St Benedict's Catholic College


St Benedict's Catholic College is a coeducational secondary school in Colchester, Essex. As the only remaining Catholic secondary school in Colchester, it has a fairly large catchment area which includes North Essex and is one of the top performing non-selective state schools in Colchester.

History

St Benedict's Roman Catholic Secondary School opened in 1963 as a voluntary aided secondary modern. It became comprehensive in 1976 when the tripartite system was scrapped. In 1999 it reverted to voluntary aided status. The school's first female headteacher Mrs Jo Santinelli, the incumbent, was appointed prior to the 2012-13 academic year.

Subjects

The range of subjects taught at St Benedict's is broad. There is the traditional English, Mathematics and Science. St Benedict's is known as a Business and Languages College, meaning that the students are taught business skills from Year 9 upwards and languages from Year 7 upwards with the opportunity to learn a second language from the beginning of Year 9. The main language taught is French, the Year 9 option is Spanish. As the school is a Catholic College, religious education is included in the timetable. During these lessons, students not only learn more about Christianity, but about other religions too, Judaism for example is part of the Year 8 curriculum. History and Geography are also included as well as PSHE lessons. During Year 7, there is the chance to achieve Respect Form status for the tutor groups which is achieved through posters, discussions and role plays. Computer Science is also taught with four computer suites and four computers available in the Library. PE is taught and there are many lunchtime and after school sports clubs. Technology is taught with the classes being Resistant Materials, systems and control, Food and Textiles.

Facilities

The school is equipped with computer labs and a well-stocked library. There are six science laboratories with equipment for all experiments. The Technology classrooms are also well equipped. Since receiving Business and Enterprise College specialist status, the extra funding was used to add a new business studies suite.
The PE department has had a new block built with updated changing rooms and a new gymnasium. There are two gymnasiums, a running track, long jump, two rounders pitches, tennis courts, netball courts, indoor and outdoor basketball courts football pitches and a rugby pitch as well as equipment to do high jump and indoor sports such as basketball, badminton, gymnastics, dance, table tennis.

Notable former pupils