St Columba's College, St Albans
Encyclopedia
St Columba's College is a British
fee-paying independent school
for boys aged 4-19. The college, founded in 1939 by Philip O’Neill and acquired in 1955 by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart
, is Roman Catholic, and a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
of leading independent schools
. St Columba's has a reputation for academic achievement as well as excellence in sport, particularly in rugby and basketball.
Facing St Albans Cathedral
across the River Ver
, the college is built around two historic houses, Watling House and Iona House. It is fully day-schooling in both the Senior school and the adjoined Preparatory and Pre-Preparatory department.
.
The college originally had four houses
named for British martyrs
, Alban
, Becket
, Fisher
and More
. These were replaced in 2005 by six houses named after Brothers of the Sacred Heart Schools in America: Charles
, Guertin
, Joseph, McClancy
, Stanislaus
, and Vandebilt
. The Preparatory school still uses the four house system.
across the valley of the River Ver
.
. The school has installed a stained glass window in the Cathedral, which is in honour of the school patron St Columba, and St Mary.
and Princess Helena College
, who play the female lead roles.
in the 2003/2004 season, when they were beaten by Prince Henry's Grammar School, Otley
. Also that season they were named 'Rugby Monthly' Team of the Month
The U15 Team in 2007/2008 reached the fifth round of the Daily Mail
Vase Competition, where they were beaten by The Woodlands.
Most recently in the 2009/10 season, the U15 Team reached the semi-final of the Daily Mail Vase Competition, where they lost 31-21 to Brighton College
.
was formed in April 2001, as of 2009 it parades around 50-60 cadets every week with approximately 10 RAF cadets
and 40-50 Army cadets
.
The Army Section is affiliated to the 2nd Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment
. It came second place overall in 'Ex. Combat Cadet 2008', 49 Brigade's military skills competition. The CCF won the military skills aspect of the competition
and came second in the night navigation exercise. The School also won 'Best CCF'.
The CCF won the Senior Boys part of the National Orienteering competition at Warcop
and also came runners up in the Junior Boys competition. One of the school's cadets also won 'Best Junior Boy'.
The RAF section won the Command Task section of the Air Squadron Trophy in 2007.
The CCF has a small unit of girls from Princess Helena College
.
of the school are called Old Columbans.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
fee-paying independent school
Independent school (UK)
An independent school is a school that is not financed through the taxation system by local or national government and is instead funded by private sources, predominantly in the form of tuition charges, gifts and long-term charitable endowments, and so is not subject to the conditions imposed by...
for boys aged 4-19. The college, founded in 1939 by Philip O’Neill and acquired in 1955 by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart
Brothers of the Sacred Heart
The Brothers of the Sacred Heart are a Catholic religious congregation founded in 1821 by the Reverend André Coindre . Its Constitutions were modeled upon those of the Jesuits, while its Rule of Life was based upon the Rule of Saint Augustine. Its members bind themselves for life by simple vows of...
, is Roman Catholic, and a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference is an association of the headmasters or headmistressess of 243 leading day and boarding independent schools in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and the Republic of Ireland...
of leading independent schools
Independent school (UK)
An independent school is a school that is not financed through the taxation system by local or national government and is instead funded by private sources, predominantly in the form of tuition charges, gifts and long-term charitable endowments, and so is not subject to the conditions imposed by...
. St Columba's has a reputation for academic achievement as well as excellence in sport, particularly in rugby and basketball.
Facing St Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral church at St Albans, England. At , its nave is the longest of any cathedral in England...
across the River Ver
River Ver
The Ver is a river in Hertfordshire, England. The river begins in the grounds of Markyate Cell, and flows south for 12 miles alongside Watling Street through Flamstead, Redbourn, St Albans and Park Street, and joins the River Colne at Bricket Wood....
, the college is built around two historic houses, Watling House and Iona House. It is fully day-schooling in both the Senior school and the adjoined Preparatory and Pre-Preparatory department.
History
The college was founded in 1939 by Philip O’Neill. In 1955 it was acquired by the Brothers of the Sacred HeartBrothers of the Sacred Heart
The Brothers of the Sacred Heart are a Catholic religious congregation founded in 1821 by the Reverend André Coindre . Its Constitutions were modeled upon those of the Jesuits, while its Rule of Life was based upon the Rule of Saint Augustine. Its members bind themselves for life by simple vows of...
.
The college originally had four houses
House system
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...
named for British martyrs
Christian martyrs
A Christian martyr is one who is killed for following Christianity, through stoning, crucifixion, burning at the stake or other forms of torture and capital punishment. The word "martyr" comes from the Greek word μάρτυς, mártys, which means "witness."...
, Alban
Saint Alban
Saint Alban was the first British Christian martyr. Along with his fellow saints Julius and Aaron, Alban is one of three martyrs remembered from Roman Britain. Alban is listed in the Church of England calendar for 22 June and he continues to be venerated in the Anglican, Catholic, and Orthodox...
, Becket
Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion...
, 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...
and More
Thomas More
Sir Thomas More , also known by Catholics as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, social philosopher, author, statesman and noted Renaissance humanist. He was an important councillor to Henry VIII of England and, for three years toward the end of his life, Lord Chancellor...
. These were replaced in 2005 by six houses named after Brothers of the Sacred Heart Schools in America: Charles
Mount Saint Charles Academy
Mount Saint Charles Academy is a private Catholic junior/senior high school located in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence. -History:...
, Guertin
Bishop Guertin High School
Bishop Guertin is a college preparatory private Roman Catholic high school in Nashua, New Hampshire. It was founded by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in 1963. The school is located off Exit 4 of the F. E...
