WHAT / WHERE

Malvern St James (MSJ) is a chart-topping day and boarding school, nestled resplendently in 26 acres of grounds in Great Malvern. An all-through girls’ school for ages 3 to 18, it scores highly in national league tables, but don’t expect lofty airs and graces, the school pushes itself out of its comfort zone to be unstuffy and down-to-earth, even priding itself on a self-confessed ‘quirkiness’. With 360 pupils enrolled and a pastorally-strong attitude there is a tangibly warm and friendly feeling here from the get-go.

With a Christian ethos at its core but catering for all faiths, and a roughly 70% local and 30% international student split, MSJ has girl power coursing through its DNA. Founded by two pioneering sisters back in 1893 as Malvern Girls’ College (it bagged a new name following a merger with St James’s School in 2006), the siblings’ mission was to provide a girl-power education to rival that for boys; this ‘achieve anything’ ethos clearly still permeates its corridors today.

The only all-through, 3 to 18, girls’ day and boarding school in the region – a USP to certainly shout about – MSJ prides itself on offering a tailored curriculum and personal development experience for every girl. There aren’t currently any waiting lists for year groups, but Years 7 and 9 can often teeter on full capacity, with classes averaging between 15 and 20 pupils.

Although no hot house, don’t doubt that academic achievement is highly valued here, but girls are most definitely nurtured to be more warrior than wallflower, encouraged to be unafraid to choose their own path (rather than the obvious and traditional pathways and uni courses). It’s a mindset that Head Teacher Olivera Raraty makes a big point of underscoring.

A big, new innovation at the school is the Character Programme which sees every girl going into the community to help out at charities, businesses and care homes. Making sure girls flourish both academically and pastorally is key at MSJ, to this end Raraty has brought in a distinctly integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to learning known as STEAM – a progressive way of blending arts teaching with science, technology, engineering and maths – and there’s an official Head of STEAM to ensure it’s a top priority.

The school is clearly keen to break free from a previously far more old-fashioned and stuffy feel with MSJ girls these days encouraged to think like leaders, from taking their own assemblies to taking part in hustings and debates.

FACILITIES

Say hello to big ticket, crowd-pleaser facilities, you get a lot of brick for your buck. From the dedicated STEAM Centre and Art and Design Centre to the elegant library, an enormous 1930’s wood-panelled room with huge bays which is about to be reimagined into a flash new learning hub, incorporating a new Sixth Form Centre and zoned, tech-filled collaborative working spaces. The main building is a stunning, imposing red brick Victorian edifice, with the more modern school campus spreading out behind it around a peaceful, grassy courtyard.

malvern st james library — The library at MSJ

The classrooms are mainly spacious, bright and colourful, and are also currently being gradually upgraded with ever more gadgets and gizmos to keep up with the tech driven times. The MSJ Prep School here is tucked away in an inner wing of the central building, featuring colourful and welcoming classrooms, the upside of its location means younger cohorts get to regularly use senior facilities for lessons such as the sports centre and AstroTurf, science labs and art and DT workshops.

MUSIC / DRAMA & THE ARTS

The arts are extremely well catered. Art itself has an enviable studio space arranged over two floors, the amount of work on the walls and projects underway is extraordinary, from painting and drawing to 3D, textiles and photography, the schools seems to really excel in this area and any arty types will be in heaven here. There is also a dedicated ceramics room and special A-Level Art suites, which are open outside school hours for sixth formers to drop in whenever they like.

The Music School is traditional rather than state of the art, but offers everything you could want, with multiple practice rooms all with pianos, set in a quirky 19th century building located slightly away from the main school site. In the main school there are three Yamaha grand pianos for concerts and recitals which is pretty impressive. Not up for clarinet or guitar? Quirky instruments get a great look in here, with everything from harp to traditional Chinese instruments taught.

With the stunning Worcester Cathedral just nearby (a real plus for the musically inclined) there are lots of choral opportunities. An unusually high number of pupils achieve Grade 8 with distinction in music whilst at the school and go on to achieve music diplomas, there are also Speech and Drama LAMDA examinations and the chance to get stuck into the Worcester Competitive Arts Festival.

