User:Connortr5/St Columba's Catholic Boys' School

Overview
==== St Columba's Catholic Boys School is a forward looking 11-16 school founded on the expectation of good teaching, firm discipline and high standards. The school sees itself as a happy and caring place in which every child can work, grow and achieve their best. ==== ==== St Columba's is celebrating their best ever results with 94% of our students achieving grades A*-C. They pride themselves on being a caring school, and the results show that their traditional standards of quality care and high expectations work in helping their students exceed national averages with 72% of all their entries achieving a grade C or above. ====

==== Education at St Columba's is an exciting journey of discovery. As a high-achieving comprehensive school for boys aged 11-16, they challenge every student to achieve his best...every step of the way. By setting the highest learning and behaviour expectations, boys accomplish remarkable feats, reflected in recent 'best ever' exam results. ====

History of St Columba's
St Columba’s Catholic Boys’ School was opened on 7th May 1973 by the prime Minister the Rt Hon. Edward Heath MBE MP. The School was blessed on 21st June 1973 by the Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark Right Reverend Monsignor C J Henderson.

The Lower and Upper Schools were amalgamated on the present site in June 1990.The extended building were opened and blessed by the Most Reverend Michael Bowen Archbishop of Southwark on 23rd April 1991.

In 2005 the Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark Right Reverend Monsignor C J Henderson came back to bless the £5 million new build which included the new John Paul II teaching block, the new Sports Hall, and the refurbishment of the Iona Theatre.

Spiritual Life of the School
In 2010, A selective number of pupils were chosen to go to see the Pope (Benedict XVI), During his visit to the UK. St Columba's took 4 of its Pupils to St Marys University in Twickenham where the Pope (Benedict XVI) gave a mass.

Community cohesion is an outstanding feature of the school. The school is very inclusive and there are students from other faiths and denominations who feel welcomed and valued as full members of the community.

Section 48 Inspection Report, December 2010

All stakeholders strive to fulfil its [St Columba's] inclusive vision to meet the personal and academic potential of each individual, based firmly on the school's Roman Catholic ethos...As one Parent put is, 'My son's strengths have been spotted and are being used, encourgaed and developed. His different faith ground is encouraged and he never feels excluded or left out'

OFSTED Section 5 Report, October 2010

Badge & Motto Explanation
Our motto - Tenui Nec Dimittam - is from the Song of Songs in the Old Testament. Its author, Solomon, reigned over Israel for what could be argued to be its most prosperous period. Solomon was a man of great Faith and great Wisdom so it is particularly apt that our motto hails from his writings. We now translate our motto to mean “I have found the faith [whom my soul loves] and I will not let go”. To have found the faith preached by St Columba, to live our lives by it, and hold steadfast to it, is central to who we are as St Columba’s Community.

Our Motto is represented in circular fashion at the centre of our crest. The Circle represents the eternity of the Father, with the Son and Holy Spirit. It is at the centre of who we are. It is also reflective of God’s unending love for his peoples.

The Cross of Jesus our Saviour is central to our life as Christians. St Columba’s is a Christo-centric community - one centred on the love of Jesus.

Columba, Colum-Cille in the native Gaelic, means ‘Dove of the churches’. Columba finds his representation in the doves on our Crest. Four doves, one for each of the Four Cardinal Virtues: Prudence; Fortitude, Justice; and Temperance.

They are aiming to achieve even better grades in 2013!
Category:Comprehensive schools in Bexley Category:Secondary schools in Bexley Category:Boys schools in Bexley Category:Performing arts colleges in England Category:Educational institutions established in 1973