St Mary's has a strong ethos based on the life and ideas of Mary Ward, the foundress of the Congregation of Jesus, the order of nuns that started the school. St. Mary's is a Catholic school and that continues to be at the heart of all we do. 

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Celebration of Mass:

• On Sundays at 10.00am, prepared by Houses on a rota system
• Daily at lunchtime (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday); 8.15am Friday
• Form/class group, by arrangement with school chaplain
• Weekly Spanish Mass, Saturday 5.30pm
• Holy days of obligation
• Other special occasions e.g Mary Ward’s birthday, Parents’ Day etc

Prayer Life:

• Monday – whole school, led by the Head
• Tuesday – Forms, led by Form Mistresses/Tutors
• Wednesday – Whole school Chapel assembly, led by Forms on a rota system
• Thursday – Forms, led by Form Mistresses/Tutors
• Friday – House led
• Morning Prayer of the Church – daily at 8.15am
• Evening Prayers – House based within year groups, leading up to individual prayer as girls get older
• Whole school Night Prayers – twice per term
• Occasional extra night prayers – led by Liturgy Prefect
• Reconciliation services, including individual Confession – Lent and Advent
• Confession – also available on Tuesdays and Fridays during morning break and on request at other times

Retreats for each year group and theme:

• LIII: ‘Becoming’ – a half day, home based
• UIII: ‘Experience of Mary Ward country in York’ – 3-4 days
• LIV: ‘Friendship’ – a half day, home based
• UIV: ‘The Life of Christ’ – one day, Guildford
• LV: ‘Masks’ – one day at Hilfield Friary
• UV: ‘Prayer’ – two days, staying overnight at St Gilda’s, Langport, Somerset
• LVI: ‘Realizing our potential as Christians’ – two and a half days at Maypool Youth Hostel, Brixham
• UVI: a Synthesis of all earlier retreats and Embarking upon an independent life, led by an Ampleforth monk, held in Mary Ward House, two and a half days

Chaplaincy provision:

• Residential Catholic Priest

Sacramental Preparation:

• Confirmation in UIV and LV or as appropriate to individual stages of Faith
• development – optional extra-curricular programme
• First Communion – where needed, by individual arrangement
• Baptism –occasionally, when requested, by arrangement

RE Teaching – what is taught:

• Compulsory for all up to GCSE
• Optional AS and A Level
• Compulsory General RE in the Sixth Form