10th March 2021 — On Friday 5th March, we had the pleasure of welcoming Lauren Williams to the St Mary's community, to deliver a speech regarding her sporting career as a Team GB athlete. The girls were fascinated and listened intently to her talk, asking questions throughout. There was an extensive list of topics covered, ranging from the impact of Covid to her being an ambassador for Adidas.

Lauren discussed some of the challenges she has faced as a professional athlete and how she has overcome these to become stronger, both physically and mentally. She discussed how she wasn't selected for a particular event and then at the last minute, got a call up to compete. She went into the race as an underdog and was convinced she wouldn't even place in the top 5. She ended up winning the race and set herself a new PB. This sends a strong message to our girls, to never give up and to not let other people tell you that you aren't good enough.

Lauren is studying a Business and Management degree at University, so balances her training time and her university work effectively. She travels around the world, training around 3-4 hours a day and continues to complete all of her university work. She has a varied training schedule, and the girls were lucky enough to take part in an active whole-body circuit, led by Lauren. Time management is a key skill to learn, to ensure you make time for the things that you enjoy.

As a young person, Lauren didn't know that she wanted to be an athlete. All of her friends were going to Dance Club and Lauren was desperate to join Dance, however, her mum had already booked for her to join the Athletics Club that evening. She was quite upset with her mum, but as soon as she stepped foot on the track, she never looked back. As a young athlete she kept her options open and performed as a heptathlete. Since she has been at University, she has narrowed her event to a 400m hurdler. Lauren advocates being an individual and not following the crowd and this is exactly what she did.

Lauren discussed how Covid had impacted her and her training. Initially, all of her training venues were shut so she had to be inventive in order to maintain her fitness levels and remain in the Team GB squad. Using bags of sugar as weights and running around her local park became the new normal, to keep her physically fit. Lauren demonstrated motivation and dedication to her sport, to not let this affect her, and she has managed to keep mentally and physically prepared for the upcoming Olympics. Covid has hit at a vital time of her career. This time last year she was performing at her highest level to date, and since then everything has become a lot more challenging.

Lauren is a role model to our students, and we feel very fortunate that they have experienced such an inspiring speech. The girls asked many varying questions, covering a magnitude of topics. She is an ambassador for females in sport and is a mentor to young athletes who are wanting to become professional athletes.

We wish Lauren luck in her future career and will certainly be looking out for her at Tokyo.

10th March 2021 — Huge congratulations to Amelia G, Year 9, who achieved third place in the KS3 section of the ISA's Musical Theatre Competition! There were over 200 entrants from around the country with an exceptionally high standard of entries. Amelia sang a beautiful rendition of The Audition Song from La La Land. Well done, Amelia!

10th December 2020 — Over the summer, Saana, Year 12 at St Mary’s School, Gerrards Cross, created a video for digital health company, Cognitant, on the importance of vaccines. In December, her animation (via QR code) was embedded in a full page advert within The Times - therefore being shared with the whole national readership of this broadsheet. Saana was also awarded a £250 bursary by Cognitant, which she kindly donated to the school. After careful deliberation it was decided the money would be used to create a wellbeing space in the garden behind Cedar House, the Sixth Form centre. Well done Saana, on a brilliant achievement.

20th August 2020 — The sun shone on our St Mary’s School, Gerrards Cross, Year 11 girls as they arrived in school to collect their GCSE results this morning. In a year in which they did not have the opportunity to sit the GCSE examinations, the girls received the higher of the Centre Assessed Grades or the Ofqual moderated grade. We were delighted that after so much waiting, government u-turns and media speculation that the girls have a fabulous set of GCSE grades. The headline figures are: 15% were at Grade 9, the very highest A*grade, 35% at Grade 9 and 8, 62% at Grades 9-7, 84 % at Grades 9-6 and 99.77% at Grades 9-4.

My thanks go to all the staff, parents, governors and friends of the school who have supported the St Mary’s community in this most challenging of years. Congratulations to Year 11 class of 2020, we are so very proud of you!

Mrs Patricia Adams, Headmistress

13th August 2020 — It was a very happy morning at St Mary's this morning as the Year 13 leavers received their A level results. In an examination year full of uncertainty, the Year 13 leavers have been delighted that the majority have achieved their desired place at university. 50% of grades were A*-A, and 79% were A*-B. Their resilience, determination and positivity has been evident throughout their Sixth Form course and during lockdown, and in a situation that could not have been imagined, they now have what they need to pursue the next exciting chapter in their careers.

Mrs Adams , Headmistress said, "I am incredibly proud of the girls, staff and everyone who has supported the Year 13 Leavers throughout their Sixth Form course and during their whole time at St Mary's. Some of our girls have been with us from Reception and are now leaving to take their place in the world, full of confidence. Their achievements are so well deserved and I could not be happier for the Year 13s and their families today."

6th March 2020 — It was a pleasure to welcome local author, Andy Huxtable, to talk to our Early Years to Year 4 girls about his new book, The Cake, the first in a series about an ant called Sam. Andy told the girls about the story, and about why he decided to become an author, and then presented a signed copy of The Cake to the children, to be kept here at St Mary’s. A brilliant experience for our girls at the end of Literary Week!