Bishop Douglass RC High School
Encyclopedia
Bishop Douglass Science College is a mixed Catholic
secondary school
with a sixth form
located in the London Borough of Barnet
. The school first opened in 1963 as a Secondary Modern facility and later became a Comprehensive school.
The School has been granted Specialist Science College status which came into effect in September 2007. As a result, the size of the school has increased rapidly, growing by over 100 students since the status was granted. Bishop Douglass's status as a Specialist Science College was renewed in July 2010.
At the time of Ms Murphy’s appointment in 2003 the school was under 'special measures' and was threatened with closure. Since this date standards have consistently improved. Bishop Douglass was taken out of Special Measures following HMI Inspection in December 2005 and in its most recent Ofsted Inspection
in January 2008 was credited as “Good with Outstanding features” and “a Good school of which students, parents, staff and governors are proud”
A Diocese of Westminster inspection of 2008 concluded that “Bishop Douglass is a good Catholic school”
In February 2009 the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust
recognized Bishop Douglass’s consistent raising of results by awarding it Most Improved status.
In 2001, a new uniform was implemented, the most noticeable change being in the new girls' uniform: a green Douglass Tartan Kilt, a white shirt, a royal blue blazer and a blue tie with stripes of the same colour as their house. A new option was that the girls were now allowed to wear black trousers instead of the skirt. The boys' uniform remained the same except for a darker shade of blue for their blazers.
which was to be said during registration. The school prayer is as follows:
Thank you, O God, for another day.
Help me to spend it wisely and to spend it well.
Grant that everything I do today may be done as well as I can do it.
Grant that everyone I meet may be happier for the meeting.
Keep me all through today conscientious in my work;
Truthful in my speaking;
Loyal to my friends and faithful to those who love me,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
· Campion House takes its name from Saint Edmund Campion
, a Catholic convert, Jesuit priest and martyr
who was canonized as a saint in the Catholic Church. The house colour is light blue.
· Fisher House takes its name from Saint John Fisher
, an English Catholic
bishop, cardinal
and martyr
. The house colour is yellow.
· Line House takes its name from Saint Anne Line
, an English martyr
who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I for harbouring a priest
. The house colour is pink.
· More House takes its name from Sir Thomas More the patron saint of politicians and statesmen. The house colour is orange.
· Owen House take its name from Saint Nicholas Owen
an English martyr
who built several priest holes in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England. The house colour is pale green.
· Ward House takes its name from Saint Margaret Ward
a Catholic
English martyr. The house colour is lilac.
In addition to school houses, for many years the form years were named. First year students were classified as "Discovery" Year students in recognition of their new status in the school. Second year was named "Exploration"; the third year was "Understanding"; the fourth year was "Preparation" - as they prepared for their examination years; and the fifth year was "Appreciation" - a somewhat arrogant statement that the students were appreciating all the school had done for them. The sixth form was named Lower and Upper Sixth years. The naming convention was abandoned in the late 1990s.
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
with a sixth form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
located in the London Borough of Barnet
London Borough of Barnet
The London Borough of Barnet is a London borough in North London and forms part of Outer London. It has a population of 331,500 and covers . It borders Hertfordshire to the north and five other London boroughs: Harrow and Brent to the west, Camden and Haringey to the south-east and Enfield to the...
. The school first opened in 1963 as a Secondary Modern facility and later became a Comprehensive school.
The School has been granted Specialist Science College status which came into effect in September 2007. As a result, the size of the school has increased rapidly, growing by over 100 students since the status was granted. Bishop Douglass's status as a Specialist Science College was renewed in July 2010.
History
The original headmaster, Michael Caulfield, was at the time the youngest head teacher of any school in the UK. Around 1990, he was succeeded by his deputy John Meadows. In 2002 an interim headmaster, Mr. Kelly, followed Meadows for one year, resulting in improved standards across the board before current head Ms Murphy took over in the following year.At the time of Ms Murphy’s appointment in 2003 the school was under 'special measures' and was threatened with closure. Since this date standards have consistently improved. Bishop Douglass was taken out of Special Measures following HMI Inspection in December 2005 and in its most recent Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
in January 2008 was credited as “Good with Outstanding features” and “a Good school of which students, parents, staff and governors are proud”
A Diocese of Westminster inspection of 2008 concluded that “Bishop Douglass is a good Catholic school”
In February 2009 the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust
Specialist Schools and Academies Trust
The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust is an independent, not-for-profit, membership organisation with headquarters in the United Kingdom, dedicated to raising standards and achievement in secondary schools in England and internationally...
recognized Bishop Douglass’s consistent raising of results by awarding it Most Improved status.
School Uniform
Before 2001 the Bishop Douglass uniform for girls consisted of a long royal blue skirt, grey V-neck jumper and a royal blue blazer. This would be worn with a blouse of the same colour as the house they were in. The girl's uniform blazer was originally collarless and double breasted. In the 1980s it became a standard jacket similar to the boy's uniform. Originally, a navy bow-tie was worn with the blouse, but this was abandoned around 1974, at around the same time that the summer dress in blue and white dog tooth check was discontinued. The boys' uniform consisted of dark grey trousers, a white shirt, a grey V-neck jumper and royal blue blazer. This would be worn with a blue tie with stripes of the same colour as their house. The Sixth Form uniform for girls was navy skirt and navy sweater with a white blouse and for the boys it was black trousers, black sweater, black jacket and white shirt. The sixth form tie for boys was black, with the school emblem stitched in white.In 2001, a new uniform was implemented, the most noticeable change being in the new girls' uniform: a green Douglass Tartan Kilt, a white shirt, a royal blue blazer and a blue tie with stripes of the same colour as their house. A new option was that the girls were now allowed to wear black trousers instead of the skirt. The boys' uniform remained the same except for a darker shade of blue for their blazers.
