St Anne's Catholic High School

St Anne's Catholic High School for Girls is an all-girls Catholic secondary school located in London, England which was founded to provide education for Catholic girls aged 11–18. It is situated in Enfield and is the highest performing non-selective school in the borough.

Description

St Anne’s Catholic High School opened on September 1, 1994 following the amalgamation of Holy Family Convent School and St Angela’s School for Girls . The school, however, has in a sense has been present since 1907.

As a "Catholic" school, the religious education (RE) curriculum and opportunities for spiritual development is in accordance with the doctrines, rites and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. All students study RE from years 7 to 13.

The governing body admits 130 pupils to Year 7 every school year and follows the pastoral system. Within each year group there are six tutor groups, each with a Form Tutor and three houses all with their own House Masters/Mistresses. The support structure has been developed to ensure maximum personal attention to help the students achieve their best.

The girls follow the National Curriculum for the first three years: Mathematics, English, Science, Technology and Information Technology, Religious Studies, French, Geography, History, Art, Music, Physical Education and Drama.

In Year 7, subjects are taught in mixed-ability tutor groups, with the exception of Maths where setting is introduced at the end of October. Mixed-ability teaching in Year 7 gives teachers the opportunity to assess the ability of the students during their first year at St Anne’s.

In Years 10, 11 and the Sixth Form, students have more choice about the subjects they study, through the introduction of Option Subjects. Students have to follow a common curriculum: Religious Education, English Language and Literature, Mathematics, Double Science or Triple Science for the very able students and Physical Education (Short course).

In addition, students choose three Option Subjects from the following list: Art & Design, Graphic Products, Food Technology, Textiles, Spanish, French, Geography, History, Computer Science, Drama and Musical Studies

The Sixth Form

St Anne’s has a thriving Sixth Form for students entering Lower Sixth and wanting to continue their education in a Christian environment. Students of other faiths are also accepted, but whenever there were more applicants than places available, priority is given to Roman Catholic applicants in accordance with the admissions criteria. Enrolment in the Sixth Form has increased each year.

The Sixth Form Centre offers many courses for students, and also for male students from the Enfield Collegiate System. Students entering the Sixth Form Centre have to choose a combination of courses that they are deemed able to pass and which amount to a full-time course of education.

The common Sixth Form curriculum includes General RE, PSHE and Community Service.

Entrance

Admission into the school at 11, 13 and 16 is done according to the School Admission Policy. In addition two interviews with the head of year and headmistress are sat. The first with the pupil and their parent and the second with the pupil alone.

Culture

Being Catholic, the school has a strong religious Ethos that runs through it. However, the school does allow students of a non-Christian religion to be admitted. Morning Prayers are said every day and in all R.E lessons. In many language classes the prayer is translated and said at the start of lesson also. Mass is also held for all religious holidays as well as at the start and end of term. At St. Anne's, the students take regular internal retreats which are done within the nunnery and several external retreats which are done with specific Catholic organisations. Furthermore, the school chaplain offers religious support for all girls and they are encouraged to go to the chapel during free time to pray. There is also a host of religious societies running, for example "The Rosary Society".

The school is also regularly noted for being heavily involved in charity. It is involved in cake sales, bike rides, swimming galas, school fetes and socials which donate all proceeds to several, individual charities. The school's main charity is CAFOD and it regularly takes part in fundraising for the organisation. It is also has been the recipient of the CAFOD school of the month award.

Important Dates

Prize Giving Evening

Usually performed during the first term of the first school year to celebrate the achievements of the year before it. The evening commences with a speech from the headmistress congratulating students and staff on the previous school year. The night however is reserved for students who have excelled in various school fields. There are two prizes for each subject, one for "achievement" and one for "effort" (e.g. achievement for mathematics and effort for mathematics). In addition to subject prizes there are also prizes for things such as "Sports woman of the year" and "Musician of the year".

The evening includes many musical performances and speeches from guests of honour including former pupils and members of the clergy.

At the end of Third Year, when students are preparing to enter the upper school. There is a special Prize Giving afternoon for that year only. Prizes given include "Public Speaker of the year", "Mr. Dada's Mathematics Cup" and the acclaimed "Headteacher's Award"

Saint Anne Feast Day

School Uniform

The official school uniform consists of three parts. The Summer Uniform, The Winter Uniform and The Sports Kit. The Summer Uniform, which is mainly worn in the summer term, consists of a tartan, short-sleeved school dress in the school colours with white trimmings, white socks, black shoes and the navy school cardigan. The Winter Uniform consists of a burgundy blazer, navy cashmere jumper, pleated tartan school skirt, navy socks and black shoes and is mainly worn in the winter and spring terms. Finally, the Sports Kit, which is worn during PE lessons and most sporting games consists of a red polo, navy school shorts and tracksuit bottoms, a navy school fleece and a navy school, waterproof jacket accompanied by any pair of trainers/running shoes.

Extra-Curricular

The school is famous for its performance outside school. It is famed mainly for its excellence in debating and public speaking borough and citywide. The school also has an excellent sporting tradition dating all the way back to the establishment of the first school. Sports played include: Netball, Tennis, Swimming, Hockey, Athletics and Volleyball.

The school prides itself in its award-winning gospel choir composed of students from all year groups. They have entered numerous competitions and performed many times during events for the school and also for the public. They also have a Facebook page.

Location

The school is located on two sites - Lower and Upper. Students in 1st, 2nd and 3rd year are based on the Lower site in Enfield Town, while 4th, 5th and Sixth Form students are based on the Upper site in Palmers Green, near the old Southgate Town Hall. The upper and lower schools are approximately three and a half miles apart, but both lie within the London Borough of Enfield.

Lower School:
50 London Road
Enfield
Middlesex
EN2 6EL
Tel: 020 8366 0514

Upper School:
Oakthorpe Road
Palmers Green
London
N13 5TY
Tel: 020 8886 2165

External links

• St. Anne's Catholic High School for Girls - official website