Since 1568, this school has blended Catholic heritage with contemporary education across 400 acres of Hertfordshire countryside, welcoming students from all faith backgrounds.
About the School
Founded in France and relocated to Hertfordshire in 1793, St Edmund’s College stands as England’s oldest Catholic school. It currently educates 870 children aged 3 to 18, with 104 of them living in boarding accommodation. The campus houses both preparatory day pupils and senior students, while 87 students study English as an additional language and 82 receive specialized learning support—reflecting how the community embraces international and diverse learners.
Achievements
May 2024 brought recognition as an HPL World Class School, placing it among institutions using Professor Deborah Eyre’s research-driven framework for academic development. The Oscar Romero Award for social justice work followed, and inspectors visiting in November 2023 praised behavior standards alongside above-expected exam outcomes. Last year’s graduates secured places at Russell Group universities including Leeds, Nottingham, Durham, and York, with roughly a third entering the country’s top institutions.
School achievements:
- HPL World Class School status (May 2024)
- Oscar Romero Award at Developer level
- Successful ISI inspection (November 2023)
- Russell Group placements: Leeds, Nottingham, Durham, York
- Two students at North American universities, one with dual scholarship at Colorado State
- Approximately one-third of graduates at leading UK universities
Studies at St Edmund’s College
Five educational stages create a continuous pathway from early years through university preparation, allowing students to progress naturally from foundational learning to specialized subjects. Senior pupils can choose from 16 GCSE subjects, while Sixth Form offers A Levels and Cambridge Technical Diplomas in business or sport. Students also pursue Extended Project Qualifications, join academic societies, and receive application guidance through UniFrog.
Educational stages:
- Nursery (3-4 years) — early development with forest school
- Pre-Prep (5-7 years) — Forms 1-2 with creativity focus
- Prep (7-11 years) — Forms 3-6 with broad curriculum
- Senior School (11-16 years) — GCSE and IGCSE
- Sixth Form (16-18 years) — A Levels and Cambridge Technical Diploma
Extracurricular Life
Period 7 provides dedicated after-school time where students select five weekly activities from over 100 clubs that rotate each term, spanning sports, creative arts, sciences, and leadership development. Meanwhile, 21 instrumental teachers deliver 200 music lessons weekly, supporting ensembles like the 70-strong Schola Cantorum choir, jazz band, and orchestra, plus annual productions such as Les Misérables and Starlight Express.
Extracurricular opportunities:
- Main sports: rugby, football, cricket, netball, tennis, swimming, athletics
- Additional: basketball, badminton, golf, table tennis, lacrosse, handball
- Aspiring Athlete Programme for talented sportspeople
- 40 LAMDA and musical theatre sessions weekly
- ABRSM, Trinity and LCM music examinations
Boarding
Flexible boarding arrangements serve students aged 11-18 across Allen Hall and Garvey’s, with 11-16 year-olds sharing twin rooms while Sixth Formers receive single accommodation for independent study. The 104 boarders participate in evening and weekend programming that ranges from sports training to cultural events and excursions to London, Cambridge, Oxford, and Windsor. Academic support includes supervised evening study, progress monitoring, and five-person mentor groups where students discuss both educational and personal matters.
