About the webinar
Empowering Girls Through Community, Confidence and Care at Marymount International School, London
This webinar, hosted by Fiona Murchie, features Paula Horton, Head of Boarding at Marymount International School London. The discussion explores how the school’s flexible boarding programme nurtures academic excellence, emotional well-being, and independence for globally mobile girls.
Set in seven acres of green space just 12 miles from central London, Marymount offers a warm, family-like environment for students aged 11–18. Horton explains that the small, close-knit boarding community encourages cross-year friendships and a strong sense of belonging.
Girls are supported to grow in confidence and independence, learning who they are beyond their family identities, within a caring and structured environment.
Key points from the conversation:
A Supportive Start:
New boarders join an induction weekend filled with community-building activities, family barbecues, scavenger hunts, and social events to help them settle in. The process is designed to be gradual and welcoming, ensuring girls feel at home from day one.
Well-being and Personal Growth:
The boarding ethos centres on kindness, compassion, and self-development. Girls are encouraged to find balance through structured routines, social activities, and “forced fun” events such as family dinners, quizzes, and excursions that build camaraderie and emotional resilience.
Fostering Independence and Leadership:
Students are given real responsibility through initiatives like the Boarding Council, where girls lead activities and represent their peers. Service and global citizenship are integral to the school’s mission, encouraging students to give back and think beyond themselves.
Catholic Ethos and Global Values:
While rooted in Catholic traditions, Marymount welcomes all faiths. Its values of kindness, service, and reflection are seen as universal principles that help shape thoughtful, ethical young women. Reflection and integrity are woven into both academic and boarding life.
Academic and Extracurricular Balance:
The International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum complements the boarding programme by promoting critical thinking and collaboration. During exams, students support each other through shared study sessions and group motivation, creating a culture of mutual encouragement.
Global Connections:
As part of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) network, Marymount is linked to schools in Rome, Paris, New York, Colombia, and beyond. Students take part in international cultural and sporting exchanges, helping them develop a global mindset.
Empowering Girls:
Horton concludes that all-girls education enables students to thrive without constraint, fostering confidence, leadership, and a sense of purpose that prepares them for life and careers in an interconnected world.
About the speaker:
Paula Horton, the head of Boarding
A much-loved and integral part of Marymount’s community, Paula has been at the heart of Boarding life for 11 years. First as Deputy Head and, for the past five years, as Head of Boarding. Her warmth, compassion, and commitment make her one of the beating hearts of our community, ensuring every student feels at home away
from home. Originally from Zimbabwe, where she was born and raised, Paula brings a rich background in business and education, having worked in management, administration, and teaching within the English as a Second Language sector before joining Marymount.
In a full-circle moment, Paula is also a proud alumna of Marymount College in Mutare, Zimbabwe, a connection that makes her role in our global Marymount network all the more special.
