Saint Martin's Catholic High School
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St. Martin's Catholic High School is a mixed state 11-14 secondary school located near to Hinckley, Leicestershire, England. It is part of the Diocese of Nottingham, and is built on the same grounds as the local Dominican nunnery. The school is named after Saint Martín de Porres.
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[edit] History of the school
The school was originally built into the next door Convent, and was originally intended as a private Catholic school for girls only, aged 11-16. The land on which the school was to be built was bought in 1948 under the name of Stoke Lodge, and building work started the next year. However, in 1953, it was decided that the school needed a place of its own, and so building work started on the present site in 1953, with some alterations and extensions to this in 1956.
On September 1st, 1963, the school finally opened its doors to boys as well as girls, after very lengthly discussions and negotiations between the Diocese and the sisters who founded the school. Possibly the deciding factor to the school becoming a mixed school was that there was no other eduction for boys such as St. Martin's in the Hinckley area. As the school became more and more well-known around the area, the school grew in both numbers and size, with alterations being added and improvements being carried out to improve the school some more.
[edit] The school community
Around the time the school was opened, it was decided to introduce houses to the school to which every student would belong. Four houses were decided on; Knox, More, Newman and Stuart, each having their own house colours (Knox=Green, More=Blue, Newman=Red and Stuart=Yellow). These colours were, and still are, worn on the school PE kit shirt, and became the grounds for several inter house events, such as football, netball and the annual Sports Day, held on the school field. The four houses are named after Ronald Knox, an English theologian and writer; St Thomas More, and English lawyer and a Catholic Martyr; Cardinal John Henry Newman, a writer and a major figure in trying to persuede the Anglican church to go back to its catholic roots; and Janet Eskine Stuart, a nun of the Sacred Hart who dedicated her life to the education of young girls. All four houses still exist today within the school.
[edit] Sport
The school emphasises sport as a valuable asset to lessons, and so Physical Education lessons are held twice a week for everybody, with after school and lunchtime training sessions as an added benefit, and vary in a wide range of subjects such as hockey, orienteering, boys and girls' football and fitness in the winter, and sports like volleyball, basketball, boys' rugby and athletics in the summer. Regular friendlies are held with the other high schools in the Hinckley area and sometimes beyond; both travelling away and staying on site for matches and fixtures. The school has recently been represented in Basketball, Netball, Girls and Boys Football, Cricket, Rugby and Athletics, both at area and County level.
[edit] Extra Curricular
Many activities and trips take place under the 'extra curricular' level- although many are tied in with topics studied in different lessons as well. For instance, Year Sevens had the chance to go to London on an art related trip this academic year, Year Eights have the opportunity to go on a ski trip to Italy, and Year Nines are able to go on an outdoor education trip to Aberglaslyn Hall Outdoor Centre in the heart of the Welsh Mountains, and the chance to visit the Beth Shalom Holocaust Centre to aid with their Holocaust work in History. All years also partake in the annual 'mini marathon' fun run, and, as an end of term treat, there is a pastoral day to Alton Towers Theme Park in Staffordshire.
As well as trips, the school plays an important part in helping the local community and charities. The School Council, a group of elected students from each form for each year, meet on a regular basis to discuss possible planned activities and events for the aid of charity. Just recently, they organised a 'recycled fashion show', and have also helped charities like the Catholic Children's Society and CAFOD.
[edit] Little known facts
- The first school play performed was 'Where the Rainbow Ends'
- There are actually 2 school badges; the main black and white logo, and a black and white cross.
- Originally, there were 7 women and 4 men in the Convent
- There were also 4 martyrs a while ago.
- When the school first opened, summer dresses were part of the girl's uniform as well as the current uniform. However, the dresses were dropped later on.