One recent student went on to win a place at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and Jennifer Kirby from Call the Midwife is a rather famous alumni.

The Drama Centre is a really good space, with retractable seating for 100 people and a green room used for speech and drama lessons. It feels like everyone gets a go here too, with the Year 7 and 8 ‘Show in a Week’ as part of Expressive Arts Week just one opportunity going on when I visited.

The exam results in A-level Drama back up the artsy feel and vibe of MSJ, with an impressive 50% of A-level students achieving grade A in Drama and Theatre in 2022.

SPORT

It’s not often a school pulls off genuine all-rounder appeal, but MSJ does, for a relatively small school there are impressive sports facilities here.

The cavernous Sports Centre – located across a main road from the school – is a multi million pound activity hub with *draws breath*… two netball courts, a climbing wall, a multipurpose activity studio, two squash courts and a fitness gym. There is a lovely swimming pool too where regular lessons are held and you can even learn to kayak in the pool too.

Outside facilities include an Astroturf for hockey, four netball and six tennis courts, three lacrosse pitches, outfields for cricket, rounders and athletics. For horsey types there is even an Equestrian centre where girls can take riding lessons just a short minibus drive away and there is a thriving school equestrian team.

The area where improvements are being made is in the cricket playing zone, an upgrade project happening over the next two years. Interestingly cricket is fast becoming one of the school’s key summer sports, another nod to the stereotype-smashing ethos here.

If you’re down with a healthy dollop of competition, MSJ will tick that box. Teachers here champion sporting excellence and healthy competitiveness is encouraged. A few recent triumphs include the U16 netball team winning the Midlands ISA competition and the 16 team won the county badminton finals.

It’s the same ethos in the Prep school, where the U10 team won a recent In2Hockey District competition and a number of girls have gone to play at a national level in lacrosse, hockey, netball, tennis, athletics, cricket, football, and horse-riding. Raraty is keen to do more on the sports front, so it’s high on her agenda for 2023 and beyond.

ACADEMICS

In a word – impressive. Nothing short of outstanding at both GCSE and A-Levels. In 2022, 60% of all GCSE grades were the top marks of 9 to 7. In Geography, Business, and Design and Technology, half of all grades were 9s; in Art, Computing, French and Economics; a third of grades were 9s; and in Maths and Physics a quarter of all grades were 9s.

It’s all about STEAM subjects here of course, and they were particularly strong results with 100% of awards in Design and Technology and Music were at grades 9 to 7.

In 2022 more than half of all A-Level grades were A* to As, significantly higher (by 10%) than 2019 results and 75.3% of grades were A-B (up from 69% in 2019). The figures in short puts MSJ in the top 0.3% of schools for results, and as you’d expect, pupils go on to a dazzling array of universities, from Medicine at Edinburgh University and Applied Equine Science at the Royal Agricultural University to Liberal Arts at New York University.

There is a scholarship scheme, offering 10% fee remission at 11+ and 13+. Scholarships on offer include: academic, sport, riding, music, drama, and art. At 13+ and 16+ technology scholarships are also available. Entry to MSJ is based on entrance exams so it is selective, but getting in is also about the potential pupils demonstrate, so girls should be prepared to be interviewed by a senior member of staff.

MSJ’s Enterprise programme teaches girls how to set up their own business. Year 8s do Teen Tech where they develop a product from concept to marketing, and seperate to business Studies GCSE pupils also get to take Enterprise Studies, where they get £20 and have to go off and make money (ploughed back into the next project) out of a product – The Apprentice of Malvern vibes here!

LITTLES

MSJ Minis is the nursery provision here, accepting girls from 3 years old. The Pre-Prep at Malvern St James spans three years from Reception (age 4) to Year 2 (age 7) and sets the tone for the rest of the school; a warm, secure and creative learning environment. Class sizes in Prep are deliberately small and located in a bespoke room where children can play and share their learning experiences. They also have access to the school campus, the swimming pool, gardens, a fully equipped sports hall and plenty of space to run around in.

