Now in its 70th year, Marymount International School London was established as a place to educate forward thinking, globally focused young women. As a leading IB school, welcoming day and boarding students from around the world, it remains true to its founding vision to transform lives through education
Marymount International School London was founded in 1955 by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM), a Catholic order that believes deeply in the power of education as a transformative force. It put down roots in a beautiful Edwardian property located just twelve miles from central London.
The RSHM has historically recognised the need to empower young women; its Founder Mother Butler established Marymount School of New York in 1926 with a clear objective. “The aims of a Marymount education are manifold: to educate the heart and mind, and to provide for each student’s total growth, intellectually, spiritually, and physically”. A farsighted visionary, Mother Butler created a heritage of innovation, dynamic leadership, and compassionate citizens for future generations.
It was out of this vision that young women were encouraged to seek an international education, and Marymount London was created to promote active global citizenship. Far from being theoretical, global mindedness is lived every day at Marymount. Students speak different languages, celebrate different festivals and cultural events, and learn from each other in the most natural way – by living and learning side by side.
From its foundation in 1955, the school focused on both depth and breadth of academic knowledge – unusually for the times, offering girls subjects such as law, economics and science. But this was more than a place of knowledge, it was a home for values. The school’s vision: ‘That all may have life and have it to the full’ has stood as a guiding light for generations of Marymount students ever since. The commitment to educating the whole person – mind, body, and spirit – is a thread that has defined its approach academically, too. In 1979, Marymount became the first girls’ school in the UK to adopt the IB Diploma programme. The IB’s philosophy and methodology sit naturally within an internationally minded and values-based school.
In 1995, Marymount also adopted the IB Middle Years Programme for students from 11-16. This required a robust approach to design and delivery in order to provide a meaningful, sustained experience. Marymount took this important decision with the strong belief that these formative early years of senior education help establish an approach that underpins all future educational exploration and supports academic success. The MYP aligns with Marymount’s foundational values and vision but has also shown its worth in preparing students for the rigours of the IB Diploma Programme – results place this school, just twenty minutes from the centre of London, among the top 2% of IB schools globally.
Marymount London has always looked outwards, and nowhere is this more evident than in the school’s participation in the RSHM Global Network. Annual RSHM Festivals, such as the Sports Festival and Model United Nations give the school’s MYP students a platform to meet their peers from around the world, exchange ideas, showcase talent and explore solutions to shared global challenges. Such experiences are transformative, exposing students to the richness and complexity of the world through travel and a meeting of minds. As the RSHM puts it: ‘Differences are not to be feared – they are to be celebrated’.
The Marymount experience extends far beyond the years spent on campus. The alumnae network is a testament to a rich shared history and an enduring bond. Alumnae return not only to visit, but also to share their lives, contribute to current programmes and continue the cycle of mentorship and mutual growth. The school’s ‘live life to the full’ vision speaks to the belief that education should not just equip students to pass exams or climb career ladders. It should help them become fully human – thoughtful, kind, questioning, resilient. Marymount students are not taught to chase status but are invited to become the kind of people who make the world a better place.
Sister Mary Jo Martin, Global Network Co-ordinator of the RSHM says: “Marymount is, at its core and in its history, an invitation. It invites students from all backgrounds to enter a community shaped by faith, values, curiosity, academic rigour and lifelong learning. It invites young people to explore the world – not just geographically, but intellectually, culturally and spiritually. And it invites every learner to deepen their sense of what it means to live with integrity, courage and joy”.
As the school enjoys its 70th year, that invitation to explore feels just as relevant and necessary as ever – perhaps even more so. The roots planted in 1955 continue to flourish – not just in the halls and classrooms of Marymount, but in the lives of its students, teachers and alumnae living and working across the globe. The mission and vision of Marymount International School London remain as strong as they were when Mother Butler first imagined a better world through the power of education. As RSHM’s Sister Mary Jo puts it: “Marymount remains a school where life is lived – and lived to the full”.
Marymount International School London marymountlondon.com
Further reading: MPW’s enlightened approach to education
You may also like...
