An education of the head and heart
Welcome to St Columba’s College At St Columba’s College, we pride ourselves on providing an education of the head and heart, placing happiness and confidence at the centre of our mission.
ST COLUMBA’S COLLEGE AND PREPARATORY SCHOOL IS AN INDEPENDENT CATHOLIC DAY SCHOOL FOR PUPILS AGED 4-18 IN ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE.
Throughout each phase of education, Prep, Senior and Sixth Form, we create a nurturing environment where each pupil is challenged to achieve their own best academic standard, while becoming confident, resilient and compassionate individuals.
Our pupils are supported by a dedicated academic and support staff, and they become lifelong members of a strong and vibrant community of pupils, parents, staff and alumni, where lifelong friendships are established. We hope that you share our vision. We warmly invite you to visit the Prep School, Senior School or the Sixth Form to meet our staff and pupils and to experience our community first-hand. David Buxton Headmaster
INSPIRED BY THE CHARISM OF THE BROTHERS OF THE SACRED HEART, WE PROVIDE A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION IN A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT TO YOUNG PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS AND NONE.
Courage • Courtesy • Compassion
Courage • Courtesy • Compassion
Ethos & Values
Pastoral Care
St Columba’s College was founded in 1939, and since 1955 it has been a member of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart’s global community of schools. It is the only one in the UK.
Our exceptional pastoral programme is designed to develop our young people’s emotional intelligence, complementing their academic growth.
These systems generate healthy competition and leadership opportunities, and allow pupils to be recognised and rewarded for their successes as they progress through the school.
Every pupil is known, valued and treasured.
A dedicated team of Form Tutors, Heads of Houses, Nurses and a Counsellor support each pupil’s mental and physical health and wellbeing throughout their time here.
We are proud to be a Catholic school, and we welcome pupils and staff of all faiths and none. Our goal is to provide a moral and religious education inspired by the charism of the Brothers. We teach our pupils the Columban values of courage, courtesy and compassion to enable them to become confident and well-rounded individuals, who aim to leave people and places better than they find them. St Columba’s pupils are academically successful, intellectually curious, happy and empathetic. The world needs people with these qualities, who can connect with others and respond wisely to the many complex challenges that we face in an everchanging society.
This pastoral care is underpinned by House and Tutor systems, which provide a community group for each pupil and close contact between school and home.
We genuinely feel that our son’s tutor and Head of House not only know him but support him as an individual. CURRENT PARENT
Amazing staff that really engage with the children. Our son has grown so much at the school and has really enjoyed his time here. CURRENT PARENT
Known • Valued • Treasured
Prep School Our Prep School is a unique and happy place. We are proud of our reputation for academic achievement in a nurturing and supportive environment. LOWER PREP In Reception, our pupils instantly embrace the Columban learning ethos of resilience, teamwork and a positive growth mindset. In small class settings, pupils learn through structured indoor and outdoor programmes such as ‘Forest Friday’. Our enthusiastic and experienced teachers and teaching assistants work closely with families to share their children’s progress. Staff use our Tapestry programme to exchange pictures, information and learning opportunities with home.
There are daily phonics sessions, individual reading and rigorous Maths mastery challenges. These are complemented by specialist-taught enrichment opportunities such as PE, Music and French. In Prep 1 and 2 small class sizes enable our staff to ensure that each child is both stretched and supported in developing vital academic and social skills. Interactive whiteboards and specialist subjects such as Science, Art, DT, IT and life skills as well as a host of trips, workshops and visits help to enliven the serious business of learning.
UPPER PREP As they move on from a strong start in the Lower Prep, our pupils are encouraged to further develop their own interests and learning styles. Continuing to benefit from small class sizes, pupils enjoy high-quality teaching from a dedicated staff who know each pupil's strengths and help them overcome any difficulties. We continue to develop pupils’ growth mindset to enable them to strive for their own best standard, learning to cope with carefully selected home learning tasks. Expert specialist teaching in Music, Sports, Science, Art, Religious Education, IT, Modern Languages and Latin, gives our pupils a rich preparation for the Senior School, while instrumental lessons and a wide range of extra-curricular clubs enhance their creativity and enjoyment. MOTTO
Last week, I played a saxophone solo at a whole school concert and played again at Assembly the following morning. UPPER PREP PUPIL
Nurturing • Supportive
Senior School At St Columba’s we strive for academic excellence while aspiring to be very much more than simply an academic hot house. We foster a love of learning and a sense of personal, moral, social and cultural education, which allows our students to form opinions and make decisions that reflect the highest possible level of academic success and personal growth. Our passionate and inspirational teachers challenge every student to achieve their own best academic standard while exploring their talents in other areas through our extensive extra-curricular programme. We see every element of the curriculum as equally important in our holistic aim of preparing young people to not just make a living, but to make a life. The Senior School also offers a comprehensive Careers and Higher Education programme. As students move up, they receive more focused careers guidance, which pays particular attention to their choices for the future and guides them as they research higher education and the world of work.
SHAPE PROGRAMME
The SHAPE timetable includes:
Our holistic approach to education is what sets St Columba’s College apart. We know that participation in a broad range of extracurricular activities and service opportunities is vital for developing the skills and attributes that prepare our students for life after school.
• Service activities such as Student Ministry and fundraising for charities; • House activities such as Inter-House music, sport and public speaking competitions; • Academic Clubs such as lunchtime and after-school subject sessions and specialist exam group workshops; • Practical activities, such as College sport, drama and music; • Extra-curricular, which includes all Senior School clubs such as the CCF, Chess, Drama, Mindfulness and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
The cornerstone of student formation in the Senior School and the Sixth Form is our SHAPE Programme: a set of timetabled weekly activities and opportunities that allow students and their tutors to structure a programme of personal growth for each student.
We have been very impressed with the quality of education and pastoral care that our son has received since starting at St Columba’s in January 2020. CURRENT PARENT
Academic Excellence
Sixth Form In St Columba’s Sixth Form, you will find a sanctuary of academic rigour and personal growth, in which students can aspire to reach their very highest potential. The wide range of subjects, extra-curricular experiences and leadership opportunities on offer mean that our students emerge with the skills, qualifications and attributes necessary for the next stage of their lives. The co-educational environment provides an ideal transition from school to university life. We have modern and well-equipped facilities, including a café and seminar-style classrooms.
A Level studies are supplemented by supervised study time and all students follow an Enrichment Programme, incorporating Young Enterprise, Certificate/Diploma in Financial Services, Religious Education and the Extended Project Qualification.
CAREERS AND HIGHER EDUCATION
The Sixth Form Stretch & Challenge programme builds on the work started lower down in the school, broadening students’ intellectual experience, and empowering them to independently explore new avenues.
Our Sixth Form leavers’ destinations are testament to the range of opportunities for our young people to excel in their chosen field. From Oxbridge to the Royal College of Music, Russell Group to Harper Adams, our young people go on to pursue further learning and vocational training at some of the best establishments in the world.
Our Careers department operates an open-door policy for Sixth Form students to use its wide range of resources and seek advice and support on higher education and career opportunities. Personal contacts, workshops, a work experience programme and significant input from our alumni help the students navigate the choices that lie before them.
LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE Part of the ethos of St Columba’s College is a commitment to service, charitable giving and action, and our Sixth Form students play an important part in leading and organising our efforts in this area. We encourage them to become involved in the extended curriculum programme where they are offered considerable responsibility within the activities provided. This lets them learn new skills, develop their character and take on leadership roles where they can serve as role models for the younger students.
I gained the interest and the confidence to study at Cambridge because of the enthusiasm of my teachers and the Columban Community’s belief in me. FORMER HEAD BOY
Preparing for the Future
Sport
Extra-Curricular
Sport is an integral part of school life at St Columba’s. We aim to foster an interest in physical activity and a healthy lifestyle, which in turn supports our pupils’ mental health and wellbeing. We have a long history of playing basketball, imported by our North American Brothers in the 1950s.
Every pupil is encouraged to take part in extra-curricular activities at lunchtime and after school. Activities include numerous sporting, academic, cultural and pastoral clubs.
In the Prep School, regardless of their ability, every child experiences a wide variety of different sporting activities through PE lessons and an array of clubs. Pupils can play in competitive matches, either in fixtures against other schools or via the Inter-House system.
Through the wide range of opportunities available, pupils learn more about themselves as well as discovering new interests and talents.
In the Senior School, students can participate in a range of sports from rugby, football and basketball to athletics, cricket and fencing. They compete at local, regional and national levels.
The extended curriculum provides a variety of workshops, guest speakers, museum, theatre and subjectrelated trips. The College offers a range of exciting overseas trips and also operates global tours in sports such as rugby, football and basketball.
Music Music is also an integral part of school life. Throughout the Prep School and in Years 7, 8 and 9 in the Senior School, pupils develop knowledge, skills and understanding in classical, popular and world music traditions. They are encouraged to get involved in a wide range of musical ensembles that cater for all abilities and tastes. These include choral and bell choirs, orchestras and jazz bands.
We have a growing Combined Cadet Force (CCF) which consists of two sections: Army and RAF. The College is proud of its participation and success rate in The Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award Scheme, where each year a large number of students receive awards up to Gold level.
Pupils reach excellent levels of achievement in activities, where their success is considerable across diverse fields, reflecting the College’s focus on all-round achievement. ISI REPORT
Performance is a key element of the music programmes and pupils are given the opportunity to show off their talents in a variety of concerts and recitals both in school and in the local community.
Many Opportunities Beyond The Curriculum
Visit Us Selecting the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make. Having browsed our prospectus, we would love for you to come and meet our pupils and staff. To arrange a visit please contact the Admissions Registrar at admissions@stcolumbascollege.org or call +44 (0) 1727 892040 For the dates of upcoming Open Events please check our website: stcolumbascollege.org/admissions/visit-us
We have been so pleased with the excellent teaching and pastoral care that our son has had from the Prep School right through to the Sixth Form. The well-rounded education that he has received at St Columba’s has shaped him into the happy and confident young man that he is today. CURRENT PARENT
St Columba’s College King Harry Lane St Albans Hertfordshire AL3 4AW www.stcolumbascollege.org admissions@stcolumbascollege.org Admissions: 01727 892040
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