Independent Day and Boarding School for GirlsIndependent Day and Boarding School for Girls

Welcome from the HeadWelcome to St Margaret’s Bushey, a

leading independent school for girls

aged 4 to 18. As well as day places for

all age groups, we offer a range of

flexible boarding options for both UK

and international pupils from the age

of 11. Since its foundation in 1749,

St Margaret’s has believed that an

excellent education is the foundation

of a child’s route to the realisation of

their potential.

We are a school with a proven record of academic success in

public examinations and our pupils move onto competitive

courses at universities and institutions both here in the UK

and around the world. Our outward looking ethos aims to

encourage a genuine enthusiasm for learning and an ability

to independently explore subjects beyond the classroom.

Our curriculum addresses a rapidly changing world filled with

complex challenges as well as exciting new possibilities.

The pastoral care at St Margaret is the central pillar upon which

the success of the school is based and we are proud of the quality

of care and opportunity given to every one of our pupils no

matter what stage of their education. We offer a rich programme

of extra-curricular activities and girls are encouraged to find their

talent whatever that may be. There is no typical St Margaret’s

girl; all are valued individually by our qualified and committed

staff. That quality of care enables girls to grow in an atmosphere

of tolerance and understanding and leave equipped with the

confidence, aptitude and skills they need for life and for work.

Our beautiful 74 acre site boasts a combination of superbly

resourced historic and modern buildings and we are easily

accessible from both London and the Home Counties. If you

have not yet visited us, please do and we will show you the love

of learning, culture of achievement and relish of challenge that is

the essence of St Margaret’s.

Mrs Rose Hardy - Headmistress

MA MEd PGCE FRSA

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At St Margaret’s girls achieve in a myriad of

ways. We work to ensure that each girl fulfils

her academic potential whether her strengths

lie in mathematics, science, the creative arts,

humanities, languages or business studies and

economics. However, we offer so much more.

Extra-curricular activities such as music, drama,

dance, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme

and Young Enterprise produce outstanding

successes and develop a range of skills and

teamwork to a high level.

Girls from St Margaret’s go on to a wide variety

of careers from medicine to fashion management,

architecture to television presenting, and en route

they study at all of the major institutions of

higher education in the United Kingdom, and

at many abroad.

Achievement

Creative thinking underpins so much of what

individuals can achieve. Opportunities to

perform, to make music, to design and to

express oneself, abound at St Margaret’s.

There are times to develop individuality, times

to work together, times to appreciate what others

have to offer. Regular visits to theatres, galleries

and concerts enhance the extensive curricular

and extra-curricular programme in school.

Music making starts with the violin tuition

included for all in the infant curriculum.

Throughout the school a large team of experts

offer individual tuition in instrumental playing,

singing and speech and drama to develop

confidence and maximise potential.

Creativity

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There are so many opportunities to show initiative

and take the lead at St Margaret’s. Head Girls,

Deputies, Games Captains and House Captains in

all sections of the school practise real leadership

among their peers. Fundraisers and inter-house

events are organised by the girls and the School

Council has an important voice in school affairs.

Day trips and team building challenges allow even

the most timid to enjoy new experiences, and for

the more adventurous there is a wide range of

residential visits and field trips within the United

Kingdom and further afield, from Vietnam to

Norway and Barcelona to Brussels, on which girls

hone linguistic, sporting and cultural skills.

School productions from reception to the

senior school enable those first timid steps on

the stage to develop into confident performances,

and those who prefer can take responsibility for

lighting, props or sound. Concerts featuring

choirs, orchestral groups and soloists from all

sections of the school, public speaking

competitions, Young Enterprise, and the Duke

of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme all present

opportunities eagerly seized and show confidence

growing through the years.

Opportunitiesto develop confidence

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an education for life...

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Each girl is encouraged to find a set of values

by which to live. Assemblies and our personal,

social and health education programme promote

consistently high expectations with regard to

manners and morals. Our Church of England

foundation ensures a respect for all faiths and

encourages inter-faith dialogue, understanding

and tolerance. High standards of behaviour from

reception to the sixth form are underpinned at

St Margaret’s by mutual respect and

consideration for others.

A rich and diverse mixture of cultures makes

St Margaret’s a stimulating and instructive

place in which to learn and grow. International

boarders add an exciting dimension to our

community and are quickly involved in school life

whether singing in the choir, representing the

school in sport or taking part in debates at the

Model United Nations.

Values for life

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Fun is an integral part of life at St Margaret’s

and nowhere is that more evident than in the

many and varied sporting activities offered here.

Participation is the watchword and girls

encourage each other while each strives to

achieve her personal best.

From dance to judo, badminton to ultimate

frisbee, there is something for everyone, from

the youngest to the most senior member of the

school community. Staff, parents and friends are

welcome to take up membership of the sports

centre where superb facilities for swimming,

personal fitness, dance and indoor sport

complement the school’s extensive range of

outdoor pitches and courts.

A busy programme of fixtures against other

schools runs throughout the year in sports such as

netball, lacrosse, football, swimming, badminton,

rounders, tennis and athletics.

Sport for all

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Caring for others comes naturally at St Margaret’s

both within our community and beyond its

confines. Between staff and pupils a relationship

of mutual respect is the basis for getting the best

out of everyone and pastoral care is given a high

priority in the shared belief that happy girls will

get the most out of life.

