St Philomena's Catholic High School for Girls

St Philomena's Catholic High School for Girls is a school for girls (aged 11–18) in Carshalton, South London, England. Ofsted praised the school as 'outstanding'[1] and the Archdiocese of Southwark found the establishment to be 'a very strong school'.[2] the Chair of Governors is Dr. M Howard, the Headteacher is Ms M Noone.

St Philomena's Catholic High School for Girls
Address
Pound Street Carshalton , Greater London 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)
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Established	1893 (1893)
Closed	N/A
Local authority	Sutton.
Department for Education URN	103013 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
President	Ms Noone
Gender	Girls
Age	11 to 18
Houses	St Rose, St Catherine, St Teresa, St Clare, St Cecilia, St Bernadette, St Monica, St Angela and St Cecelia
Colour(s)	Brown and Cream
Publication	The Philomenian
Website	http://www.stphils.org.uk/

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 noted physician, Dr. John Radcliffe until his death in 1714.[4]

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. In 2016, a new classroom block opened.

The school should not be confused with St. Philomena's School at St. Mary Cray near Orpington, Kent, a RC foundation operating from the 1950s.[5]

Controversy

In April 2012, St Philomena’s was exposed by a student to Pinknews.co.uk for urging its pupils, some as young as 11, to sign an anti-gay marriage petition in protest of the government’s proposal to allow gay couples to marry in civil ceremonies. A presentation on religious opposition to the government’s proposal was shown to students encouraged them to sign and add their names to the Coalition for Marriage’s petition. Bigoted comments made by the school’s headmistress, who was presenting, caused many LGBTQ+ students in the school to buy ‘Gay Pride badges’ and post posters around the school in support of LGBTQ+ rights.

A government inquiry by the Welsh government investigated whether the school was in breach of sections 406-7 of the Education Act 1996, which forbids ‘the promotion of partisan political views in the teaching of any subject in the school’, and requires balanced treatment of political issues, but it was ruled that St Philomena’s did not break the rules on political partisanship.

School Houses

House	Colour
St Rose
St Catherine
St Teresa
St Clare
St Cecilia
St Bernadette
St Monica
St Angela

References

1. Ofsted report Archived 2012-07-22 at the Wayback Machine Ofsted report of 2008
2. The school's page on Ofsted website. Retrieved 2007-11-21 Archived 2008-12-04 at the Wayback Machine
3. "Daughters of the Cross | Ministries | St Philomena's". www.daughtersofthecross.org.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
4. "Carshalton House Grounds, Water Tower and Historic Garden including St Philomena's School *s School *". www.londongardensonline.org.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
5. "St Philomena's School". St. Philomena's St. Mary Cray. Retrieved 25 April 2019.

External links

• St. Philomena's School website