School Prayer
In 2003, Bishop Douglass College introduced the school prayerSchool prayer
School prayer in its common usage refers to state-approved prayer by students in state schools. Depending on the country and the type of school, organized prayer may be required, permitted, or prohibited...
which was to be said during registration. The school prayer is as follows:
Thank you, O God, for another day.
Help me to spend it wisely and to spend it well.
Grant that everything I do today may be done as well as I can do it.
Grant that everyone I meet may be happier for the meeting.
Keep me all through today conscientious in my work;
Truthful in my speaking;
Loyal to my friends and faithful to those who love me,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
School Houses
Each house at Bishop Douglass Science College is represented and named after a different catholic martyr.· Campion House takes its name from Saint Edmund Campion
Edmund Campion
Saint Edmund Campion, S.J. was an English Roman Catholic martyr and Jesuit priest. While conducting an underground ministry in officially Protestant England, Campion was arrested by priest hunters. Convicted of high treason by a kangaroo court, he was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn...
, a Catholic convert, Jesuit priest and martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
who was canonized as a saint in the Catholic Church. The house colour is light blue.
· Fisher House takes its name from Saint John Fisher
John Fisher
Saint John Fisher was an English Roman Catholic scholastic, bishop, cardinal and martyr. He shares his feast day with Saint Thomas More on 22 June in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints and 6 July on the Church of England calendar of saints...
, an English Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
bishop, cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
and martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
. The house colour is yellow.
· Line House takes its name from Saint Anne Line
Anne Line
Saint Anne Line was an English martyr who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I for harbouring a priest. She was born in 1567, the second daughter of Heigham, Esq., of Essex, a strict Calvinist, and was, together with her brother William, disinherited for converting to Catholicism...
, an English martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I for harbouring a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
. The house colour is pink.
· More House takes its name from Sir Thomas More the patron saint of politicians and statesmen. The house colour is orange.
· Owen House take its name from Saint Nicholas Owen
Nicholas Owen
Nicholas David Arundel Owen is a British journalist and television presenter. He now works for the BBC, presenting on the BBC News channel and BBC One.-Biography:...
an English martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
who built several priest holes in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England. The house colour is pale green.
· Ward House takes its name from Saint Margaret Ward
Margaret Ward
Saint Margaret Ward was an English Catholic martyr who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I for helping a priest to escape from prison. Her date of birth is unknown, but she was born in Congleton, Cheshire....
a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
English martyr. The house colour is lilac.
In addition to school houses, for many years the form years were named. First year students were classified as "Discovery" Year students in recognition of their new status in the school. Second year was named "Exploration"; the third year was "Understanding"; the fourth year was "Preparation" - as they prepared for their examination years; and the fifth year was "Appreciation" - a somewhat arrogant statement that the students were appreciating all the school had done for them. The sixth form was named Lower and Upper Sixth years. The naming convention was abandoned in the late 1990s.
Notable alumni
- Tina HobleyTina HobleyTina Hobley is an English actress.-Early life:Very shy as a child, Hobley was sent to speech and drama classes in an attempt to counter her introversion...
, actress (Holby CityHolby CityHolby City, stylised as Holby Ci+y, is a British medical drama television series that airs weekly on BBC One.The series was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama Casualty, and premiered on 12 January 1999...
) - Michael ObioraMichael ObioraMichael Obiora is an English actor and writer.-Career:Michael Obiora was born on 8 October 1986 in North-West London to Nigerian-Igbo parents...
, actor (Hotel BabylonHotel BabylonHotel Babylon was a BBC television drama series based on the book of the same name by Imogen Edwards-Jones, that aired from 19 January 2006 to 14 August 2009, produced by independent production company Carnival Films for BBC One...
) - Kaya ScodelarioKaya ScodelarioKaya Rose Scodelario is a British actress and model. She is best known for her role as Effy Stonem in the E4 drama Skins.-Skins :...
, actress (Skins) - Charlotte LewisCharlotte LewisCharlotte Lewis is an English actress.-Career:Charlotte Lewis made her film debut as a teenager in the 1986 Roman Polanski film Pirates. She followed it that same year with the female lead in The Golden Child alongside Eddie Murphy. Later appearances include the film Tripwire and Storyville...
, actress (The Golden ChildThe Golden ChildThe Golden Child is a 1986 American comedy film starring Eddie Murphy. Murphy plays Chandler Jarrell, a social worker who is confronted by a young Asian woman , who tells him that he is The Chosen One destined to save The Golden Child, the savior of all mankind, from the clutches of the demon Sardo...
) - John Kennedy O'ConnorJohn Kennedy O'ConnorJohn Kennedy O'Connor is an author, entertainment and political commentator, based in the United States. Born in North London, United Kingdom, he has written, reported and broadcast for numerous media organizations, as well as writing, creating and producing media events for a number of...
, author and broadcaster