Salesian College, Farnborough
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Salesian College is an
independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...
Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...
school in
Farnborough, Hampshire Farnborough is a town located in the Rushmoor district of Hampshire, England. It has a population of around 57,486 as of the 2011 census and is an important centre of aviation, engineering and technology. The town is probably best known for it ...
, England. Founded in 1901 as a small preparatory school for boys, it soon expanded to provide secondary education owing to its increasing popularity. In November 2022, the school had a total of 634 pupils enrolled, 129 in the Sixth Form. For the 2007–08 academic year, the College announced that it would admit girls into the Sixth Form for the first time.


History


Establishment

In 1901, Bishop Cahill of the Diocese of Portsmouth invited the
Salesians The Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), formally known as the Society of Saint Francis de Sales (), is a religious congregation of men in the Catholic Church, founded in 1859 by the Italian priest John Bosco to help poor and migrant youth during the ...
of
Battersea Battersea is a large district in southwest London, part of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is centred southwest of Charing Cross and also extends along the south bank of the Thames Tideway. It includes the Battersea Park. Hist ...
to take over the orphanage, a former tin factory, in Queen's Road, Farnborough. This marked the beginning of the Salesians' work in education in the local area and as a parish. By 1902 a reporter in ''Sheldrakes Military Gazette'' noted that the thirty 'poor Catholic waifs and those sons of sore stricken Roman Catholic parents' had a home 'comfortable in every respect',''Sheldrakes Military Gazette'' as cited in ''"Many Lives through Many Eyes..." A Hundred Years of the Salesians in Farnborough'', 2001, p. 8 and were learning trades. The numbers of boys attending the school increased as a result of boarding requirements becoming heavier. As a result, a new dormitory was constructed along with a small refectory and some additional classrooms. Prior to
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, the new wing and tower was completed which consisted of the dormitories and toilets on the upper floor, and the staff refectory and modern kitchen facilities located on the lower floor, were created.


Structural growth

Under previous Headmaster, Mr Wilson, the College witnessed substantial structural growth, the most significant being the erection of the Sean Devereux Sixth Form Centre providing facilities for girls, and new classrooms built equipped with improved technology. During the Great War, 58 former Salesian College pupils were killed, whilst others who took part were awarded decorations for their efforts during the Great War. In 1916, the area which is now the school playground was acquired, and the school playing fields located on Park Road were purchased to be used in the War effort for the "Grow More Food campaign". In 1956, work began on the construction of the Blackburn Building. It provided facilities for ten new classrooms, a new hall, gymnasium, as well as changing rooms. By 1963, new laboratories and a lecture hall were constructed alongside the new school. The school became an independent grammar school in 1966, and by 1970, the preparatory school was discontinued which saw the departure three years later of the Salesian Sisters. In 1979, Salesian College had no boarders attending the school, something which had never occurred in the school's history until that point. As a result, this led the school to becoming a provision for day pupils only.


Recent history

Further expansion works continued, and in 1997, the Delmer building was completed, providing the school with new ICT facilities, art rooms, staffroom, a Technology Suite, general teaching classrooms as well as new office accommodation. In 1998, the Sean Devereux Sixth Form centre was fully refurbished as well as extended in terms of size and accommodation. The original College building at Sherbourne Road was demolished in 1999. The College maintains links with the nearby Alton Convent School and organises joint activities and events together, such as the yearly Lower Sixth trip to Tregoyd and the Senior College Prom. The most recent addition to the college is the renovation of the old music school. The process began during the 2012–2013 academic year and the new Father Brendan McGuinness Music Building was completed and officially opened in September 2013. It is named in honour of the college's former chaplain.


