St Edmund’s College, England’s oldest Catholic school, is a leading co-educational independent day and boarding Catholic School for boys and girls aged 3–18. From the Nursery to the Sixth Form, St Edmund’s College offers an education that challenges and stimulates, developing the whole person in the intellectual, physical, emotional and spiritual areas of life. The richness of sporting, musical and co-curricular provisions, set alongside high academic standards, is testament to the College’s success and popularity.
Located on a beautiful site in rural East Hertfordshire, only 40 minutes to London by train, St Edmund’s has outstanding transport links to the surrounding area and makes full use of the excellent facilities on its 450-acre site, including floodlit astroturf pitches and indoor swimming pool.
Scholarships are available at the Year 3, 7, 9 and 12 entry points, and we welcome applications for entry to all years when places are available. A proudly Catholic school, only around one third of pupils are actually Catholic, and St Edmund’s welcomes students from all faiths and of no faith at all.
Admission. Students are mainly admitted at the ages of 11, 13 and 16, although entry is always considered at other ages if there are spaces available.
Scholarships. The College offers the following scholarships:
St Edmund’s College 11+ Scholarships:
Douay Academic Scholarships are decided by the mark in the 11+ Entrance Exam, the school report, the confidential school report and the interview with the Headmaster.
Old Hall Academic Scholarships are restricted to Catholic students who are in a Catholic school (and have been for the last two years). As above, this award is decided by the mark in the 11+ entrance exam, the school report, the confidential school report and the interview with the Headmaster or a College Senior Leader.
All Rounder Scholarships are decided by interview, school report, confidential report and mark in the Entrance Exam. For this award, the child will be competent academically and also be able to make a substantial contribution to other areas of life at St Edmund’s. This will be as agreed with the Headmaster but contributions might be to one or more aspects, such as drama, music, technology, the Catholic life of the College, specialised sports or outdoor pursuits.
Art Scholarships are decided by examination of a portfolio and a test. Scholars are required to make a significant contribution to the artistic life of the College.
Music Scholarships are decided by audition and include the provision of free tuition in two instruments. Scholars will normally be required to play two instruments with at least one being Grade 4 certification level (voice can be counted as one instrument).
Music Exhibitions may also be awarded which give free tuition in either one or two instruments. Those in receipt of Music Scholarships and Exhibitions are required to make a significant and sustained contribution to the musical life of the College.
Sport Scholarships are decided by open competition and references from sports clubs or teachers where the child is already involved in sport at a very high level, for example, County level. Scholars will be expected to play a full and sustained role in the sporting life of the College.
The closing date for Year 7 scholarship applications is in mid-November for entry the following September.
St Edmund's College 13+ Scholarships:
These follow the same pattern and assessment structure as St Edmund's College 11+ Scholarships, other than there being no All Rounder Scholarship available at this age group entry point.
Sixth Form Scholarships:
At 16+, the Cardinal Allen Academic Scholarship is decided by open competition using the results of specially set scholarship examinations, interview and previous school reports. Candidates for these scholarships would be expected to achieve all A/A* grades in their GCSEs. Music, Sport and Art scholarships may also be offered through competitive test.
The closing date for Year 12 scholarship applications is in mid-November for entry the following September.
Bursaries. We also offer a limited number of means-tested bursaries at 11+, of up to 100% of fees. The closing date is in early December.
Further details are available from the Admissions Office on 01920 824247.
Fees per term (2024–2025). College: Day Pupils: £6,565–£7,716; Weekly Boarders: £9,105–£11,177; Full Boarders: £10,921–£13,654.
There are reductions for siblings and for sons and daughters of serving members of the Armed Forces.
Curriculum. All pupils follow the National Curriculum. At the end of Year 11, pupils take GCSE examinations in all courses that they have followed, usually more than is required by the National Curriculum.
In Rhetoric (Sixth Form), students study A levels or CTEC courses, the majority leaving to go on to prestigious universities and companies around the world.
Religious Instruction. St Edmund’s is a College for all those who appreciate the values of a Catholic Education. All students receive instruction in Christian doctrine and practice from lay teachers. Importance is attached to the liturgical life of the College and the practical expression of faith. All faiths and denominations are welcomed.
Sport. Great importance is attached to sport and physical education throughout the College, reflecting the ethos, 'Play more; play better'. All pupils are required to participate in a variety of sports. The major sports for boys are rugby, football, cricket and athletics, while for girls they are hockey, netball, rounders and athletics. Other sports available include golf, cross-country, tennis, swimming, basketball and badminton. A floodlit astroturf pitch, large sports hall, indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, strength and conditioning suite and cardiovascular fitness suite, together with 450 acres of grounds, provide excellent facilities.
Co-curricular activities. At St Edmund’s we believe that education reaches far beyond the academic success of our students. The School's commitment is to the development of the whole person, which is reflected in the broad range of almost 200 activities on offer to everyone. At St Edmund's success can reach far beyond the classroom.
Each day between 3.30 pm and 4.30 pm, time is set aside for students to pursue an interest or activity. Wednesday afternoons are also dedicated to our activities programme.
The CCF (RAF and Army sections), Community Service and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award play a prominent part in developing a self-reliant and confident individual.
