WHAT? WHERE?

Notre Dame School is an all-girls Catholic day school nestled on 26 acres in Cobham. It’s an all-through school for girls (of all faiths and none) aged 2 to 18 where happiness and success go hand-in-hand. Girls at Notre Dame are empowered to challenge themselves and encouraged to be true to themselves. An ethos of kindness prevails, and this filters down from the top ranks.

There are 450 girls on the senior school register allowing class sizes to remain comfortably small. Size is a hallmark of Notre Dame School. It’s small enough that every girl is known by teachers and staff, but big enough to allow girls the freedom to develop their own sense of self and genuine friendships.

The school was founded by Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac as part of the Company of Mary Our Lady, which has a 400-year history and is dedicated to the education of girls. St Jeanne was a forward-thinking educator, passionate about holistic education and empowering woman. Those values are still going strong today.

Entry into the senior school is broadly selective. Girls who come up through the Prep (about 60%) are assessed internally throughout the year and will receive their offer at the end of Year 5. External applicants attend an 11+ assessment day which includes an online test, a creative writing task and an informal chat with a senior staff member. The day is designed to be fun, so there are games and activities… and doughnuts.

Key senior school entry points are Year 7 (11+), Year 9 (13+) and Sixth Form (16+), although there are some in year places up for grabs. At GCSE, the school ranks in the top 14% nationally for its value-added score according to Cambridge Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring. At A Level, it’s in the top 12%.

FACILITIES

Students at Notre Dame School in Cobham, Surrey.

Safe to say Notre Dame girls are not left wanting. Facilities are outstanding.

The 26-acre site is accessed through gated entrances via a private road just off the A3 and M25. The main building is a Grade II-listed manor – Burwood House – built in the 18th century. It’s seen numerous additions over the years with the senior school fanning out one side and the Prep on the other. The school chapel and dining hall – used by both Prep and Senior – sits in the middle.

A state-of-the-art ‘Innovation Space’ opened in November 2024 to great fanfare. Fitted out with an impressive range of gadgets – including 3D printers, laser cutters, the latest Surface Pros built with CAD software and green-screen technology. The hub is designed as a flexible, multidisciplinary space to add a STEM focus across all subjects.

Then there’s the Montaigne Theatre, a professional-standard 370-seat playhouse modelled on Kingston’s Rose Theatre. There’s also a fully-rigged-up studio space, dance and drama studios, and a music block with a summer house for drum lessons.

Sports wise, there’s an indoor 25m pool, a fitness suite and two sports halls. Outside you’ll find grass pitches, an all-weather pitch, sprint track, four netball/tennis courts and two cross-country tracks.

Two new science labs are housed in the second storey of the ‘Innovation Space’, with a partition wall linking the two to create one spacious lab. This, plus the existing six science labs and prep rooms, makes an impressive science offering. There are also art and textiles studios, plus a fancy food department.

The Sixth Form Centre comes with study pods, social spaces, a kitchen and – happily for the new drivers – dedicated parking.

The grounds are lovely too and include wellbeing pathways by the river and lots of green space. It’s all wonderfully idyllic.

SPORT

Girls playing hockey at Notre Dame school in Cobham, Surrey.

Netball and hockey are the biggies at Notre Dame School. Football, offered on the co-curricular programme, is also growing fast thanks to coaching from Chelsea Football Club.

As a school that values inclusivity and actively seeks to provide the girls with a wide range of opportunities, it’s a sport-for-all ethos. No ‘sporty’ or ‘non-sporty’ labels are used. Instead, great efforts are made to create opportunities for the girls to experience a wide range of sports to help them find something they love. Nine sports are offered competitively, and more than 40 are available on the co-curricular programme.

Competitive fixtures are played in a variety of sports taking in the usuals like hockey, netball, cricket, football, swimming and athletics, as well as cross country, biathlon and tennis.

There’s a high level of experience on the teaching staff, too, with specialist sports directors for hockey, netball and swimming. The girls have also had specialist hockey training from a GB hockey goalkeeper.

Notre Dame School has actively chosen not to include sport on Saturday mornings to allow the girls family time or time to take part in local club sports. School sports days are held in the summer and the winter.

THE ARTS

Students at Notre Dame School in Cobham, Surrey.

With facilities like the amazing Montaigne Theatre, it’s unsurprising the arts are a big draw at Notre Dame School. (Seriously, you must see the theatre, and stand on the stage, to really comprehend how fabulous it is.)

Drama and musical productions are staged throughout the year culminating in the big Christmas production – an all-singing, all-dancing full-scale musical.

There’s a strong music department. There are 290 music lessons every week across the whole school with 23 different instruments on offer. As well, there are bands, orchestras, ensembles and choirs galore.

Visual arts are also strong, and you’ll see loads of student artwork displayed all over the school, with special consideration given to include every students’ artwork during the academic year. It’s incredible and super impressive.

Music and drama are on the curriculum from Year 7, and so is art and textiles and food and nutrition. At GCSE, options include art and design, textile design, and food and nutrition. A Level subjects include art, craft and design, textiles, drama and theatre studies, dance, music and, new in 2024-25, photography.

Lamda is offered on the co-curricular programme.

LITTLIES

Students at Notre Dame School in Cobham, Surrey.

Under the guidance of Headteacher Amélie Morgan, Notre Dame Prep and Nursery shares the same campus and takes girls from age 2 to 11. Most girls move up to the senior school, via a smooth and carefully executed transition. Read our full review of Notre Dame Prep and Nursery.

ACADEMICS

Students at Notre Dame School in Cobham, Surrey.

The curriculum at Notre Dame School is deliberately broad and balanced – with a range of subjects all taught by specialists.

In Year 7, pupils take the usual traditional subjects along with two modern languages and Latin, textiles, food and nutrition, art, drama, RE and computer science.

Moving into Year 8, girls choose two languages which, along with English, are set by ability. Maths is set in Year 7, and science – taught separately as biology, chemistry and physics all the way from Year 7 – is set in Year 8.

Class sizes throughout are small – no higher than 20 – and even smaller in GCSE and Sixth Form.

At GCSE, girls take seven core subjects (English language, English literature, maths, theology, science, RE, games) along with a choice of three options. They must also choose one enrichment subject – a choice between further maths, a study period and HPQ (Higher Project Qualification, similar to the EPQ at Sixth Form). Most choose the HPQ or further maths. In 2024, 54% of girls achieved grades 9-7 at GCSE.

A pupil profile tracks the learning of every pupil through continuous assessments – so girls who may be cruising can be challenged, and those who may need additional support, get it. As part of the pupil profile, each girl is set a ‘flightpath’ for each subject and progress is measured against the ‘flightpath’.

There’s plenty of opportunity for enrichment through a gifted and talented programme called Above and Beyond the Curriculum (ABC) – particularly in maths, science and languages. At the other end, additional clinics are offered in all subjects for pupils seeking support. But crucially, those in the middle are also monitored and challenged or supported where necessary.

SIXTH FORM

Students at Notre Dame School in Cobham, Surrey.

For a relatively small Sixth Form (the cohort across Years 12 and 13 is around 70 girls), there’s a huge choice of subjects – 27 in total, plus the option to do an Extended Project Qualification.

Psychology is a popular subject, along with the more traditional subjects. These include maths, biology, business, history, English language and English literature. Art and textiles are also popular.

Sixth Form classes are no larger than 10 pupils, and they’re conducted in a small tutorial style. This will undoubtedly help with transition to further education.

Results in 2024 were excellent with 95% of girls achieving an A*-C; 72% getting A*-B and 39% scoring A*-A.

There’s a bespoke Oxbridge programme designed to ‘open doors’ and support girls on that path, rather than put pressure on girls to go that way. Most girls go on to Russell Group universities (56%), but a handful also go on to art college (5%). The 2024 leavers went on to a range of universities including Royal Holloway, UCL, Exeter University, Southampton, Warwick, Arts University Bournemouth, University of Surrey, Swansea and Queen Mary University Malta (for medicine).

There’s also an extensive alumnae network with more than 600 former Notre Dame School pupils who are available to advise and support Sixth Form students beyond Notre Dame.

PASTORAL CARE

Students at Notre Dame School in Cobham, Surrey.

If I had to say Notre Dame School had a calling card, it would be the pastoral care system. The school has won multiple awards for its wellbeing programme, so it should come as no surprise. But nothing at all here is left to chance – from the moment girls are accepted into the senior school.

It starts with a series of Year 7 inductions days, where the focus is familiarising the girls with their new environment (and school in the case of external students starting. There’s a specialist head of year to help steer girls through the transition into senior school. Girls are deliberately not taught in their form groups to encourage wider friendship groups. A buddy system in Year 7 pairs every girl with a ‘big sister’ in Year 12.

From Year 8, the head of year moves up the school as the girl’s progress – which means relationships are strong.

Within the pastoral team, wellbeing mentors have specialist training in drawing and talking therapy, bereavement counselling, art and Lego therapy and Elsa. There’s also a psychotherapist, and school nurse with medical and mental health training, a school chaplain, and a wellbeing dog called Ted.

Assistant Head Safeguarding, Amanda Windibank, says girls are empowered and upskilled to deal with stress. “Real life will bring stress,” she says. “So, it’s important they a have these skills.” She says girls are encouraged to go out of their comfort zones and are taught how to manage those experiences.

The Girls on Board programme is used by Notre Dame to help girls and parents understand and navigate girl friendships. The programme is launched in the Prep School.

THE HEAD

Anna King, headteacher at Notre Dame School in Cobham, Surrey.

Anna King has been the head at Notre Dame School since 2013 following a two-year stint as deputy head. Her CV includes positions in both the independent and state sector, in both co-ed and girls’ schools. She was at St George’s in Ascot for five years before Notre Dame School.

Warm, engaging and dynamic, she’s also very friendly with an infectious enthusiasm for Notre Dame School. It’s clear she cares deeply about the school, and each girl. She knows every girl by name and is keen that Notre Dame’s caring ethos continues after girls have left.

Each year the Year 13 leavers are invited back a few months into their university or further education journey, along with the year above for a fun evening of catching up, swapping stories and supporting each other – all over a glass of Prosecco. “Once a Notre Dame girl, always a Notre Dame girl,” she says.

Anna lived abroad for some of her childhood, but most of her senior schooling was in Surrey before she headed off to Cambridge to read Geography. Married with two daughters, both aged in their early 20s, she’s recently found a love for gardening.

Her plans for Notre Dame School? She wants to continue to empower girls to believe in themselves and be the best they can be. And she wants the new ‘Innovation Space’ to be used to its full potential by the whole school. She also has plans to build on the school’s already strong STEM offering.

WRAP AROUND CARE

Students at Notre Dame School in Cobham, Surrey.

The co-curricular offering at Notre Dame School is extensive, and all girls are expected to do a minimum of three clubs a week covering sport, academics and creative pursuits. Most do six or seven. It’s intentionally rigorous to give the girls a well-rounded educational experience and to introduce them to new activities they might otherwise not have an opportunity to try.

It’s also seen as a great balance against the academic learning and a benefit to wellbeing, whilst also helping to foster new friendships.

ISI REPORT

Notre Dame Senior School was inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate in April 2024. Read the full report here.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

The use of mobile phones is not permitted during the school day for Years 7 to 11. Girls are assigned a Yondr pouch to seal phones into. In the Sixth Form the rules are more relaxed, but girls are expected to be respectful when using phones.

TRANSPORT

About a third of girls come from the immediate local area of Cobham, Weybridge and Walton. The other two-thirds come from a wider area that takes in parts of Surrey and south-west London.

An extensive network of mini-buses and coaches operates morning and afternoon taking in areas that include Fulham, Putney and Wimbledon; Teddington, Surbiton, Thames Ditton and Esher; Woking and West Byfleet; Shepperton, Chertsey and Molesey; Twickenham, Tolworth, Hinchley Wood and Claygate; Kew, Richmond, Mortlake and Barnes; Ashford; and Epsom, Leatherhead and Ashtead. New routes are also planned for Dorking, Guildford and Ripley. Late coaches are also available on certain routes, which are available to book on an ad hoc basis.

FEES

January-August 2025: Termly fees for Years 7 to 13 are £8,415.75. Lunch (compulsory in Year 7) is an additional £403.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Students at Notre Dame School in Cobham, Surrey.

Parents praise Notre Dame School’s strong pastoral care system and the super supportive environment it fosters for their girls. Families are attracted by the school’s ability to stretch and challenge girls to achieve to their full potential, or beyond, without creating stress and pressure. The co-curricular programme has been applauded.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Parents who want a supportive, friendly all-inclusive school that’s strong on academics and excels at pastoral care. Those seeking tradition and reputation – with a focus on improvement and purposeful progress, rather than a pushy approach.

Not for: Those not keen to get involved may not love it here. The co-curricular programme is robust, and all girls are expected to join in.

Dare to disagree? Arrange a visit to see the school for yourself. The next whole school open day is on Thurs 13 Feb. Or you can book a private tour. Information here.Notre Dame School, Burwood House, Convent Lane, Cobham KT11 1HA. Tel: 01932 869990

Notre Dame Senior School, Cobham

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