London


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-where">WHAT? WHERE?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/2.jpg" alt="St Catherine's School Twickenham exterior" class="wp-image-1387" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/2-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Located amongst the smart residential streets of sought-after Twickenham, <a href="https://www.stcatherineschool.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">St Catherine’s</a> is a small independent Catholic day school that welcomes girls of all faiths, aged 7 – 18 years. Facing the river Thames (it’s literally across the street) and less than two miles from the home of British rugby’s Twickenham Stadium, the school sits on 2.93 acres, with approximately 400 girls currently enrolled – 79 in Prep and 326 in Senior (of which there are 57 in the Sixth Form).&nbsp;</p>



<p>Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1914, the school has been on the current site since 1919 and became a charitable trust in 1992. There are original arts &amp; craft buildings alongside more modern additions, that now make up much of the campus. Featuring large bright, airy classrooms for both the Prep and Senior girls who are taught on the same site&nbsp;in classes of roughly 12 – 18 girls.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/4.jpg" alt="St Catherine's School Twickenham exterior" class="wp-image-1389" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/4.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/4-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/4-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/4-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Although guided by Catholic faith, this is an inclusive and welcoming school, with around 75% Christian (predominantly Catholic), with the remaining 25% agnostic, atheist or from different faith backgrounds. There are form prayers, school Mass and Wednesday worship, but there’s no strict religious path for pupils to follow.</p>



<p>This review focuses on the Senior School, but you can also <a href="https://london.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/st-catherines-school-twickenham/">read our Prep School review here</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-facilities">FACILITIES</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sport">SPORT</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/10.jpg" alt="St Catherine's School Twickenham sport" class="wp-image-1395" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/10.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/10-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/10-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/10-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>St Catherine’s is something of a tardis and fits in more than you’d expect! There’s a generous playing field given the location and an&nbsp;18m x 7.2m swimming pool, installed by the nuns who ran the school in the 1960s. From early morning yoga to lunchtime dance and after school sport, St Catherine’s pupils follow a packed itinerary. All the usual suspects are on offer here with netball most popular, followed by football and tag rugby. There’s also hockey, gymnastics, trampolining, and athletics plus onsite swimming and entry into galas.&nbsp;The school recently invested in rowing machines and senior pupils recently tried their hands at golf.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-creative-arts">CREATIVE ARTS</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/7.jpg" alt="St Catherine's School Twickenham art" class="wp-image-1392" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/7.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/7-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/7-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/7-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Participation in the arts is strongly encouraged and creative subjects are championed. Planning permission has been granted for a new two-storey block to house art and music due to be completed by September 2026. A single storey building will be removed to make room and a new garden space will be created as part of the work.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Textiles is a particularly popular subject and is currently located in a large double aspect classroom overlooking the playing fields. The subject will have a dedicated space in the new building in due course.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/8.jpg" alt="St Catherine's School Twickenham music" class="wp-image-1393" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/8.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/8-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/8-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/8-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>For music, private lessons are available, and&nbsp;there’s a Senior choir and orchestra plus a flute ensemble. Recently there was a choir tour to Belgium, which included performing in Brussels Cathedral. The Sixth Formers support the Prep choir and Junior orchestra too.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Drama feels vibrant and ambitious,&nbsp;the school takes an original show to the Edinburgh Fringe starring girls from Y10-Y13 every other year. Within the school, Y9 and Y10 perform an annual show, and&nbsp;there’s a whole Senior School&nbsp;production each year to, involving 70-80 girls. The pupils are the crew as well as the cast, so they are involved in stage management, lighting, choreography, and costume. There’s also the Shakespeare Monologue evening to choose entries for the ISA competition of the same name. St Catherine’s won two years ago and came second last year. When I visited, they were awaiting results for 2024.</p>



<p>There’s a performance space with lighting used for drama lessons and smaller shows plus a large hall with raked seating for assemblies and bigger performances.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-general-nbsp">GENERAL&nbsp;</h3>



