MixedIndependent

St Columba's College

St Albans, Hertfordshire, East of England · AL3 4AW

Founded in 1939, St Columba's College is a Roman Catholic independent school in St Albans that takes pupils from age four through to the sixth form. With around 820 on roll, it sits comfortably in the medium-sized band and combines a faith ethos with a broad academic curriculum. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school excellent, including for pupils' personal development, with compliance requirements fully met. Notably, more than four in ten pupils receive some form of SEN support, suggesting a school used to working closely with individual learning needs.

820

Pupils

excellent

ISI

£26,528

Day fees / yr

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Overview & data

Gender: Mixed
Type: independent (fee-paying) school
Age range: 4-18
Pupils: 820
Location: St Albans, Hertfordshire, East of England
Website: stcolumbascollege.org
Telephone: 01727 855185

Entrance & admissions

Entry age: 11

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Headteacher

Head Mr Karl Guest

Latest results

Attainment 8

32.9

National average 46.9

GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)

National average 47%

GCSE grade 9-7

55%

A-level A*-A

43%

A-level A*-B

72%

Teaching & academics

Results present a mixed picture: at GCSE, 55 per cent of grades fall in the 9-7 range, yet the school's Attainment 8 figure of 32.9 sits well below the national average of 46.9. At A-level the profile is stronger, with 43 per cent of entries graded A*-A and 72 per cent A*-B. The sixth form, around 160 strong, supports a wide subject menu spanning sciences, mathematics and further mathematics, economics, humanities and the arts, alongside the EPQ.

Sixth form

Sixth-form pupils: 160

Popular A-level subjects

MathematicsFurther MathematicsEconomicsHistoryGovernment and PoliticsPsychologyPhysicsChemistryBiologyReligious StudiesDrama and Theatre StudiesBusiness StudiesPhysical Education / Sports StudiesSociology

Qualifications offered

GCSEA-levelEPQ

Learning support & SEN

SEN support: 43.13%
EHC plans: 0%

Arts & extracurricular

Scholarships

AcademicMusicDramaSports

Languages

FrenchSpanish

Popular GCSE subjects

MathematicsEnglishSciencesReligious StudiesBusiness StudiesDesign & TechnologyPhysical EducationComputer StudiesDramaArt & DesignFrenchSpanishLatinMusic

Beyond the classroom

Scholarships in music, drama and sport, sitting beside academic awards, point to genuine strengths beyond the classroom. The GCSE and A-level offer includes drama, art and design, music and physical education, giving creative and sporting pupils room to develop.

Ethos & heritage

Founded: 1939
Religious character: RC
Boarding: No

Mobile phone policy

Senior school students are allowed to bring their mobile phone to school, but once on site must turn it off and not access it during the school day. If they urgently need to contact home, students are able to ask to use them phone in the reception area.

Money matters

Day fees (per year): £14,307 - £26,528
Bursaries up to: 95% of fees

Means-tested bursaries available from 11+, covering up to 95 per cent of fees

Inspection reports

ISI rating: excellent
ISI personal development: excellent
Last inspected: 27 January 2026

Read the full inspection report ↗

The last word

A Catholic school with an excellent ISI verdict and generous means-tested bursaries of up to 95 per cent, well suited to families drawn to a values-led, all-through education.

The Passmate verdict