Head of Music and Performing Arts

St Columba’s is an HMC, non-denominational School founded in 1897, initially as a School for Girls. It has been co-educational since 1982 with equal numbers of boys and girls. The current roll for the entire School, from Nursery to Senior VI, is 670. The Junior School is situated a quarter of a mile from Senior School and has a roll of just over 250.The School currently holds Investor in People status at Gold level.

The first thing you notice at St Columba’s is the warm welcome. This is in part the result of our size. Teachers know each pupil by name. Indeed, recognition of the individual is an important feature of the School’s vision; considerable effort is made to create an environment which allows us to identify and nurture the unique talents and skills of each student, and encourage all of them to realise their full potential. Our success is evident not only in the excellent academic results achieved, regularly placing St Columba’s as one of the highest performing schools nationally, but in the impressive young people whom you will meet in our classrooms, at an international debate, or on a rugby field: they are polite, articulate and quietly self-assured.

There has been significant investment in facilities, including the opening of an additional Junior School building in 2001. Between 2014 and 2016, a number of major developments of the School’s facilities have been undertaken including: the refurbishment of the Science building; the replacement of the Astro turf hockey pitch; and a major development of the Junior School grounds. The extension to the Senior School which opened in October, 2016, includes a pastoral care suite, a new library, 13 new classrooms and faculty bases. Taken together, these developments represent a significant investment in the future of the School.

In June 2011, St Columba’s was inspected by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education. The report which is exceptionally positive is attached separately.