<p>General school facilities are&nbsp;well-resourced with a science block (just seven years old), an impressive food tech room, bright welcoming libraries for Prep and Senior, and well-tended surroundings. Sixth formers have a generous amount of space including a library, study room and welcoming common room. By Sept 2026, there’ll be an additional garden space next to the new art and music block.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-academics">ACADEMICS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/9.jpg" alt="St Catherine's School Twickenham science" class="wp-image-1394" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/9.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/9-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/9-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/9-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The schools offers a broad range of GCSEs, as well as 21 subjects currently on offer at A level including all the usual suspects plus options such as Photography, Textiles, Graphics, Politics and Psychology. Debating is also a strength here.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Each girl studies four A levels during Y12 and then continues with three of these into Y13. Girls also have the chance to study for an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) worth 50% of an A level and a showcase for independent research skills.</p>



<p>There are plenty of academic gongs in the trophy cabinet here, with St Catherine&#8217;s School winning the Independent School Mathematician of the Year (ISMOTY) for Key Stage 3 in 2023. Pupils achieved first and second place for the Y7-Y9 category of the ISA’s 2024 STEAM competition with a brief to design a device to help a patient with limited mobility.</p>



<p>Results are strong here, but without recourse to the hothouse environment that can pervade some private girls’ schools in the city. GSCEs for 2023 were Grades 9-8 – 35%; Grades 9-7 – 54%; Grades 9-6 – 75%. A Level results&nbsp;were Grade A* – 11%, A*-A – 42%, A*-B –78%. Importantly, the school also has a strong Value Added score of&nbsp;1.0 average over three years&nbsp;– the uplift in grade that your child will receive on the basis of attending this school.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>Alongside academic work, there are 86 clubs for Senior school girls to get involved with including&nbsp;swimming, indoor rowing, trampolining, athletics, fencing, karate, dance, drama, STEM, drone club, podcast club, orchestra, and choir.</p>



<p>Senior pupils also have the opportunity to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Programme from Y10.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sixth-form">SIXTH FORM</h2>



<p>The Sixth Form has been established for 12 years with Charlie Stringer recently joining to head it up. Prior to St Catherine’s, he was at an all-boys state school in Hounslow, so this is something of a change. Like the girls, he appears to be thriving in this smaller community.&nbsp;</p>



<p>There’s currently a speaker programme running for sixth formers, which other local schools are invited to attend&nbsp;–&nbsp;Psychology and Law were two recent topics. The girls are empowered to help set their own rules with decisions made on clothing/trainers for example (black ‘smart’ trainers are now allowed!) and to see themselves as role models for the younger girls.</p>



<p>Recent&nbsp;Sixth Formers have gone on to study medicine at Cardiff University, English and Classics at Edinburgh University and Psychology at Durham.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-prep">PREP</h2>



<p>There’s a vibrant Prep school at St Catherine’s, home to 79 pupils with an array of sports, music, drama and arts opportunities. With comprehensive wrap around offering and reasonable fees, a strength of the school is the relationship between the older and younger girls, which is beneficial to both age groups. For more read the Muddy lowdown on the Prep school <a href="https://london.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/st-catherines-school-twickenham/">here</a>. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pastoral-care">PASTORAL CARE</h2>



<p>The pastoral care at St Catherine&#8217;s is a particular strength. Each girl has a tutor assigned (though all members of staff can be approached), and there’s a full-time on-site counsellor, Dr Deakon, who is available for appointments that the girls can book directly with discussions kept confidential. Dr Deakon also puts on topical, useful workshops and training for staff, girls and parents.&nbsp;An obvious benefit of being a Catholic school is the onsite&nbsp;Chaplaincy which provides support to the girls. </p>



<p>Annual&nbsp;Wellbeing Week includes visits by a therapy dog and various creative art activities.&nbsp;Each year offers different activities and themes depending on need.&nbsp;Recent activities include a ceilidh, yoga, Bollywood dancing, bulb planting, RSE talks and Internet safety activities.&nbsp;The chaplaincy team offers an inviting space featuring enticing squishy sofas and the chance to have a chat or some quiet time.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-head">THE HEAD</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/6.jpg" alt="St Catherine's School Twickenham head" class="wp-image-1391" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/6.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/6-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/6-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/04/6-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Approachable, but straight talking (my favourite kind of Headteacher), Johneen McPherson has been in charge at St Catherine’s for almost six years. Prior to this, she was deputy head at St Mary’s Ascot. A passionate advocate of single sex education, she clearly has high ambitions for the girls and the school itself, leading an ongoing programme of improving and extending the site and keen to talk about championing the individual. Her offer to parents is simple: St Catherine’s is distinct thanks to its size: big enough to have everything your daughter needs but small enough to guarantee your daughter is known by everyone in the school community. In Sixth Form, the size means the offer can be flexed according to the interests of each year group.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quirks">QUIRKS</h2>