Curriculum

In the Lower School of the school, between Years 7-9, boys follow a core curriculum consisting of a total of 16 subjects. In the Upper School, between Years 10–11, boys study a total of 10+ subjects to
GCSE The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a range of subjects taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, having been introduced in September 1986 and its first exams taken in 1988. State schools ...
which include core and option choice subjects. In the Sixth Form, between Years 12–13, all students are required to study 4 subjects in Year 12, with the majority of subjects reducing to 3 subjects in Year 13. An Extended Project Qualification is available for pupils who are in Year 13. The school provides curriculum teaching in the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Religious Studies, with boys in Years 7–9 studying Art, Classics, Computing, Drama, French, Geography, History, Music and Spanish. Co-ordinated Sciences are taught from Year 7, then boys go onto study either Biology, Physics or Chemistry as separate entity subjects from Year 9 onwards. Additionally, boys in Years 7-9 have one timetabled period of Physical Education, and two periods of Games, each week. From Year 10 onwards, boys are required to study the subjects of Maths, English, Religious Studies and either Combined (Double) Sciences or Triple Science, plus an additional selection of optional subjects as they prepare to undertake their GCSE examinations. The school's Year 7 Junior Drama Club works towards the annual Performing Arts Evening during the school's Autumn Term. Year 8 boys also participate in an LAMDA examination, which upon completion, gives them a qualification in devising, with the final examination being performed in front of an external examiner. By Year 9, boys are prepared for
Key Stage 4 Key Stage 4 (KS4) is the legal term for the two years of school education which incorporate GCSEs, and other examinations, in maintained schools in England normally known as Year 10 and Year 11, when pupils are aged between 14 and 16 by August 31 ...
with a
GCSE The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a range of subjects taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, having been introduced in September 1986 and its first exams taken in 1988. State schools ...
Foundation Drama Club, which aims to expand on the learning of "more able and keen actors".


Academic performance and inspections

In 2023, the school attained 'excellent' A level results, with a 100% pass rate, an accolade the school has held for the eighth consecutive year, with 87% of grades awarded in the A*-C range in
GCSE The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a range of subjects taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, having been introduced in September 1986 and its first exams taken in 1988. State schools ...
examinations. The school's 2023 GCSE results saw 97.2% of boys having achieved at least ten grades 9-4 each, including in the core curriculum subjects of English and Maths. 87% of all grades across the school were 5-9, and 70% of all grades were 6-9. 49 GCSEs were graded below 4 (fail grade).


Notable former pupils

*
Steve Backshall Stephen James Backshall (born 21 April 1973) is a British naturalist, explorer, presenter and writer, best known for BBC Television, BBC TV's ''Deadly (franchise), Deadly...'' franchise. His other BBC work includes being part of the expedition ...
, naturalist, writer and television presenter *
Daniel Boys Daniel Boys (born 26 March 1979) is an English actor. He starred in the West End productions of the musicals ''Rent'' and ''Grease'' before being a 2007 contestant on the BBC talent series '' Any Dream Will Do''. Boys went on to star in many ...
, musical theatre actor *
Sean Devereux Sean Devereux (25 November 1964 – 2 January 1993) was a British Salesian missionary and aid worker assassinated in Kismayo, Somalia in 1993 while working for UNICEF. He has since become an important role model for the aid-working vocation, pa ...
, a
Salesian The Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), formally known as the Society of Saint Francis de Sales (), is a religious congregation of men in the Catholic Church, founded in 1859 by the Italian priest John Bosco to help poor and migrant youth during the ...
missionary and aid-worker assassinated in Kismayu, Somalia in 1993 while working for
UNICEF UNICEF ( ), originally the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, officially United Nations Children's Fund since 1953, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Development a ...
. There is a stained-glass window to commemorate Devereux's life and work in the College Chapel. *
Jeremy Metcalfe Jeremy Metcalfe (born 9 April 1988 in Fleet, Hampshire) is a British motor racing driver who last competed in 2008 in the British GT Championship where he finished the season as Vice-Champion along with team-mate Luke Hines. Racing in the Form ...
, racing driver * Matthew Phillips, World Champion Paraclimber *
Alastair Stewart Alastair James Stewart OBE (born 22 June 1952) is a retired English journalist and newscaster. Stewart joined Southern Television in 1976, then joined ITN in 1980, where he served three years with ''Channel 4 News'' and went on to become a ma ...
, journalist and presenter * Phil Taylor, England international rugby player *
Harvey Dixon Harvey Dixon (born 2 November 1993) is a British middle-distance runner who competes for Gibraltar primarily in the 1500 metres. He represented his country at the 2017 World Championships failing to qualify for the next round despite setting a ...
,
middle-distance runner Middle-distance running events are track races longer than sprints, ranging from 500 metres up to . The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle-distanc ...
* George D. W. Smith, materials scientist at
University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...


