St Philomena's Catholic High School for Girls

St Philomena's Catholic High School for Girls
Address
Shorts Road Carshalton , Greater London , SM5 3PS England
Coordinates	51°21′56″N 0°10′09″W
Information
Type	Voluntary aided school
Motto	Nisi Dominus aedific vanum ("Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain who build it". – Psalm 127)
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Established	1893 (1893)
Closed	N/A
Local authority	Sutton
Department for Education URN	103013 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Chair	Mary Ryan[2]
Headteacher	Maria Noone[1]
Gender	Girls[1]
Age	11 to 18[1]
Enrolment	As of 2024^[update]: 1479[1]
Capacity	1549[1]
Houses	St Rose, St Catherine, St Teresa, St Clare, St Cecilia, St Bernadette, St Monica, St Angela and St Cecelia
Colour(s)	Brown
Publication	The Philomenian
Website	www.stphils.org.uk

St Philomena's Catholic High School for Girls is a school for girls (aged 11–18) in Carshalton in the London Borough of Sutton.

History

Foundation

The school was founded by the Daughters of the Cross in 1893^[3] and is situated in twenty-five acres of parkland with some notable buildings. The main building on the property was once Carshalton House, a grand manor house built in the early eighteenth century by Edward Carleton. It was the home of the physician, Dr. John Radcliffe, until his death in 1714.^[4] Other owners included Sir John Fellowes, 1st Baronet, Sub-Governor of the South Sea Company; Lord Anson, admiral; and Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke, Lord High Chancellor.^[5]

Modern

In 2004, the school was awarded Technology College status. In April 2006, it was awarded a Language College status alongside the Technology College status. In 2007, a new Learning Resource Centre, including a library, was opened.^{[citation needed]}

In 2016, a new classroom block, the Veritas Centre opened. The new block consists of eight total classrooms, the ground floor accommodating two Food Technology classrooms and two Science laboratories, and the upper floor with dual-purpose Arts and Textiles classrooms. Staff/equipment rooms that connect between classrooms are also on each floor.^{[citation needed]}

Inspections

In 2008, Ofsted judged the school to be Outstanding.^[6] The next full inspection was in 2022, with a judgement of Good.^[7] As of 2024^[update], this is the most recent inspection.

Controversy

In April 2012, a student reported St Philomena's to PinkNews for urging its pupils to sign an anti-gay marriage petition in protest at the government's proposal to allow gay couples to marry in civil ceremonies.^[8]

Alumni

• Finola O'Farrell DBE (b. 1960) – High Court judge and barrister^{[citation needed]}
• Margaret Prosser OBE (b. 1937) – Labour life peer and former trade unionist^[9]

References

1. "St Philomena's Catholic High School for Girls". Get Information about Schools. Gov.UK. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
2. "St Philomena's Catholic High School for Girls: Governance". Get Information about Schools. Gov.UK. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
3. "Daughters of the Cross | Ministries | St Philomena's". daughtersofthecross.org.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
4. "Carshalton House Grounds, Water Tower and Historic Garden including St Philomena's School *s School *". londongardensonline.org.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
5. Weinreb, Ben; Hibbert, Christopher (1992). The London Encyclopaedia (reprint ed.). Macmillan. pp. 128–129.
6. Wellham, Anne (2008). "St Philomena's School". Ofsted. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
7. Quaye, Jeffery (2022). "Inspection of St Philomena's Catholic High School for Girls". Ofsted. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
8. "Exclusive: Education Secretary orders investigation of Catholic Schools' anti-gay petition scandal". PinkNews. 28 April 2012.
9. Alexandra Rucki (22 September 2012). "Baroness Margaret Prosser of Battersea reflects on career in new book". Your Local Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2024.

External links

• Official website