As we bid farewell to Charlotte Avery we are announcing the inception of the Charlotte Avery Leadership and Service Award, an award dedicated to the tenure of the departing Headmistress, Charlotte, after seventeen years of steadfast leadership and unwavering dedication to St Mary’s School in Cambridge. We are embarking on a new chapter by honouring her extraordinary contributions through a bursary that embodies her ethos of leadership and service. The Charlotte Avery Leadership and Service Award stands as a testament to her enduring legacy, aimed at nurturing and empowering future female leaders. This prestigious award will fund bursary provision for a sixth form student, offering the opportunity for transformative education and holistic growth. With a choice between supporting a current Year 11 student within our school community or extending the reach to an international student for a two-year period, this award embodies inclusivity and excellence on both local and global scales.
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Throughout her time at St Mary’s School, Charlotte Avery has achieved remarkable milestones, fostering an environment where academic excellence thrives alongside empathy and community spirit. Her commitment to each student's success and well-being has left an indelible mark on our school's ethos, shaping generations of confident, compassionate leaders. As we honour her legacy through the Charlotte Avery Leadership and Service Award, we celebrate not only her achievements but also the enduring values she has instilled in our school community.
Some of the many milestones achieved by St Mary’s during these 17 years can be mapped out in the timeline:
2008
Food Room to enable teaching of Food at all levels including Leith's
2010
Diocesan Inspection: “Outstanding” in all three categories
2011
Junior School moves to Chaucer Road: acquired 99 year-lease of a substantial property plus generous grounds on a key residential site within a short walk of the Senior School
2012
New Art & Photography Centre comprising bespoke digital art spaces, darkrooms, fine art spaces
2013
School Chapel restoration
2014
Freehold acquisition of Senior School site to secure future longevity of school in prime central Cambridge location including sports fields
2014
Old Girls (Pastonian) Association brought smoothly under school auspices
2014
Independent Schools Inspectorate Integrated Inspection: “Excellent” in each of the 5 categories
2014
Diocesan Inspection: “Outstanding” in all three categories
2015
Science Hub comprising 3 new & 4 Refurbished labs
2016
Boarding moves to Mary Ward House: acquired freehold site of a substantial former care home with generous grounds on a prime site (abutting the Botanic Gardens) & within a 10-minute walk of the Senior School to enable all 90+ boarders to be housed together - £11 million (beating off 37 rival bids)
2019
Boathouse: established a partnership with Cambridge City Rowing Club to re-furbish their boat house enabling the School to gain our own water access on the river Cam for rowing
2021
Shortlisted for Independent Girls School of the Year
2022
Long Road Sportsground: established a unique & highly innovative partnership with the University of Cambridge (Homerton College) resulting in the creation of 2 astroturf pitches, 4 games courts, an Athletics track and a sports pavilion in the centre of Cambridge (only school in Oxford or Cambridge in such a partnership)
2022
Independent Schools Inspectorate Education Quality Inspection: “Excellent” in both categories
2022
Diocesan Inspection: “Outstanding” in all three categories
2022
Finalist for Independent School of the Year for Student Careers Programme
2023
5* Ranking as one of Fortune and Statista’s World's Leading Boarding Schools
2023
Global Top 100 in HSBC Hurun Education Global High Schools 2023 - ranked 97
2023
Finalist for Boarding Innovation Award for BSA Boarding Excellence Awards
2023
Finalist for Independent Girls School of the Year
2024
Mary Ward Educational Suite: completion of frontage with additional ground floor classrooms on our Senior School Bateman Street site
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