Old Salesians Association

The Farnborough Old Salesians Association (OSA) is a society for former pupils who wish to contact other Old Boys. It has its foundations in the 1920s, with its first formal meeting held in 1927. The association has organised whole-year reunions. For those Old Boys who live locally, the OSA organises activities throughout the year. The OSA regularly assists the Salesian family in various local undertaking and around the world by activity or financial aid. The OSA maintains links with the wider Salesian family by means of the Salesian Past Pupils UK and Ex Allievi di Don Bosco.''"Many Lives through Many Eyes..." A Hundred Years of the Salesians in Farnborough'', 2001, p.114 In the 1970s the OSA donated a marble tablet in commemoration of the Old Boys who gave their lives in the Second World War. The tablet shows the OSA (at that time the Salesian Old Boys Association Farnborough) badge and the motto "Salesian Old Boys Let not the glory fade away Keep bright the flame of memory and honour them 1939–1945."


Headmasters

:1983–1997: Br Michael Delmer :1997–2014: Patrick A. Wilson :2014–present: Gerard Owens


See also

*
Bishopric of the Forces The Bishopric of the Forces (in Great Britain) is a Latin Church military ordinariate of the Catholic Church which provides chaplains to the British Armed Forces based in the United Kingdom and their overseas postings. It is directly exempt ...
*
Cathedral of St Michael and St George, Aldershot Cathedral Church of St Michael and St George serves as the Roman Catholic cathedral for the Bishopric of the Forces. Located on Queens Avenue in Aldershot, England, the building was originally intended to be the principal church for the Anglican ...
*
Dominic Savio Dominic Savio (; 2 April 1842 – 9 March 1857) was a 19th-century Italian teenager who was a student of John Bosco and became a Catholic saint. He was studying to be a priest when he became ill and died at the age of 14, possibly from pleurisy. ...
*
John Bosco John Melchior Bosco, Salesians of Don Bosco, SDB (; ; 16 August 181531 January 1888), popularly known as Don Bosco or Dom Bosco (International Phonetic Alphabet, IPA: ), was an Italian Catholic priest, educator and writer. While working in Tu ...
*
Francis de Sales Francis de Sales, Congregation of the Oratory, C.O., Order of Minims, O.M. (; ; 21 August 156728 December 1622) was a Savoyard state, Savoyard Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Geneva and is a saint of the Catholic Church. He became n ...
*
Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary A patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a form of Patron saint, spiritual protection attributed to Mary, mother of Jesus, in favor of some occupations, activities, religious orders, congregations, dioceses, and geographic locations. Occupatio ...
*
Roman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth () is a Latin Church, Latin diocese of the Catholic Church that covers the Channel Islands as well as parts of England (Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and parts of Berkshire, Dorset and Oxfordshire). The ep ...
*
Salesians of Don Bosco The Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), formally known as the Society of Saint Francis de Sales (), is a religious congregation of men in the Catholic Church, founded in 1859 by the Italian priest John Bosco to help poor and migrant youth during the ...


References


External links


School Profile
on the
Independent Schools Council The Independent Schools Council (ISC) is a non-profit lobby group that represents over 1,300 private schools in the United Kingdom. The organisation comprises seven independent school associations and promotes the business interests of its ...
website
Salesian College, Farnborough, Official WebsiteSalesian College, Library Website
{{authority control Salesian secondary schools Boys' schools in Hampshire Private schools in Hampshire Roman Catholic private schools in the Diocese of Portsmouth Educational institutions established in 1901 1901 establishments in England Farnborough, Hampshire Member schools of the Independent Schools Association (UK)