St Michael's Catholic School, High Wycombe

St Michael's Catholic School is a Catholic all-through school located in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England. In 2023 the school had 1930 pupils. It enrols children aged 3 through 19.[1]

St Michael's Catholic School
Address
Daws Hill Lane

High Wycombe
,
Buckinghamshire
,
HP11 1PW

England
Coordinates51°37′06″N 0°45′21″W
Information
TypeAcademy
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
Established1973
Local authorityBuckinghamshire
TrustSt Thomas Catholic Academies Trust
Department for Education URN149612 Tables
OfstedReports
Executive HeadteacherLouise Baker
GenderCoeducational
Age3 to 19
Enrolment1930[1]
Houses
  • Matthew
  • Mark
  • Luke
  • John
  • Paul
Colour(s)  Sky blue
  Black
DioceseNorthampton
DedicationSaint Michael
Websitewww.stmichaels.bucks.sch.uk

The school's catchment area for many years has included Aylesbury and surrounding areas, which has a high proportion of baptised Catholics.[2][3]

History

The school was founded in 1973 as St Bernard's Catholic School as a satellite of St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School in Slough.

According to the BBC's Domesday Project, in 1986 the school had 840 pupils between the ages of 11 and 16. The buildings were reported to have been 10 years old at the time, in front of extensive playing fields on a site of 17 acres.[4]

In September 2008, St Bernard's Catholic School was awarded specialist school status as a Science College, by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).[5]

In 2011, the school amalgamated with neighbouring Catholic primary school St Augustine's Catholic Primary, creating an all-through school called St Augustine's and St Bernard's Catholic School.[6] In the same year, the school was among 494 schools nationwide praised by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust for its fast improvement of GCSE results. The number of pupils receiving five A* – C grades, including in English and Maths, increased from 42 per cent in 2009 to 64 per cent in 2011.[7]

From September 2012, the school stopped being called St Augustine's and St Bernard's Catholic School and is now known by its current name.

In February 2017, it was announced that the school was proposing the creation of a satellite school at the Aylesbury Vale Academy's former site due to lack of space and population increase predictions. At the time the proposals were made, the school was expected to open in September 2018 with a Year 7 intake of 120 students.[8] In September 2019, the new buildings were opened, with students relocating to the facility.[9]

Previously a voluntary aided school administered by Buckinghamshire County Council,[10] in April 2023 St Michael's Catholic School converted to academy status.[11] The school is now sponsored by the St Thomas Catholic Academies Trust,[12] but continues to be under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Northampton.

Houses

The school has five houses, named after five Apostles.

HouseColour
MatthewGreen
MarkRed
LukeBlue
JohnYellow
PaulPurple

References
  1. "URN 110516 St Michael's Catholic School". Edubase/DfE. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  2. "Proposed opening of a satellite school by St Michael's Catholic School on the former Quarrendon School site in Aylesbury Town" (PDF). St Michael's Catholic School. February 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  3. "Questions and answers on the proposed opening of a satellite school to St Michael's on the former Quarrendon School site in Aylesbury" (PDF). St Michael's Catholic School. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  4. D-block GB-484000-189000 (1986). "ST BERNARD'S, HIGH WYCOMBE". BBC Domesday Reloaded. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  5. "Specialist Schools Home". DCSF. September 2008. Retrieved 22 October 2008.
  6. "Amalgamation of St Bernard's Catholic School and St Augustine's Catholic Primary School, High Wycombe" (PDF). Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  7. Dunhill, Lawrence (5 April 2011). "School recognised for improving GCSE results". Bucks Free Press. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  8. "New secondary school for Aylesbury?". Mix 96. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  9. Gillies, Kiera (3 September 2019). "Completed £24 million secondary school gives pupils a permanent home". Bucks Free Press. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  10. "St Michael's Catholic School - GOV.UK". Get-information-schools.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  11. "St Michael's Catholic School - GOV.UK". Get-information-schools.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  12. "St Thomas Catholic Academies Trust". Stcat.co.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
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