12th August 2021 — The GCSE results achieved by the pupils at St Augustine’s Priory, Ealing Catholic independent school for girls, demonstrate how hard work and perseverance pays off. Girls have worked alongside teachers in this ‘new normal’ year and have shown how, even with lockdowns, great GCSE results were accomplished.

Despite all the interruptions and uncertainties of the past year the Year 11 students have shown focus and commitment in their studies and rose to the challenges that this year threw at them with great courage.

This set of results shows that they are ready for anything the future might throw at them!

St Augustine’s Priory conducted uninterrupted teaching through on-site classes and, during lockdowns, delivered an excellent remote teaching and learning programme. Education continued uninterrupted throughout the year so that girls could achieve their maximum potential.

The school is delighted with this year’s GCSE results and are proud of the achievements of all of its students.

Mrs Raffray, Headteacher of St Augustine’s Priory, commented, ‘We are as delighted with those whose grades range across the spectrum as we are with those who nailed the top grades across the board. I hope they and their parents enjoy this day, celebrating and noting all that they have done and are.’

10th August 2021 — St Augustine’s Priory, Ealing Catholic independent school for girls, is delighted to announce that their pupils have achieved triumphant results in their A Levels. After a gruelling year of lockdowns, the A Level results are a well-deserved tribute to the hard work and positive attitudes of both pupils and teachers.

These results recognise all that the school has achieved in the past year. With uninterrupted teaching through on-site classes running in collaboration with an excellent remote teaching and learning programme during lockdowns, no time was wasted and no opportunity let slip in order that the girls could achieve their potential in their A Levels.

Despite yet another year of no examinations, the grades achieved by the A Level students at St Augustine’s Priory are testament to the outstanding educational opportunities available at this school even during the pandemic:

· 100% of all A Level grades are A* - C with

· 28% of pupils achieving only A* grades and

· 56% of pupils achieving only A* or A grades.

· 85% of A Level grades are A* or A and

· 98% of all results are A*-B

Students have received exceptional offers from an impressive range of courses and universities nationwide, which include Mathematics at Bristol University, Politics and International Studies at Warwick University, Dental Surgery at Plymouth University, Biomedical Sciences at Exeter University, Russian Studies and Social Policy/Sociology and Politics at Edinburgh University, Chemical Engineering at University College London and Classical Studies at King’s College London.

All the girls have impressed us with the quality of their research into the courses and providers, also securing places with top grades at leading institutions with a specialism for their course of study, for example, Mathematics and Accounting and Financial Management at Loughborough University.

In addition, the students have had great success applying to non-UK universities with places achieved at a range of U.S. universities with impressive offers of scholarships from the University of Tampa and SMU in Dallas. The world is their oyster!

Mrs Raffray, Headteacher of St Augustine’s Priory, commented, ‘We are all delighted by these A Level results. The students worked with zest and energy, supported by outstanding teachers who mustered every reserve of energy in the middle of a very bleak winter to ensure that this exam series delivered the right results for each candidate. Congratulations to all our girls on their excellent results’. St Augustine’s Priory can, yet again, celebrate the achievement of its pupils as they look forward to the next stage in their educational careers.

5th July 2021 — ‘This has been an inspiring experience’, was the verdict of one Year 12 pupil at St Augustine’s Priory commenting on the Futures Fortnight initiative taking place from the middle of June in collaboration with local West London schools Cardinal Wiseman, St Benedict’s School, the Sacred Heart High School and the Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls. St Augustine’s Priory shared insights into blended learning with schools across the country last year, and this year sees this Ealing Catholic independent day school for girls taking the initiative in providing Sixth Form pupils with options for their future.

Partnering with Cardinal Wiseman School, St Benedict’s School, the Sacred Heart High School and the Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls, these past few weeks have seen an amazing array of activities for Year 12 pupils as they make choices about their futures.

Since the middle of June pupils at all the above schools have seen lectures from leaders in their fields in a series of Zoom meetings. Lecturers from King’s College London University, Regent’s Park College of Oxford University, Birkbeck University and Birmingham University shared their insights on subjects ranging from ‘Smart Surgery’, to ‘Doing English: a New Student’s Guide’, and ‘What can the past tell us about our climate future?’