Careers. There is a Head of Careers and Careers Library. Careers advice is available to pupils from the age of 13. There are regular careers lectures and visits to industry and universities. The Director of Sixth Form is also an integral part of the careers team offering advice and structured support for University choices and applications.
Prep School. St Edmund’s also includes a Prep situated on the same estate. It consists of a Nursery, Infants and Junior School for pupils from age 3 to 11, which feeds into the Senior School at 11. The pupils are able to make use of many of the amenities of the Senior School such as the Refectory, Chapel, Swimming Pool and Sports Hall. There is no boarding at the Prep School.
(For further details, see entry in IAPS section.)
Charitable status. St Edmund’s College is a Registered Charity, number 311073. It aims to provide a Catholic Education for students of all faiths between the ages of 3 and 18.
Governors & Staff:
President & Patron: His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster
Governors:
Mr Paul Raynes, MA Cantab (Chair)
Mrs Jane Ranzetta (Deputy Chair and Chair of Academic Sub-Committee)
Mr John Bryant (Chair of Prep School Sub-Committee)
Mr Stephen Grounds, BSc, DPhil
Fr Alban McCoy, OFM Conv, BA, MLitt
Ms Nichola Walsh, BA Hons, MA
Dr Veronica Fulton, FCA, MA, DSG
Clerk to the Governors: Mrs K Pugsley
Senior Leadership Team:
Headmaster/DSM Child Protection: Mr M Mostyn, BA Hons Exeter, MA Ed
Headmaster of Prep School: Mr S Cartwright, BSc Surrey
Bursar: Mr P Watkinson, MBA London, BSc Reading
Deputy Head Academic: Mrs S Sanders, BA Hons London, PGCE Cantab
Deputy Head Pastoral: Mr C Upton, BA Hons Durham, PGCE Sunderland, PGDM Open
Deputy Head Religious Life: Mrs P Peirce, BD AKC London
Deputy Head St Edmund’s Prep/DSL Child Protection: Dr F J F McLauchlan, MA, PhD Cantab
Assistant Head Academic Timetable, Curriculum & Data: Mrs R A K West, BEd Hons Exeter
Assistant Head Academic Teaching and Learning: Mrs C Noble, BA Hons Exeter, PGCE Canterbury
Assistant Head Community Life/Deputy DSL Child Protection: Mrs L Dunhill, BSc Hons, PGCE Nottingham
Assistant Head Pastoral/DSL Child Protection: Mr G West, BSc East Anglia
Assistant Head Co-Curricular: Mr N Lee, BSc Hons Birmingham
Assistant Head of St Edmund’s Prep: Mr G Duddy, BEd Wales
Director of External Relations: Mrs J Ariano, MBA Heriot-Watt Edinburgh, MA London, BA Hons Anglia Ruskin
Head of Boarding: Mr A Smerdon, BSc Hons St Mary’s Twickenham, PGCE South Bank
Head of Finance/Deputy Bursar: Mrs N Castle, FCCA
Human Resources Director: Mrs H Duffy, LLB Hull, PGDL
Priest in Residence: Revd Father P H Lyness, MA Rhodes
Technical Projects Director: Mr S Winfield
Heads of Department:
Art, Design and Technology: Miss A M Healy, BA Luton
Business Studies and Economics: Miss E Chilton, MEd Cantab, BA Lancaster
Drama: Mrs N Schiff, MA Herts, BA Plymouth, PGCE Reading
English and Media Studies: Mr A Hay, MEd Cantab, PGDip London, BA Hons Oxford Brookes
Geography: Mr P Bittles, BSc Hons Belfast, PGCE Liverpool Hope
History and Politics: Mr C Berkley, BA Liverpool, PGCE ARU CELTYL Seoul, TESOL Trinity College London, CELTA Cantab
Information Technology and Computing: Mr K R Fry, BSc Brunel, MSc Herts, PGCE Exeter
International Department: Miss Z Hibbert, BA Hons Portsmouth, PGCE Cantab, Delta M1 & M2 Seville Cert, TESOL UCL
Languages:
French: Mrs F Harvey-Keenan, BA Hons Durham, PGCE Nottingham
German: Mrs J Gardner, BA Bradford, PGCE Herts
Italian and Latin: Miss S Rinaldi, BA Hons Open
Spanish: Ms E Gambino, BA Hons Manchester, PGCE Middlesex
Mathematics: Mrs H Fraser, BSc, PGCE East Anglia
Music: Mr A O’Brien, MA London, MMus City, MPerf City, BA Hons East Anglia
Physical Education: Mr K Dixon, MSc Brunel, MSc Oxon, BSc Manchester (from April 2023)
Psychology: Mr N Eliasson, MA Birmingham, PGCE Canterbury, BSc Hertfordshire
Religious Studies: Miss A Moloney, BA Hons Surrey, PGCE Roehampton
Science: Miss M Towns, BSc UWE Bristol, PGCE London
Cardinal Hume Centre, Learning Support: Mrs N Wells, BSc Hons Hertfordshire, PGCE Greenwich
Careers: Mrs E Thomas, BA Hons Lincolnshire & Humberside
A full staff list is available at: