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With over 640 pupils, St. Teresa’s is the largest Catholic independent girls’ school in the country. It is a strong caring community based on Catholic traditions. We offer an inclusive environment welcoming students from all backgrounds, open to students of all faiths and none. Our core values knit the school together, resulting in an atmosphere of mutual support, vibrancy, and kindness. St Teresa’s is a dynamic school that has embraced the challenge to modernize and update, whilst holding values and philosophies which define its character and spirit. The changes at St Teresa’s have been wide-ranging and both an academic and aesthetic nature, with improvements to the environment implemented on a grand scale throughout the campus. The positive changes have been echoed by optimism and bonhomie throughout the school from Nursery to Sixth Form, true to our School Values of Faith, Character, Community, Compassion, and Intellect which have never been more vigorously endorsed or more clearly demonstrated. With recognized strengths spanning academia, sport, and the creative and performing arts, we focus on the individual, allowing girls to achieve their best and enabling them to follow their unique path to happiness and success. There is no “one size fits all” at St Teresa’s our girls are individuals and valued as such. No one is invisible, and we know who needs to be stretched and who needs extra help. This commitment to individual care underpins our whole ethos and approach to teaching every student within our care. A ‘can-do attitude is encouraged at all times, and a wide range of opportunities both within and beyond the curriculum enables girls to develop and discover new abilities, interests, and talents while they study towards achieving first-rate GCSEs and A levels. No one is pigeon-holed. Talent and achievement of all types are praised and confidence blossoms as a result. Our primary aim is, of course, to educate, but to do so in the true meaning of the word St Teresa’s is not an academic hothouse but aims to draw out the talents latent in every girl so that at St Teresa’s she will become the best she can be. No class is greater than 20. GCSE groupings are smaller and, for A-Level lessons, a tutorial style in preparation for university. Girls are supported but encouraged to think independently and to take responsibility for their learning. This leads to excellent A level and GCSE results from a broad-ability intake which, on a like-for-like basis, shows that our most academically able girls will outperform their counterparts in highly selective schools whilst being able to carry on with their sport, music, drama, and other interests. At St Teresa’s Effingham we aim: To encourage pupils to rejoice in and do well through the pursuit of academic excellence across the curriculum and beyond To provide support, encouragement, and challenge so that pupils realize their potential and are well prepared for the future To promote high standards of personal behavior and the development of moral and spiritual values View full school