Consultant paediatrician, Dr Sudeshna Ghosh, spoke to medical applicants and was accompanied by past pupils from St Augustine’s Priory who are at Liverpool, Queen Mary University of London and Nottingham who spoke to pupils about applying for Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science. Bradley Davis from ASK Apprenticeships gave an inspiring talk on degree apprenticeships – a different route to higher education for students to consider. Sessions were also held on how to apply to Oxford and Cambridge universities and St Augustine’s Priory past pupils from Plymouth, Liverpool and Exeter universities gave some great advice on ‘What I wished I had known before applying to university!’

The deadline for applying for university is looming and pupils were given advice on how to write personal statements and also how to make applications for non-U.K. and U.S. universities. Following this, pupils have also benefited from practice interviews with professionals who shared their expertise and knowledge in equipping students for their future.

St Augustine’s Priory Year 12 pupil Mia said, ‘This gave me the tools to enable me to plan for the next ten year of my life’, and fellow pupil Emily commented, ‘it was really useful to hear from different age groups, both students and lecturers.’

Mrs Henrietta MacLennan, Director of St Augustine’s Priory Sixth Form, said, ‘These past few weeks have been a time of enlightenment for the pupils of St Augustine’s Priory and the schools with which we collaborated. An amazing experience, which we look forward to repeating!’

St Augustine’s Priory is a leading Catholic Independent Day School for girls aged 3 – 18 set in 13 acres of grounds.

Communications: Ms S Masih, Email SophiePMasih@sapriory.com

Ms M King, Email MKing@sapriory.com

11th November 2020 — The autumn leaves were falling as the children and staff of St Augustine’s Priory, Ealing Catholic independent day school for girls, commemorated Armistice Day on 11th November. One hundred years after the Unknown Warrior was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey, the whole school gathered in the grounds and observed the two-minute silence at 11.00am.

Following this, Daisy in Year 11, played the Last Post on her trumpet, a moving end to the commemoration.

The day had started with all pupils watching a video made by staff members reading the beautiful poem ‘Rouen’ by First World War poet May Wedderburn Cannan.

Staff have been contributing their family memories. The school has learnt that one staff member is the great-great niece of Second Lieutenant Julian Smith of the Intelligence Corps who died on 10th September 1914 and is thought to be the first Volunteer (that is, non-regular soldier) to die in the First World War. This same staff member’s grandfather was instrumental in evacuating troops from the beaches at Dunkirk in World War II.

Contrasted with this is the story of another staff member whose great-grandfather was conscripted into the Austro-Hungarian Army but, as he was Serbian, managed to escape to the Serbian lines. At the end of the war he returned home only to discover that his first wife and three children had all died of the Spanish flu.

Another staff member speaks of his grandfather’s World War II experience. From pre-partition India and living in the north of England, he was a reservist who was called up and fought in Europe, one of the many men of colour from many different cultures who fought alongside British soldiers.

Today is a day for each family to remember those who have gone before, leaving their mark on the world we treasure today.

St Augustine’s Priory is a leading Catholic Independent Day School for girls aged 3 – 18 set in 13 acres of grounds.

Communications:

Ms S Masih, Email SophiePMasih@sapriory.com

Ms M King, Email MKing@sapriory.com

5th November 2020 — St Augustine’s Priory, Ealing Catholic independent day school for girls, was delighted to have been selected as one of the 25 shortlisted schools at the i25 2020 awards with two staff members, Marc Raffray and Michael Kane, recognised for their work. The i25 2020 virtual awards ceremony took place last night to recognise, as their website states, ‘the independent sector’s leading influences and innovators who have made an impact in some way: the top 25.’

St Augustine’s Priory were in excellent company as the twenty-five shortlisted schools were narrowed down to the five finalists with Westminster School emerging as the deserving winner.

On the shortlist of 25, Marc Raffray and Michael Kane were recognised for their founding work and on-going and invaluable commitment to the Priory Farm, the St Augustine’s Priory’s own farm, which incorporates pigs, sheep, chickens, ducks, an orchard and an allotment.

To have a farm in a school based in London is unusual and the Priory Farm is a year round community project that relies on volunteer students and families, not only during term time but at weekends and throughout the holidays. Reaching out to the local community is a primary focus of the Priory Farm and 540 children from local state primary schools have visited for farm tours since May 2018. St Augustine’s Priory is looking forward to welcoming pupils from state partner schools as soon as schools are able to receive visitors once more.

The Priory Farm is a centre for continual innovation and adaptability which can be seen from a look at its programme of student involvement, animal care and scientific and community initiatives.

Pupils are involved at all levels. Mr Raffray runs a tiered training programme for pupil Farm Managers where pupils are taught how to care for the livestock and he has also started a sheep breeding programme. Guiding groups of visiting local school children is an opportunity for them to learn about caring for animals and the farm’s environmental advantages. Mr Raffray also organises sales to parents of the St Augustine’s Priory chicken eggs and apple juice, produced from the St Augustine’s Priory orchard.

Michael Kane, Head of Science, is always looking to incorporate scientific advances in the running of the farm and, among other things, has organised a soundproof shed for the chickens and cockerel, the harvesting of water in butts and has worked with the I.T. Department to install a temperature regulator for the chickens. Cross-curricular activity is an essential focus for the Priory Farm involving, for example, the three sciences, Art, I.T. and R.E.

The benefit of Priory Farm for teaching sustainability and the development of practical, organisational and leadership skills amongst the pupils is invaluable.

As Headteacher, Sarah Raffray commented, ‘We are thrilled at being one of the 25 shortlisted schools at the i25 2020 awards. In these extraordinary times, the Priory Farm is a source of well-being for all staff and pupils – providing mental space and ways of living sympathetically with our environment.’

St Augustine’s Priory is a leading Catholic Independent Day School for girls aged 3 – 18 set in 13 acres of grounds.

Communications:

Ms S Masih, Email SophiePMasih@sapriory.com

Ms M King, Email MKing@sapriory.com

22nd September 2020 — One of the greatest challenges of self-isolation is exactly that sense of isolation, which can make people of all ages feel cut off from their friends and relations. St Augustine’s Priory is therefore delighted to announce the launch of ‘Carlo’, a new ‘virtual’ House for all students (and staff) who are required to quarantine or self-isolate.

St Augustine’s Priory has been conducting research into this new phase of being at home and reports are that it is very different to lockdown, where everyone was in the same situation. The school is being pro-active in its care for those whose well-being is being affected by this latest stage in the Covid story.

This Ealing Catholic independent school for girls operates the House system in which each girl and member of staff is allocated a House to belong to which then compete with each other throughout the year. The new House, ‘Carlo’, is an additional ‘virtual’ House for all students (and staff) who are required to quarantine or self-isolate, helping people to keep in contact and feel part of the wider community. Students will be able to earn House points, which will go towards their virtual House as well as their in-school House.

‘Carlo’ is named after Carlo Acutis, an accomplished young computer programmer who was born in London in 1991, brought up in Italy and who died of leukaemia at the age of 15 in 2006. As Mrs McDermott, Head of Religious Education at St Augustine’s Priory, commented, ‘Carlo used the internet for good’.

St Augustine’s Priory believes it is essential to the well-being of all those in self-isolation or quarantine that they remain an integral part of the school community. Although excellent academic progress is ensured through the school’s blended learning programme, one of the ways that the well-being of pupils and staff will be maintained and supported will be through belonging to ‘Carlo’.

Mrs George, Deputy Head Pastoral (Seniors) said, ‘Carlo Acutis was an inspirational young leader whose life showed a great devotion to what mattered’. ‘Carlo’ is also being used as an acronym, standing for Community and Remote Learning Online, a tribute to this young man whose passion for computers was only rivalled by his loyalty and support for his friends.

St Augustine’s Priory believes that having Carlo Acutis as the patron of their new House is fitting in this time of blended and remote learning and will enhance and strengthen the community of this all-through school.

St Augustine’s Priory is a leading Catholic Independent Day School for girls aged 3 – 18 set in 13 acres of grounds.

Communications:

Ms S Masih, Email SophiePMasih@sapriory.com

Ms M King, Email MKing@sapriory.com