Stella Maris School is a coeducational, independent school

Independent school

An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...

, in Heaton Mersey

Heaton Mersey

Heaton Mersey is a suburb of Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. The area is situated on the north-western border of Stockport, and is adjacent to Didsbury and Burnage which are both in Manchester....

, Stockport

Stockport

Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...

 England, founded in 1976.

The school is open to all denominations and is a non profit making organisation. The school is registered with the Department for Education and Employment. It occupies a Victorian, Grade II listed building on St John's Road which was formerly St. John's school and has around 70 pupils from nursery to year 6, which makes the average class size around 8.

The school has a number of notable former pupils, including historian and strategist Matthew Kay, and former world champion swimmer James Hickman

James Hickman

James Hickman is a former swimmer from Great Britain, who became a world champion five times on the 200 m butterfly in short course , twice world record holder, Commonwealth Champion and four times European Champion. He announced his retirement from the sport in 2004...

.

The name 'Stella Maris' is a Latin phrase meaning 'Star of the Sea'.