St Columba’s College Preparatory School
St Columbas College Herts Prep
Org 1: IAPS
King Harry Lane, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 4AW
Telephone: 01727 862616
Open events: Thursday 15 February 2024, 9.15 am–11.30 am
Friday 26 April 2024, 9.15 am–11.30 am
Key dates: Applications welcome from girls (for Prep 3–5) and boys (for Prep 3–6): No deadline
Age Range: Pre-Prep/Infants, Prep/Junior to 11
Day or Boarding: Day, Day Only
Gender: Co-ed, Boys
Acting Chair of Governors: Mrs Barbara Elliot, MA Cantab
Head of Preparatory School: Mr R McCann, BA
Deputy Head of Prep: Mr K Boland, BA
Deputy Head of Prep & SENCo: Miss C Maton, BA
St Columba's College Prep School is a unique and happy place, with a strong reputation for academic achievement in a nurturing and supportive environment. The school strives to create a welcoming community in which each pupil is valued as an individual, and endeavours to promote positive relationships based on mutual respect and understanding. There is a rigorous academic curriculum with an extensive range of extracurricular opportunities. A full curriculum and sports programme is offered at Key Stages 1 and 2.
Age range. 4–11.
Number of pupils. 200 Students.
Fees per term (2024-2025). Reception–Prep 2: £5,610; Prep 3: £6,564; Prep 4: £7,222.80; Prep 4–6: £7,314. Fees include personal accident insurance. Additional charges are made for coaches and consumables.
Entry. Admission to the Lower Prep is by an informal assessment, where children spend an hour with our teaching staff. Admission to the Upper Prep is by age-appropriate Maths, English and Reasoning assessments, and a reference and the latest report will be sought from the child’s school.
Examinations. Most pupils progress at 11+ to St Columba’s College, on the same site. In their final year, most Preparatory School pupils are offered unconditional places at St Columba’s College Senior School, following recommendations by Prep School staff.
Facilities. Academic facilities include: modern form rooms with specialist facilities for Science, IT, ADT, Music, PE, Games, RE and French, and a professionally staffed extensive library. Sports facilities include: MUGA pitches, cricket nets and square. A swimming pool and athletics track are adjacent to the site.
There are a number of scholarships available to Prep School pupils on entry to St Columba’s College Senior School. These include academic and music scholarships. Candidates for the music scholarships should be established performers on one or more instruments, are likely to have reached Grade 4 or above (or the equivalent), and will have good musical skills.
Charitable status. St Columba’s College is a Registered Charity, number 1088480. It exists to provide a well-rounded Christian education for pupils from 4–18 years of age.