MSJ Prep caters for Year 3 to Year 6, there are innovative teaching methods at the heart of MSJ Prep, often using the specialist teachers and facilities of the senior school in, for example, science, art, sports and computing. The belief is in really stretching their potential at a young age, with girls given tasks, problems or physical activities that encourage teamwork.

Forest School is popular here too, with the MSJ Woodland School getting lots of use, where girls are able to play in the mud kitchen and dens, there is also an Outdoor Classroom and a garden for Prep pupils.

HEAD TEACHER

Dr Gareth Lloyd took over the reins as Head of the school in January 2024. Filling the shoes of previous head Olivia Rarity who had been at the helm since 2016, he comes from the well regarded independent school Stoke Colleg, Suffolk.

MSJ was recognised by the Sunday Times in 2022 as one of the top 10 secondary schools in the West Midlands on the strength of its exam performance over three years and this is something Dr Lloyd is keen to continue building on.

His mission is to place a big emphasis on happiness at the school, and making sure that the strong community feel continues to blossom. His mantra is for girls to here to ‘work hard, play hard and look after each other’, an ethos that will surely thrive at this already warm and friendly school.

BOARDING

There are 182 boarders at the school, with roughly 50% of pupils choosing to board. Pupils can start in Year 3 and boarding includes full, weekly and flexi options. There is no Saturday school here, but on Saturday girls who are in sports teams and have fixtures in the morning are allowed to go into Malvern in the afternoons – which is handily just a few minutes away.

The boarding houses are beautiful big old houses, and currently getting a £3 million investment to make them much more inviting and bring them up to modern standards, a project due to be finished for 2024. Younger years have small dorms and older girls get to choose between single or double rooms. Each house has two house mistresses on call 24 hour a day.

The houses seem to have a lot of fun going on year round, with recent visits including Harry Potter World, Blenheim Palace for the Christmas lights, punting in Oxford, ice skating, dry slope skiing, Westonbirt Arboretum, and shopping in Bristol. Parents can visit as often as they wish but usually come at weekends. But if you find yourself in the Malvern area midweek, there is flexibility with pupils able to get permission to have dinner in the town.

PASTORAL

Pupil wellbeing is an integral part of life here and has been stepped up here since Raraty arrived. The wellbeing programme even has its own name, MSJ Buzz, with the Hive being the central welcoming space where pupils can meet, get some down-time, receive support from a teacher or a friend, and engage in a mindful activity such as colouring or craft.

The pastoral emphasis starts early in Prep, where a supervised group of playground buddies leads a weekly Friendship Drop-In and run the
anti-bullying team. Further up the school, there are special pastoral champions who get special training, pupils from Years 7 to 13 who have volunteered to support their peers.

There are two professional counsellors including one who works with girls on a 1-1 basis, supporting their mental health and personal development. There is also the Wellbeing Collective which was started in 2019, a group of pastoral staff from 25 schools who meet online each term to discuss wellbeing initiatives and challenges.

True to its quirky nature, MSJ has its own version of a House system. Each pupil and member of staff is assigned a ship, introduced in 1938 by the first headmistress, with Ship Captains and Skippers who give girls leadership opportunities, starting in Prep.

Numbers of SEN pupils vary year on year. Whilst severely dyslexic or autistic children can’t be catered for, there is a strong Learning Support Department to give extra help to any pupil that needs it.

MOBILE PHONES / TECH

A watchful eye is kept on mobile devices, many parents will be thrilled to learn. Pupils in Years 7 to 9 must hand in their mobile phones upon arrival at school each day. Pupils in Years 10 and 11 are not allowed to use their mobile phones at any time during the school day unless authorised.

Sixth form pupils are not allowed to use their mobile phones during lessons, walking in the corridors or between buildings on the main school site, nor are they allowed to use them on the stairways or in the dining-room.

It may be a traditional school at its heart but digital learning is right up there in importance at MSJ. There are dedicated IT suites situated around the school for timetabled lessons and personal study, a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy for all pupils, especially from Year 7 upward and sets of Chromebooks and fully equipped IT Suites for the lower prep department to use.

