Open Day, Saturday 29th September

All prospective pupils and their parents are very welcome to our annual Open Day during the morning of Saturday 29th September. No booking is needed: just turn up and you will be guided by pupils to the  Lower Argyle reception point, where you can meet staff and current parents. From here, Prefects will take tours of the grounds, including the beautiful Chapel, the Library, the Science Block, dormitories and the sports facilities.

The day starts at 10am, from when visitors are welcome, and concludes at 1pm, so ideally you should have arrived by 11.30am.

Note: if using Google Maps you will be sent to the wrong entrance (beside Marlay Nursing Home). Instead, the main entrance is via Kilmashogue Lane at the other end of College Road. See here for full directions.

Queries about Admission and places should go to Amanda Morris, Admissions Officer, via admissions@stcolumbas.ie or by phone or the Contact Form.

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Start of Michaelmas Term 2018

Wednesday 5th September

  • 2.00-2.30pm: arrival of new pupils at boarding houses, and unloading of luggage, followed by refreshments in Lower Argyle/Dining Hall.
  • 3.30pm: Welcome and address by Warden in Big Schoolroom to all new pupils and their parents.
  • 4.00-4.45pm: Meetings with House staff (different locations).
  • 5.30pm: Parents and day pupils depart by this time.
  • 6.00pm: Supper for new boarders.
  • 6.30pm to 8.30pm: Return of all other boarders to House.

Thursday 6th September

  • Late rising.
  • 8.50am: Day boarders and day pupils report to House.
  • 9.00am: Warden’s Assembly in BSR, followed by Chapel arrangements and then service, followed by administration periods and lunch.
  • 2.00pm: two afternoon classes, finishing at 3.30pm. Day pupils and day boarders may go home after this time.
  • Evening: short prep sessions for all boarders.

Friday 7th September

  • First full school day.

 

 

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Culture Night, Friday 21st September

For the third time the College is taking part in Culture Night, the great national event which this year is on the evening of Friday 21st September. Again the Sub-Warden, Julian Girdham, will give a 15-minute talk on the history of the College starting at 7pm in the Chapel (visitors are welcome to come from 6.30pm, and will be guided to the Chapel by pupils), followed by an historical and architectural tour of the campus for about an hour. 2018 is the 175th anniversary of our foundation.

Note: if using Google Maps you will be sent to the wrong entrance (beside Marlay Nursing Home). Instead, the main entrance is via Kilmashogue Lane at the other end of College Road. See here for full directions.

See our entry on the Culture Night website here.

Among the features are the William Butterfield-designed Chapel (1880) as well as the Cloisters and Chapel Square, the original Hollypark House (late 1700s), and Robin Walker’s refurbished modernist Science Building (originally 1971), as well as lovely gardens. A literal overview of the campus can be seen in our aerial video here.


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Leaving Certificate Results 2018

A hearty congratulations to the Leaving Certificate Class of 2018 on their record breaking average points score of 483. This, we are confident in saying despite the lack of national statistics, places St. Columba’s as one of the top performing schools in the country. 7% of our pupils achieved over 600 points, with one candidate attaining 6H1’s and therefore the maximum points score of 625. A phenomenal 48% of our pupils achieved over 500 points, 81% achieved over 400 points and, finally, 97% of our pupils achieved over 300 points. On the grades obtained across all candidates 17% of all exams sat were awarded H1’s, 41% either a H1 or a H2 and 61% either a H1, H2 or H3 – which is extraordinary. A considerable 85% of all exams were sat at Higher Level.

Our pupils worked extremely hard over the past two years, and in particular in the final term, and we are delighted to celebrate their achievements today. We celebrate every pupils’ results – from the pupil obtaining the maximum score to the pupil who struggled throughout but obtained their target, however modest. Of course, although it should seem obvious, the results obtained in these exams are not a true measure of a pupil’s life in school. Pupils are not remembered for their CAO points total but for their contributions to St. Columba’s on the stage, sports-field or in the classroom, for their attitude, work ethic, personality, humour and talents, of which this cohort had many.

We now wish each and every pupil success in their next big adventure, be that university, a gap year or another path entirely. Congratulations once again – we are all extremely proud of you!

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