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 the Borough of Sutton, London, England. Ofsted praised the school as 'outstanding' [http://www.sutton.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3B4D4121-F405-4538-9B85-8982AF8C79E5/0/Weekending25January08.pdf Teaching Vacancies] Teaching Vacancies pamphlet that provides information concerning the school] and the Archdiocese of Southwark found the establishment to be 'a very strong school'.Fact|date=November 2007 As of 2007 the headmistress is Jackie Johnson, [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/103/103013.pdf The school's page on Ofsted website. Report is available as a pdf link on this page] . Retrieved 2007-11-21] the chair of governors is Dr. Mary Howard, and the democratically-elected Head Girl is Eleanor Brown. It also has Technology and Language College Status.

History

The school was founded by the Daughters of the Cross in 1893 and is situated in twenty-five acres of parkland with some notable buildings. [http://www.stphils.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=63 St. Philomena's School website - facilities] . Retrieved 2007-11-21] . A new learning resource centre was opened on 1 May 2007, providing state-of-the art facilities, including video conferencing. In 2004 it was awarded Technology College status. It was recentlywhen awarded a language college status alongside the technology college status. The music video, "Driftwood", by Travis, was filmed in the grounds of the school.Fact|date=November 2007

tudent support system

The school is known for its academic success, being a non-selective school gaining well above the national average at both GCSE level and A-Level. There has however been much controversy over how these grades were achieved. Many students upon starting A-level were forced to do applied A-levels (subjects traditionally known as easier) in order to achieve higher statistics.

The sixth-form from September 2007 were told in a letter from deputy head Mrs Cavadino, that a new “business like uniform” was to be adopted and “no bear mid-drifts” allowed – (note that this is quoted from the actual letter given to students with these instructions in September 2007, and yes she spelt bare like a bear (big furry things that will kill you) which was a big error on her part, mostly because students with either hairy or bear tattooed mid-drifts were wrongly instructed).

All A-level students who received below a C grade in their January 2008 examinations were instructed that St. Philomena’s no longer had a place for them. However, the school does have a program for students upon leaving, instructing them to work in Tesco’s, or if they hit the C grade (clearly showing more potential) instructed to go for a job at Marks and Spencer’s Food. St. Philomena’s would never drop students without helping them find a secure and appropriate career path. If they didn’t it would clash with their strong Roman Catholic beliefs, begging the questions of WWJD (what would Jesus do?)

Previous Alumni

Previous alumni include Joan Collins, Ross Kemp, Kate Moss, Peter Jones, Sisters of the cross and Ikea Sweden.

References

External links

* [http://www.stphils.org.uk/ St. Philomena's School website]