TRANSPORT

A school minibus service is available during term time, which collects pupils in the morning and departs from school at 6pm after Prep or extracurricular activities. Some routes also run at the earlier time of 4pm to provide additional flexibility for families. Helpfully, routes are reviewed on a regular basis. International pupils are also well catered for, with airport pickups and departures om offer when needed.

WRAPAROUND CARE

A good level of wraparound is offered to all pupils, with girls able to access care from 7.45am each morning, and following the end of the School Day.
Wraparound care in MSJ Pre-Prep is run by a team of dedicated and qualified play leaders from 3.05pm onwards if you struggle to make pick up time.

Pupils can choose to attend an activity or head for the After School Club until parents collect them. There’s an extra layer of help for any pupils still at school after 6pm, as it’s never a problem for them to go to one of the Boarding Houses where they can relax or complete their prep.

QUIRKS

Got a budding Nigella on your hands? Leith’s Cookery School has a fancy, state-of-the-art, on-site cookery room here. No soggy bottoms on MSJ’s watch. Instead girls take a practical cookery qualification with attached UCAS points, and all the kudos of being a ‘Leith’s’ pupil’. Pupils get a Leith’s Cookery Book, a set of professional engraved knives and their own chef’s white jacket with checked trousers.

Another quirk is the secret tunnel! The school used to be the site of the Imperial Hotel and the tunnel – known curiously as The Worm – used to connect the hotel directly to the train station, allowing first-class passengers and porters to travel in style.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Very positive and genuinely hard to find negativity. Recent pupils talk about their years at MSJ as being ‘really supportive’ and ‘happy years that I really miss’, with special mentions going to the strong friendship groups that are forged here. The happy learning environment and friendliness of the school are also praised. Consistently and affectionately referred to as ‘quite quirky’, with girls feeling like they are seen as individuals.

FEES

Fees for day pupils in Pre-Prep start at £2,675 per term, in Prep (Year 3 -4) at £4,165, Seniors (Years 7 – 8) at £6,285 and Sixth Form at £6,905. For weekly and full boarders, fees start in Prep at £7,675, Seniors at £10,480 and Sixth Form £12,820.

Looking for a bit of help? There are opportunities to study here but without the price tag. MSJ has a generous bursary scheme, designed to make it possible for as many girls as possible who meet Malvern St James entry criteria to take up a place.

Alongside sibling, military and Old Girl Association discounts, there are bursaries with a sizeable 40% discount off fees – decided at discretion of the Head. New for 2023, Raraty tells me they want to expand this significantly over the next few years, aiming to raise £2m by 2025, which would mean being able to provide whopping 100% bursaries in the future.

ISI REPORT

MSJ was rated as ‘Excellent’ in the most recent ISI report, read it here.

MUDDY VERDICT

GOOD FOR:

Anyone wanting a holistic education with door-opening academic results. A solid all-rounder choice, championing ambition. Warm but not fluffy, friendly and nurturing, and for anyone who loves a quirky school with character. As an all-through school it’s perfect for anyone seeking continuity. The progressive and slightly boho STEAM curriculum suits girls who don’t want to be pigeon-holed. Fancy being a world-renowned scientist with a Grade 8 in music and passion for poetry? Come on in.

NOT FOR:

No good thing ever came easy in life, right? MSJ has the academic standards you’d expect from such a high-achieving school, girls are expected to put the work in to get the great results back. Not a place for shrinking violets here, if you don’t believe the sky’s the limit fitting in will be hard, this place is girl-power personified. There is a good Learning Support department, but it is not for severely dyslexic or autistic children.

Want to judge for yourself?

The next Open Day takes place on Friday 8 March 2024. Can’t wait till then? Contact the school team to meet with the Head and take a tour. Girls can even take part in a Taster Day to experience day-to-day life at the school, and even take part in a sleepover to experience MSJ boarding.

Malvern St James Girls’ School, 15 Avenue Road, Great Malvern, Worcestershire
WR14 3BA

Malvern St James Girls’ School, Malvern

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