51°16′48″N 0°44′35″W / 51.280°N 0.743°W / 51.280; -0.743

Salesian College

School badge

Salesian College in 2012
Location
Farnborough
,
Hampshire
,
GU14 6PA

England
Information
TypePrivate day school
MottoVirtus Sola Nobilitas
(Latin: "Virtue is the only nobility")
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic (Salesian)
Established1901
Department for Education URN116543 Tables
HeadmasterGerard Owens
GenderBoys
Coeducational (Sixth Form)
Age11 to 18
Enrolment634[1]
Colour(s)  
Patron SaintSt John Bosco
Websitehttp://www.salesiancollege.com

Salesian College is an 11–18 independent Roman Catholic day school in Farnborough, Hampshire, England. Founded in 1901 as a small preparatory school for boys, it soon expanded to provide secondary education owing to its increasing popularity. In November 2022, the school had a total of 634 pupils enrolled, 129 in the Sixth Form.[2] For the 2007–08 academic year, the College announced that it would admit girls into the Sixth Form for the first time.

The college has a ‘strong’ record of academic achievement, with a 100% pass rate at GCSE in 2015, and 99.5% at A Level. In 2022, following an inspection conducted by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), Salesian College received the highest rating of "Excellent".

As of 2023, the 100% GCSE Pass Rate of 2015 sharply declined to 95.5%, with 49 GCSEs graded at <4 (fail grade)

History

Establishment

In 1901, Bishop Cahill of the Diocese of Portsmouth invited the Salesians of Battersea to take over the orphanage, a former tin factory, in Queen's Road, Farnborough. This marked the beginning of the Salesians' work in education in the local area and as a parish.[3] By 1902 a reporter in Sheldrakes Military Gazette noted that the thirty 'poor Catholic waifs and those sons of sore stricken Roman Catholic parents' had a home 'comfortable in every respect',[4] and were learning trades to prepare them for life's struggles.

The numbers of boys attending the school increased as a result of boarding requirements becoming heavier. With the increased demand for places at the school, more building work on the school site required to take place. As a result, a new dormitory was constructed along with a small refectory and some additional classrooms. Prior to World War I, the new wing and tower was completed which consisted of the dormitories and toilets on the upper floor, and the staff refectory and modern kitchen facilities located on the lower floor, were created.

Structural growth

Under previous Headmaster, Mr Wilson, the College witnessed substantial structural growth, the most significant being the erection of the Sean Devereux Sixth Form Centre providing facilities for girls, and new classrooms built equipped with improved technology. During the Great War, 58 former Salesian College pupils fought during the war effort, and died, whilst others who took part were awarded several decorations for their efforts during the Great War. In 1916, the area which is now the school playground was acquired, and the school playing fields located on Park Road were purchased to be used in the War effort for the "Grow More Food campaign".

In 1956, work began on the construction of the Blackburn Building. Upon completion, it would provide facilities for ten new classrooms, a new hall, gymnasium, as well as changing rooms. By 1963, new laboratories and a lecture hall were constructed alongside the new school. The school became an independent grammar school in 1966, and by 1970, the preparatory school was discontinued which saw the departure three years later of the Salesian Sisters. In 1979, Salesian College had no boarders attending the school, something which had never occurred in the schools history until that point. As a result, this lead the school to becoming a provision exclusively for day pupils only.

Recent history

Further expansion works continued, and in 1997, the Delmer building was completed, providing the school with new ICT facilities, art rooms, staffroom, a Technology Suite, general teaching classrooms as well as new office accommodation. In 1998, the Sean Devereux Sixth Form centre was fully refurbished as well as extended in terms of size and accommodation. The original College building at Sherbourne Road was demolished in 1999.

The College maintains links with the nearby Alton Convent School and often organises joint activities and events together, such as the yearly Lower Sixth trip to Tregoyd and the Senior College Prom. The most recent addition to the college is the renovation of the old music school. The process began during the 2012–2013 academic year and the new Father Brendan McGuinness Music Building was completed and officially opened in September 2013. It is named in honour of the college's former chaplain who has a long-standing affiliation with the college, lasting over half a century.

