this programme).
Table B: Questions about Year 7 entry
Year 7 is our main entry point to the Senior School. Applications must be made by Friday 20 November 2020; this is followed by an interview with the Headmistress which takes place in the Autumn term, and then examinations on Saturday 9 January 2021. The closing date for Year 7 2021 entries has now passed. Please contact Mrs Harris if you wish to enquire about entry for September 2022.
Year 6 girls complete two papers: English and Maths.
Saturday 9 January 2021 (NB: Covid 19 may require us to alter our arrangements). Further dates may be offered to facilitate safety and possible clashes.
We are currently planning to do this and are looking at ways to manage candidates in smaller groups. We will keep all families updated with our plans.
Year 7 is usually formed of three classes, so around 60 girls; in some years four classes are selected. The Headmistress will make her decision about September 2021 at the time when offers are made. Class sizes in the Senior School are approximately 20; classes are smaller in GCSE and A Level as there are more subject choices.
Yes – this is a very important part of the process (and the Headmistress’s favourite); it is an opportunity for a conversation and for the Headmistress to answer any questions. It is a relaxed process and does not include any assessment.
The Headmistress (and the whole process) places great emphasis on the whole child. For this reason, the interview with parents and with the prospective pupil, is very important, as is the reference and most recent school report. Data from the Entrance Examinations is also used; however, we are aware that girls are coming from many different schools and therefore subjects may have been covered in a variety of ways.
Drama, Art, Music and Sport scholarships are available. Applications must be made by Friday 20 November 2020.
Music: 09.00am to 11.20am on 15.01.21
Drama: 12.30pm to 2.45pm on 15.01.21
Sport: 08.15am to 10.45am on 18.01.21
Art: 12.45pm to 3.15pm on 18.01.21
Pupils who perform especially well in the entrance exams will be invited to sit for the Academic Scholarship.
