Accreditations

GSA is the representative body of all leading girls’ schools in the United Kingdom. St Catherine’s belongs to the South Central Region group of schools whose heads meet regularly. Alice Phillips was Chair of the Region for 9 years to 2012, headed the CPD group for 6 years, specialising in the training of new Heads, and subsequently President of the GSA 2014, Vice President for 2015-1016. Naomi Bartholomew, Head of the Prep School, is a mentor to newly appointed Heads for GSA and was formerly a member of the CPD Committee and coordinator of the Cross- Association Junior Heads Annual Conference.

Founding Member in 2022 of this International Coalition – formerly the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools in the USA - promoting the value of girls-only education on a global scale. Alice Phillips, Headmistress and Kate Hawtin, Head of Sixth Form speakers at Educating Girls Symposium 2022 338 Girls’ School members – St Catherine’s is the only School in Surrey with membership.

The ISC represent over 1,300 Independent Schools in the UK. ISC supports this network with research, legal, regulatory and press services and represents schools’ interests. Alice Phillips was the GSA representative on the ISC committee from 2013-1015 and ISC Vice President from 2015-2018.

IAPS membership is a kitemark of quality amongst world leading Prep Schools delivering excellent standards of education and care. Naomi Bartholomew is an active member of the local IAPS District group which enables local Prep Heads the opportunity to meet and share best practice. She also engages with IAPS national initiatives and St Catherine’s staff are able to access a wide range of training opportunities.  IAPS host many sports tournaments and competitions for pupils, a number of which are popular additions to the busy Prep School calendar.

Awarded in September 2022, St Catherine’s has been recognised for excellence in science teaching, children’s attainment and aspiration in science and a culture where every child, teacher and family thinks ‘science is for them’.

We have won an Eco Schools Green Flag Award. Our Eco Prefects and Green Cats Club in the Senior School as well as our Green Kittens have been instrumental in helping us achieve this award with a wealth of green initiatives from minimising food waste to planting wildflower meadows, to proposing solar power on our buildings.

With over 170 boarders at St Catherine’s, representing c.25% of our Senior School our global community if thriving. St Catherine’s were Winners of the ‘Supporting Excellence’ Award for The 6 – Sixth Form boarding. Our Boarding team are actively involved with the BSA. Our Senior Boarding Housemistress, Helen Harkness holds a BSA Certificate of Boarding Practice and two Boarding Housemistresses are currently completing a Boarding Leadership Diploma and a Certificate for Boarding Wellness.

Our membership represents our commitment to safeguarding the welfare of our international students studying at St Catherine’s

Providing professional support to ensure we provide a world-class education to our pupils.

St Catherine’s is an accreted De Bono Thinking School.  The six De Bono thinking hats and Cognitive Research Trust (CoRT) skills are used as important thinking ‘tools’ in the curriculum from age 4 upwards.   Girls are encouraged at all stages to think and learn independently, think creatively and take risks. Getting the ‘wrong’ answer is regarded as a positive step forwards in learning while also helping girls to set their own bar ever higher with confidence.