Saint Martin's Catholic High School

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Saint Martin's Catholic School
Motto Veritas
(Latin: Truth)
Established 1953
Type Voluntary aided Comprehensive
Religious affiliation Roman Catholic
Headteacher Brenda Carson - ew.
Location Stoke Golding
Nuneaton
Warwickshire
CV13 6HT
England Flag of England
LEA Leicestershire County Council
Ofsted number Outstanding
Students c.300+ pupils
Gender Coeducational
Ages 11 to 14
Houses Knox, Newman (Best houses ever), Stuart (Not so good) and More (Always lose sports events)
School colours House colours: Green, Blue, Red, Yellow
Website St-Martins Website

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.The latest Ofsted Report has said that St-Martins is an 'outstanding' school.

[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 education 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 persuade the Anglican church to go back to its catholic roots; and Janet Eskine Stuart, a nun of the Sacred Heart who dedicated her life to the education of young girls. All four houses still exist today within the school.

[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, though last year the school went to Drayton Manor the pupils 'voice' allowed them to go the preferred option this year.

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.