Marymount London: A Parent's Perspective - Marymount International School London

Marymount London: A Parent’s Perspective

27 / 06 / 25 | NEWS

School Open Day Speech 

 

We are delighted to share the reflections of one of our Marymount parents, who speaks candidly about their family’s experience and why they chose Marymount International School London.

When we first attended Marymount International School London’s Open Day three years ago, we were exactly where many of you might be now—searching for the right school for our daughter. Together with our daughter, we explored our options and ultimately chose Marymount. I’m pleased to say it has been the right decision for her and for us. I’d like to briefly explain why we chose Marymount International School London and to describe our daughter’s experience as a pupil and our experience as parents.

Why Marymount?

There were several reasons we were drawn to Marymount:

  • Academic excellence grounded in the IB programme

  • A very personal focus on the academic and pastoral needs of each pupil

  • Its international character

  • The sense of community at the centre of the school and each pupil’s experience

  • Its religious character

Each of these aspects played an important part in our decision but ultimately it came down to the most important factor that is difficult to define. For my daughter, Marymount International School London just “felt right” and was the “right fit”. 

I would like to elaborate on each of these points:

Academic Excellence 

Marymount London places academics at the heart of its ethos and as a result it achieves excellent results. But it also offers something quite unique, an exclusive focus on the International Baccalaureate (IB). As a former IB Diploma student myself, I knew first-hand the value of an education that promotes independent, critical thinking and global citizenship. The IB is not just a curriculum—it’s a philosophy that prepares students for life beyond the classroom. It’s no wonder that the diploma is highly regarded by universities worldwide. It is an international passport to higher education and life beyond school.

Focus on the individual pupil

One of the things we’ve come to truly appreciate is the school’s focus on the individual pupil. With small class sizes and a dedicated faculty, Marymount ensures that each student is known, supported, and challenged. The pastoral care is just as intentional as the academic guidance, and the school takes responsibility for both. The result is a nurturing environment where girls can truly thrive.

“The IB is not just a curriculum—it’s a philosophy that prepares students for life beyond the classroom.”

International character

Marymount is an international school, it draws students from all corner of the world and participates as part of an international network of schools. Our daughter has built friendships with classmates from many different countries and has benefitted from exchanges with sister schools across Europe and America.

Community

The sense of community at Marymount is something special. It’s not just something that’s spoken about—it’s lived every day. Through school events, performances, parent engagement, and shared celebrations, there’s a real spirit of togetherness. We’ve always felt welcomed and involved, not just as observers but as participants in our daughter’s educational journey.

Faith and Inclusivity

Marymount’s Catholic foundation was important to our family, and we value the way the school integrates Christian values into everyday life. But just as important is its inclusive ethos—students of all faiths and none are welcomed with open arms.

Our daughter joined Marymount London in Grade 6, the start of the Middle Years Programme (MYP), and she’s now completing her final year before beginning the IB Diploma. She has absolutely loved her experience at the Marymount and has really thrived personally and academically as a result of the environment that Marymount London has provided. Over the past three years, we’ve watched her grow in confidence, independence, and curiosity. 

Outside of academics, our daughter has really enjoyed the wide range of extra-curricular opportunities available to pupils. After school clubs, team sports and school education trips and exchanges have been an important feature of her school experience. Since the start of this year alone, she has been fortunate to participate in the New York City Performing Arts trip as well as the Rome Model United Nations trip, both of which involved exchanges with Marymount sister schools in New York and Rome. She returned from these trips full of excitement and lasting memories.

As parents, we’ve always felt like partners in our daughter’s education. Marymount communicates with clarity and transparency and actively involves families in the life of the school. That shared responsibility for our daughter’s growth has been a cornerstone of our experience here.

Our daughter is now preparing to begin the IB Diploma Programme, and she couldn’t be more excited. Each day she leaves for school eager to learn, and each evening she returns full of enthusiasm. As parents, that’s all we could ever hope for.

Thank you for considering Marymount for your family.

 

Michael Gallagher (current Marymount London parent)

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