<p>There’s a 300-year-old tunnel from the school that goes under the road and emerges on the other side. Dubbed Pope’s Grotto, it was created by poet Alexander Pope between 1720 and 1742.&nbsp;He owned a villa on the river side of the road and the school site was his garden&nbsp;–&nbsp;the tunnel linked the two.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Or what about the annual school cheerleading competition? Y10 takes the leadership role on this occasion, which includes organising routines, costumes, face paints and music. All the girls take part and look forward to it each year. There’s also a big sister programme, which sees pairs of Sixth Formers visit tutor groups to talk to the girls and offer support.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wrap-around-care">WRAP AROUND CARE</h2>



<p>A helpful early start, the school opens at 7am and girls can enjoy breakfast for £3.30 per day. Senior girls and Sixth Formers can stay onsite until 6pm to use the library, work on projects together and socialise.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-send-provision">SEND PROVISION</h2>



<p>In Y7-Y9, there’s teacher assistant support in English, Maths and Science classes for those that need additional help. Pupils with specific learning difficulties are given time and space to plan for the week ahead, tackling any specific issues such as time management. There are also small group targeted intervention sessions and girls encountering a difficulty with a particular subject can join a short series of drop-in sessions to figure out a solution. Study Skills support is offered as part of the PSHE programme, at GCSE as a subject option, and as part of the Sixth Form General Studies programme.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mobile-phone-policy">MOBILE PHONE POLICY</h2>



<p>Girls in Y7-Y11 can bring their mobile phones to school but they are then sealed in Yondr pouches, which can’t be unlocked until the final bell of the day (unless there’s a planned activity, in which case staff can book a magnet to unlock the devices). Sixth Formers don’t use the pouches so they can learn to manage their usage. There are some&nbsp;designated times and areas when they can use their phones.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-transport">TRANSPORT</h2>



<p>No organised transport, so it’s either car drop off (parking is tricky with residents’ permits needed until 10.30am) or public transport.&nbsp;Twickenham station is a 15 min stroll away.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fees">FEES</h2>



<p>For this area, the costs are comparatively good value I’d say. Fees are&nbsp;£5,970 (excluding external exam fees) from Y7–Y13 plus an additional £300 per term to cover lunches.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-word-on-the-ground">WORD ON THE GROUND</h2>



<p>Known locally for its strong sense of community and pastoral care, St Catherine’s offers Senior girls lots of opportunities to set their own agenda and take on responsibilities, particularly with the Prep school pupils. The older girls regularly interact and help the younger ones – they run a chat club to answer questions and support the Prep choir and junior orchestra.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The Head seems popular, and parents are understandably excited about the level of investment and ambition the school is showing with its improved facilities. The kids I met talked about lack of cliques and a homely, friendly environment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict"><a></a>THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<p><strong>Good for:</strong>&nbsp;Those looking for a small, caring, nurturing school with a holistic approach to learning – ambitious for the children, but not pushy.</p>



<p><strong>Not for:</strong>&nbsp;Although St Catherine’s welcome all faiths, it is nevertheless an overtly Catholic school which won’t suit some. The bijou campus and girls only setting may outlive its welcome for some, particularly by Sixth Form.</p>



<p><strong>See for yourself? Be my guest!</strong>&nbsp;There is a whole school Open morning on 21 Sept and a Senior School Open Evening on 6 Nov. Contact Julie Harris via <a href="mailto:admissions@stcatherineschool.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">email</a> to book your place&nbsp;or 020 3261 0139.&nbsp;Visits can also be arranged at other times.&nbsp;You can also read our review of St Catherine&#8217;s Prep&nbsp;<a href="https://london.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/st-catherines-school-twickenham/">here</a>.</p>



<p><em><a href="https://www.stcatherineschool.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">St Catherine’s School</a>, Cross Deep, Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 4QJ.&nbsp;Tel 020 8891 2898.&nbsp;</em></p>


St Catherine’s School (Senior & Sixth Form) Twickenham

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