Girls here form firm bonds of friendship which

last long after they have left school. When joining

year 7 each girl has a ‘Senior Sister’ from her

House to befriend her and to provide an

understanding ear.

Each year girls at St Margaret’s support a wide

range of national and local charities, often chosen

because of a link to a girl or member of staff.

Sponsored events, competitions, concerts, fetes

and mufti days are keenly supported and enjoyed

by all.

Boarders learn to live together sharing joys and

aspirations whether as full or weekly boarders, and

day girls can share in this experience as occasional

boarders or even day boarders.

Compassion

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St Margaret’s offers a first rate education for

today, with high academic standards, superb

teaching across all key stages and curriculum

areas and excellent pastoral care. All of this is

built on a tradition stretching back to the school’s

foundation in 1749 to care for the orphaned

children of the clergy, making it one of the oldest

girls’ schools in the country. The main building

was designed for the school by the distinguished

Victorian architect, Alfred Waterhouse, and its

glowing brickwork still takes the breath away.

Newer buildings on our 74 acre site range from

a 1920s listed building for the lower school to a

state of the art sports centre. The Infant and

Preparatory Departments are based in their own

Edwardian premises.

Tucked away behind Bushey on the edge of

Hertfordshire, but within easy reach of London

and major transport routes including airports,

St Margaret’s has been called “a hidden gem”.

We invite you to come and discover it for yourself.

Tradition for the 21st century

GR

AN

GE RD

THE AVENUE

Bushey BusheyHeathWatford

A409 from HarrowA4008 from Pinner

B462 from Adlenham and Radlett

A411 from Elstree, Borehamwood and Barnet

M1 from london

A4140 from Stanmore

M25 Jct 21A from M1

B468 from Oxhey

A411from Watford

M25from Jct 19

JCT 5 M1

A41

B462

A411

M40

M4

M1

A1(M) M11

M25

M26M25

M23M3

M27

M20

M2

A411

Brighton

Gatwick

WatfordSouthend

Canterbury

Ramsgate

Dover

Folkestone

Ashford

Stanstead

Bushey

Cambridge

LutonOxford

Reading

Winchester

Southampton

Portsmouth

Windsor

Heathrow

MERRY HILL ROAD

BUSHEY HIGH STREET

LONDON ROAD

GR

AN

GE RD

THE AVENUE

Bushey BusheyHeathWatford

A409 from HarrowA4008 from Pinner

B462 from Adlenham and Radlett

A411 from Elstree, Borehamwood and Barnet

M1 from london

A4140 from Stanmore

M25 Jct 21A from M1

B468 from Oxhey

A411from Watford

M25from Jct 19

JCT 5 M1

A41

B462

A411

M40

M4

M1

A1(M) M11

M25

M26M25

M23M3

M27

M20

M2

A411

Brighton

Gatwick

WatfordSouthend

Canterbury

Ramsgate

Dover

Folkestone

Ashford

Stanstead

Bushey

Cambridge

LutonOxford

Reading

Winchester

Southampton

Portsmouth

Windsor

Heathrow

MERRY HILL ROAD

BUSHEY HIGH STREET

LONDON ROAD

How to find us...

St Margaret’s School Merry Hill RoadBusheyHertfordshire WD23 1DTUnited Kingdom

Telephone UK. 020 8416 4400Overseas. +44 20 8416 4400

Fax UK. 020 8416 4401Overseas. +44 20 8416 4401

Email schooloffice@stmargarets.herts.sch.uk

stmargaretsbushey.org.uk

By Underground from LondonTake the northbound Jubilee Line to Stanmore

(taxi service available).

By RailEuston to Watford Junction. Gatwick (South Terminal) to Watford

Junction (taxi Service available)

By RoadFrom M25 Motorway (Heathrow Airport)

Exit at Junction 19 (Watford) on to A41 southbound (London).

After 4 miles turn right at roundabout (B462) signposted Watford

(South), Bushey and Oxhey B462. Follow M1 instructions from*.

From M25 Motorway (Gatwick Airport

and Dartford Tunnel)

Exit at Junction 21A (London) southbound.

Join M1 southbound (Junction 6).

From M1 Motorway

Exit at Junction 5. Take A41 southbound signposted Harrow.

Enter dual carriageway with caution; there is no slip road.

Move immediately into right-hand lane. Turn right at first roundabout

(100 yards) signposted Watford (South) and Oxhey B462. *Proceed

across set of traffic lights and ignore mini-roundabout to Sports

Centre. Turn left at first main roundabout signposted Bushey into

The Avenue (sleeping policemen). Turn first right into Grange Road.

At the T-junction turn left and proceed 200 yards. After the pedestrian

crossing turn right into Merry Hill Road. Proceed for about 3/4 mile.

The main school entrance is on the left hand side near the top of

the hill.

From Elstree or Barnet

Proceed on A411 crossing the junction with the A41 and following

signs to Bushey. At the traffic lights (St Peter’s Church) turn right.

Proceed for 200 yards. After the pedestrian crossing turn left into

Merry Hill Road. Proceed for approximately 1/ 2 mile. The main school

entrance is on the right.

From Stanmore

Proceed on A4140 to Bushey. Join A411 in direction of Watford.

Proceed for 200 yards. After the pedestrian crossing turn left into

Merry Hill Road. Proceed for approximately 1/ 2 mile. The main school

entrance is on the right.