St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School

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St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School is a Voluntary aided, Catholic Grammar School for girls, situated in North Finchley, London. The school was founded in 1908 and is under the trusteeship of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus. Formerly known as St. Michael's Convent, it became a Voluntary-Aided Grammar School in September 1958. Its current headmistress is Miss. U. M. Morrissey. The school is characterised by excellent exam results, commitment to education outside the classroom and its strong Catholic ethos.

'The prime aim of the school is the formation of responsible and committed Catholic citizens. It seeks to encourage the highest standards in academic achievement, social responsibility and personal development in a specifically Catholic environment.' St. Michaels Catholic Grammar School Website

'St. Michael’s is a high achieving school where relationships are excellent. The pupils are happy and well cared for morally, socially and spiritually. The school’s national reputation in the Catholic community is justifiably high.’ Ofsted 1995

‘St. Michael’s is an exceptional school; which is outstandingly effective because of its excellent leadership, management, teaching and learning’ Ofsted 2005


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[edit] Academic Success

St. Michaels works to support and encourage their pupils, so that every one of the girls fulfils her potential. Every year the school does exceptionally well in the league tables and many pupils are offered places at prestige universities such as Oxford and Cambridge.

It is identified as a top Grammar School for A levels and GCSE by The Times, The Independent, The Guardian, The Telegraph & Evening Standard - August 2006.

The school is the 'First among Catholic secondary schools in the country’ (Westminster Education Service 2003) and the school's ethos, makes it a highly-subscribed school sought after by many Catholics.

[edit] St. Michael's Curriculum

The girls study Religious Education, English, Mathematics, Information Communication Technology, Latin, French, German, Spanish, Italian History, Geography, Integrated Science, Music, Art, Physical Education, Drama, Technology and Education for Living with Citizenship. The pupils carry on their selected 11 GCSE subjects to Key Stage Four as well as English, the pupils study English Literature. The Year 11s study the old Double Science GCSE course whilst the present Year 10s are studying the new science syllabus. The pupils have a choice of either Design/Food/Graphics Technology as well as Dance. Since the school has recently become a Language College, the choice of language options is set to increase, including Mandarin Chinese and Japanese.

St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School is collaborated with Finchley Catholic High School for boys, to offer an extensive range of subjects ranging from the usual taught at KS3 and KS4 with Photography, Music Technology, Classical Civilisation, Politics, Economics, Dance, Performing Arts, Business Studies, Physiology, Sociology and much more.


[edit] St. Michael's Traditions

[edit] Uniform

St. Michaels is known for its famous purple uniform. The uniform got its colour from the St. Michael’s purple flower, the Michaelmas Daisy, Aster (flower). It symbolises the importance of St. Michaels and grandness with this royal colour. The colour adds to the cost of the uniform, which was bought at Harrods and has been reported in the media. The purple continues, not only in the Winter Uniform but also the Summer Uniform and the P.E Kit. St. Michaels has a strict uniform policy including skirts at knee-length or below, the school black coat and the summer uniform to be worn on specific term times noted on the school calendar.

[edit] School Song

The school song ‘Dux Michael’ is sung in Latin praising St. Michael the Archangel protector and defender of the faith. It is always sung on St. Michael’s Day and at various certificate assemblies along with the school prayer.

[edit] Committees and Clubs

In Year 12, a hasting takes place to elect the Head Girl and her two Deputies at St. Michaels. As well as this, several committees are set up to the interest of the girls. The pupils are welcomed to start their own club or committee along with the help of Year 12 pupils and the permission of the headmistress. Some of the committees this year include Art, Charity, Chess, Cultural, Debate, English, Fair Trade, Japanese, Justice and Peace, Language, Library, Magazine, Mandarin Chinese, Prom, and Year Book.

[edit] School Events

St. Michaels Day is the most important day of the academic year at St. Michaels. Here the whole school, pupils and staff join in celebration in mass in the school hall and free ice cream is given out to its pupils and staff in celebration of St. Michael, the archangel.

Mass is not only celebrated on St. Michael’s Day but liturgies are prepared on the Holy Days of Obligation found on the Catholic Calendar as well as on the last days of term, part of St. Michael’s Catholic ethos along with prayers said daily, and mass weekly by the school’s chaplain Father John Ball, in the school chapel. It is known that the Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus prayed for the school not to be bombed during the Blitz in World War II, and their prayers were answered, even though all surrounding areas were heavily bombed, St. Michael’s miraculously wasn’t. A memorial is set for the Congregation at the Grange.

The staff assembly takes place on the last school assembly before the term breaks for Christmas. It is here where the staff organise an assembly for its pupils, either a talent show or a mini pantomime. It is a light-hearted event thoroughly enjoyed and looked forward to by all.

Many fun events are organised throughout the year organised by the staff or various committees for a good cause. An example includes the Cultural and Charity Committee who organise the traditional ‘Ireland v. The-Rest-of-the-World’ netball match played by the staff on St. Patrick’s Day, with all money raised going to charity.


[edit] External Links

http://www.st-michaels.barnet.sch.uk/