, Joseph, McClancy
Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School
Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School is an all-boys Catholic high school located in the East Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens, New York. As of Fall 2012, the school will start accepting young women, and will become fully co-educational by 2016. Founded by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in 1956,...
, Stanislaus
Saint Stanislaus College
St. Stanislaus College is an all-male Roman Catholic boarding school in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi. It is owned and operated by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart order....
, and Vandebilt
Vandebilt Catholic High School
Vandebilt Catholic High School, located in Houma, Louisiana was founded by the Marianite Sisters of Holy Cross in 1870 and continued by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, is a diocesan co-educational institution for grades 8-12 in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux...
. The Preparatory school still uses the four house system.
Campus
The college sits on a hillside facing St Albans CathedralSt Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral church at St Albans, England. At , its nave is the longest of any cathedral in England...
across the valley of the River Ver
River Ver
The Ver is a river in Hertfordshire, England. The river begins in the grounds of Markyate Cell, and flows south for 12 miles alongside Watling Street through Flamstead, Redbourn, St Albans and Park Street, and joins the River Colne at Bricket Wood....
.
Music
Every term, the school holds chamber concerts which include the Bell Choir, Jazz Band and Orchestra. The school holds a Christmas Carol Service at St Albans CathedralSt Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral church at St Albans, England. At , its nave is the longest of any cathedral in England...
. The school has installed a stained glass window in the Cathedral, which is in honour of the school patron St Columba, and St Mary.
Drama
The school's drama productions are produced with Loreto College girls' schoolLoreto College, St.Albans
Loreto College is an 11–18 voluntary aided comprehensive Roman Catholic school for girls located near the centre of St Albans, Hertfordshire, which achieved Specialist Status in the Humanities in 2005....
and Princess Helena College
Princess Helena College
Princess Helena College is an independent school for girls located in the small village of Preston near Hitchin in Hertfordshire. It is housed in a Grade II* listed Queen Anne country house, which was redesigned by Edwin Lutyens, at the same time as the gardens were designed by his great friend,...
, who play the female lead roles.
Rugby
St Columba's College U18 rugby squad were runners-up in the Daily Mail VaseDaily Mail Vase
The Daily Mail vase is the annual English schools' rugby union cup competition. The semi-finals are now held at Broadstreet Rugby Club. The final is held at Twickenham Stadium. Competitions are held at the U18 and U15 age group levels...
in the 2003/2004 season, when they were beaten by Prince Henry's Grammar School, Otley
Prince Henry's Grammar School, Otley
Prince Henry's Grammar School , also known as Prince Henry's, is a secondary school and sixth form established in 1607 in the historic market town of Otley, West Yorkshire, England. The school teaches boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 18 and has around 1,400 pupils and 84 teachers and...
. Also that season they were named 'Rugby Monthly' Team of the Month
The U15 Team in 2007/2008 reached the fifth round of the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
Vase Competition, where they were beaten by The Woodlands.
Most recently in the 2009/10 season, the U15 Team reached the semi-final of the Daily Mail Vase Competition, where they lost 31-21 to Brighton College
Brighton College
Brighton College is an institution divided between a Senior School known simply as Brighton College, the Prep School and the Pre-Prep School. All of these schools are co-educational independent schools in Brighton, England, sited immediately next to each another. The Senior School caters for...
.
Columban Fayre
The Columban Fayre is an annual event which raises money for the school's facilities. The Columban Fayre is a one of the largest events. There are many different stores held by staff members and pupils, including an auction of promises and the "Secrets Room".Combined Cadet Force
The school's Combined Cadet ForceCombined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
was formed in April 2001, as of 2009 it parades around 50-60 cadets every week with approximately 10 RAF cadets
Air Training Corps
The Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
and 40-50 Army cadets
Army Cadet Force
The Army Cadet Force is a British youth organisation that offers progressive training in a multitude of the subjects from military training to adventurous training and first aid, at the same time as promoting achievement, discipline, and good citizenship, to boys and girls aged 12 to 18 and 9...
.
The Army Section is affiliated to the 2nd Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment
Royal Anglian Regiment
The Royal Anglian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Queen's Division.The regiment was formed on 1 September 1964 as the first of the new large infantry regiments, through the amalgamation of the four regiments of the East Anglian Brigade.* 1st Battalion from the...
. It came second place overall in 'Ex. Combat Cadet 2008', 49 Brigade's military skills competition. The CCF won the military skills aspect of the competition
and came second in the night navigation exercise. The School also won 'Best CCF'.
The CCF won the Senior Boys part of the National Orienteering competition at Warcop
Warcop
Warcop is a village and civil parish in the Eden district of Cumbria, England. It is near the A66 road and is north of Kirkby Stephen.It had its own railway station, Warcop railway station from 1862 to 1962...
and also came runners up in the Junior Boys competition. One of the school's cadets also won 'Best Junior Boy'.
The RAF section won the Command Task section of the Air Squadron Trophy in 2007.
The CCF has a small unit of girls from Princess Helena College
Princess Helena College
Princess Helena College is an independent school for girls located in the small village of Preston near Hitchin in Hertfordshire. It is housed in a Grade II* listed Queen Anne country house, which was redesigned by Edwin Lutyens, at the same time as the gardens were designed by his great friend,...
.
Notable alumni
Old boysAlumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
of the school are called Old Columbans.
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. - Mark LawsonMark LawsonMark Gerard Lawson is an English journalist, broadcaster and author.-Life and career:Born in Hendon, London, Lawson was raised in Yorkshire and is a Leeds United fan. He was educated at St Columba's College in St Albans and took a degree in English at University College London, where his lecturers...
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