Junior School Parent Survey

What our parents think

In an independent survey, RSAcademics asked our parents what they value most about our Junior School. The results were excellent, with St Mary's significantly outperforming the RSAcademics benchmark scores on 10 key features, which encompass a range of aspects of school life.

A recent independent survey conducted by RSAcademics offers real insight into the views of our parents.

RSAcademics reported that Junior School parents particularly value our "nurturing atmosphere, inspiring teaching, strong ethos and pastoral care, alongside our inclusivity for girls of all abilities."

Key findings
  • 80% of parents feel completely or very satisfied with our School

  • 76% would definitely recommend St Mary's to other parents

  • Over a third felt St Mary's had exceeded their expectations

Our strengths

Parents were invited to rate 40 features of our Junior School, including everything from teaching and learning and extra-curricular opportunities to administration, communication, friendliness and site security.

The top rating band was 'very good' and we were highly rated in a wide range of areas:

  • Quality of teaching - 100% rated very good or good
  • Relationships between pupils, staff and teachers - 100% rated very good or good
  • Leadership of the School - 98% rated very good or good
  • Teachers' ability to inspire your child - 96% rated very good or good
  • Concern for each girl's well-being - 95% rated very good or good
  • Behaviour and manners of pupils - 100% rated very good or good
  • Musical opportunities - 94% rated very good or good
  • **Preparation for transition to Senior School - 98% rated very good or good

**= fewer than 80% of parents answered this question

View the full report from RSAcademics

Improving what matters

Our parent partnership is integral to our approach. By understanding parental views we focus on improving aspects of school life that matter most to our parents. Our latest survey illustrates how parental opinion has evolved in the two-year period prior to the research.

Significant % increases in very good ratings have been achieved for:

  • General communication: very good ratings up 27%
  • Transport to school: very good ratings up 27%
  • Leadership: very good ratings up 24%
Looking to the future

This research also identifies parental priorities for future enhancements, which will inform our strategic plans for the future and include:

  • Increasing sporting opportunities through our ambitious £6.6 million Sports Development Plan which will provide outstanding facilities for girls from Year 3 upwards. An overall review of our sports offering will be part of this plan.
  • Extending our sporting fixtures programme, including our aim to compete in more IAPS competitions.
  • Continuing to challenge our girls academically - as a High Performance Learning School, plus intiatives such as Leap Pathfinders which enables girls to extend learning through engaging challenges.
  • Investment in school facilities and equipment, including our new Art Room alongside the inspiration and support of our Artist in Residence, and our plans are underway for a new STEM lab.
  • Pro-active initiatives to continue our focus on pastoral care, including the new Girls on Board initiative to enable girls to understand and address common friendship challenges.

Survey response rate 59% of parents

100%
Very good or good ratings
Quality of teaching
100%
Very good or good ratings
Behaviour
98%
Very good or good ratings
Leadership
100%
Very good or good ratings
Relationships

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Our parent partnership

"Our parent partnership is a key part of our Schools core ethos and it is encouraging to see very high levels of parental satisfaction in this survey. We are committed to continually working with parents to enhance the aspects of St Mary's life that matter most to them."

“Thank you to all staff for making these precious years so incredibly inspiring and fun for our little girl.”

Parent survey 2019

“St Mary's School, Cambridge has changed our daughter’s life. She is happy and inspired every day and we are really grateful to everyone at the Junior School for the support they have given her.”

Parent survey

“St Mary's is really a unique and wonderful learning community in Cambridge that values girls' education and achievement above everything else. Wonderful!”

Parent survey

“St Mary’s is a brilliant school with excellent staff. The head teacher is amazing, supportive and kind. My daughter has great respect for him. The teaching staff are wonderful and nurturing.”

Parent survey