The College's entrance examination currently consists of tests in Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, English and a written task sat by boys in year 6.[5]

Overview

Founded in 1901, Salesian College is one of the top performing boys schools in Hampshire, with all boys attending the school each receiving an iPad which are used as part of learning and teaching, and are fully integrated into classroom lessons.[6]

Curriculum

In the Lower School of the school, between Years 7-9, boys follow a core curriculum consisting of a total of 16 subjects. In the Upper School, between Years 10–11, boys study a total of 10+ subjects to GCSE which include core and option choice subjects. In the Sixth Form, between Years 12–13, all students are required to study 4 subjects in Year 12, with the majority of subjects reducing to 3 subjects in Year 13. An Extended Project Qualification is available for pupils who are in Year 13.[7]

Salesian College states that is "encourage all students to aspire to the highest level of academic achievement", citing the "selective nature of the College" as an enabling factor that allows the school to offer a curriculum that is "broad and balanced which encourages a desire to learn".[8] The school provides curriculum teaching in the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Religious Studies, with boys in Years 7–9 studying Art, Classics, Computing, Drama, French, Geography, History, Music and Spanish. Co-ordinated Sciences are taught from Year 7, then boys go onto study either Biology, Physics or Chemistry as separate entity subjects from Year 9 onwards. Additionally, boys in Years 7-9 have one timetabled period of Physical Education, and two periods of Games, each week.[9]

From Year 10 onwards, boys are required to study the subjects of Maths, English, Religious Studies and either Combined (Double) Sciences or Triple Science, plus an additional selection of optional subjects as they prepare to undertake their GCSE examinations.[10]

The schools Year 7 Junior Drama Club works towards the annual Performing Arts Evening during the schools Autumn Term.[11] Year 8 boys also participate in an LAMDA examination, which upon completion, gives them a qualification in devising, with the final examination being performed in front of an external examiner. By Year 9, boys are prepared for Key Stage 4 with a GCSE Foundation Drama Club, which aims to expand on the learning of "more able and keen actors".[12]

Academic attainment

In 2023, the school attained 'excellent' A level results, with a 100% pass rate, an accolade the school has held for the eighth consecutive year, with 87% of grades awarded in the A*-C range in GCSE examinations.[13] The college is regarded as one of the highest achieving co-educational sixth form providers in Hampshire based on examination results. The schools 2023 GCSE results saw 97.2% of boys having achieved at least ten grades 9-4 each, including in the core curriculum subjects of English and Maths. 87% of all grades across the school were 5-9, and 70% of all grades were 6-9. [14]

Notable former pupils

Old Salesians Association

The Farnborough Old Salesians Association (OSA) is a society for former pupils who wish to contact other Old Boys. It has its foundations in the 1920s, with its first formal meeting held in 1927.[17] The association has organised whole-year reunions.[18] The association aims to provide all of its Old Boys around the world with information on other Old Boys, on events at the College, and on the OSA's activities.

For those Old Boys who live locally, the OSA organises activities throughout the year, such as a Remembrance Mass in November, OSA soccer matches and the soccer tour, OSA golf days and the golf tour, the Annual Reunion and AGM (two weeks after Easter), a presence at the College's Garden Fete, as well as funding OSA Prizes at Prizegiving. The OSA regularly assists the Salesian family in various local undertaking and around the world by activity or financial aid. The OSA maintains links with the wider Salesian family by means of the Salesian Past Pupils UK and Ex Allievi di Don Bosco.[19]

In the 1970s the OSA donated a marble tablet in commemoration of the Old Boys who gave their lives in the Second World War. The tablet shows the OSA (at that time the Salesian Old Boys Association Farnborough) badge and the motto "Salesian Old Boys Let not the glory fade away Keep bright the flame of memory and honour them 1939–1945."

Headmasters

1983–1997: Br Michael Delmer
1997–2014: Patrick A. Wilson
2014–present: Gerard Owens

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Inspection Report" (PDF). Independent Schools Inspectorate. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "Inspection Report" (PDF). Independent Schools Inspectorate. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  3. ↑ "Many Lives through Many Eyes..." A Hundred Years of the Salesians in Farnborough, 2001, p. 8. Compiled by Rev. Francis Sutherland, SDB
  4. ↑ Sheldrakes Military Gazette as cited in "Many Lives through Many Eyes..." A Hundred Years of the Salesians in Farnborough, 2001, p. 8
  5. ↑ "Entrance examination". Salesiancollege.com.
  6. ↑ "Facts about the College". Salesian College. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  7. ↑ "Academic Overview". Salesian College. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  8. ↑ "Prospectus" (PDF). Salesian College. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "Prospectus" (PDF). Salesian College. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  10. ↑ "Prospectus" (PDF). Salesian College. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  11. ↑ "Prospectus" (PDF). Salesian College. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  12. ↑ "Prospectus" (PDF). Salesian College. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  13. ↑ "Examination Results". Salesian College. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  14. ↑ "Examination Results". Salesian College. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  15. ↑ Wakefield Express 5 September 1959
  16. ↑ "Salesian College Autumn Term Newsletter Jan 2019" (PDF). Salesian College. January 2019.
  17. ↑ "Many Lives through Many Eyes..." A Hundred Years of the Salesians in Farnborough, 2001, p. 113
  18. ↑ Farnborough Old Salesians Association webpage Archived 12 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ↑ "Many Lives through Many Eyes..." A Hundred Years of the Salesians in Farnborough, 2001, p.114
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