- Founded in 1863, this academy is one of England's oldest and most distinguished state-funded Catholic schools for boys aged 7-18 and girls in the sixth form. It describes itself as “trad but quirky”.
- The motto is Respice Finem — “Look to the end”, based on a maxim of St Philip Neri, one of the school’s inspirational Church figures from the 16th century — which urges pupils to seek joy and fulfilment in this life and the next.
- The broad liberal arts curriculum includes Latin and Greek, and the school continues its traditional emphasis on music. The Schola sings at Saturday evening mass in term-time and is famed for its contribution to the Grammy award-winning soundtrack for The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
- Rugby, cricket, rowing, fencing and water polo are on offer, and a non-contact boxing club has been added to the sporting line-up. Pupils take part in the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and the school is one of the largest state-school providers of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme.
- Former pupils include the actor Simon Callow; the head of the Aslef trade union, Mick Whelan; and Euan Blair, who founded the apprenticeship company Multiverse.
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