To foster a sense of team spirit, belonging and healthy competitiveness, we have a house system at St Mary’s, which we also hope helps feed into our pastoral care of the girls and a sense of giving back to the wider community. Girls are divided into four houses:
The House System
Ward
Mary Ward was an English Catholic nun and founder of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, later known as the Loreto Sisters, advocating for the education of girls and women’s active roles in the Church. Her work faced opposition from the Church but her vision influenced future generations of women’s religious orders.
Bedingfield
Frances Bedingfield, also known as Mother Frances Mary Teresa Ball, was an influential member of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM), establishing the Loreto order in Ireland in the 19th century. She played a pivotal role in expanding the educational mission of the IBVM, founding numerous schools for girls across Ireland and abroad.
De Porres
Martin de Porres was a 17th-century Peruvian lay brother of the Dominican Order, renowned for his humility, healing abilities, and charitable work with the poor and sick. Canonised in 1962, he is celebrated as the patron saint of social justice, racial harmony, and mixed-race people.
Loyola
St. Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish priest and theologian who founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in the 16th century, emphasising education, missionary work, and spiritual exercises. His influential work, “Spiritual Exercises,” continues to guide individuals in deepening their relationship with God.
Throughout their time at St Mary’s, girls have the opportunity to be voted as House Captains and Sports Captains when they are in Year 6, to represent the school in sporting, art and music events. Inter-house art, sport and music are all part of our wider curriculum. We also ask that House Captains deliver some assemblies to our youngest children.