The inspection report for St Columba’s College was published by ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate) in February 2007.

 

St Columba’s College is “successful and improving school which achieves its aims well and which provides its boys with a well-rounded education”, according to independent school inspectors. The inspectors also found that the charism of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart pervades almost every aspect of the college’s life and that the “high quality of care” is consistent with the aim that individuals should be “known, valued and treasured”.

 

The Preparatory School was commended for the way its boys’ “ability to think prepares them for their future education” and for the excellence of its support and guidance for the boys. As newly amalgamated with the senior department of the school, the inspectors felt that there was still work to do on developing the links between senior and junior phases.

 

Teaching across the school was found to be conscientious, thorough and supportive, and sometimes “outstanding”, although the extension of the range of teaching styles to support boys’ learning would assist them still further. This work is under way and it has supported almost all of the current U6 cohort to gain offers from a full range of appropriate universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. The inspectors note that the students’ themselves commented that the support, guidance and care they receive is one of the most significant aspects of the school for them.

 

The inspectors found that parents are overwhelmingly satisfied with their sons’ experience in the college and an unusually high proportion of parents feel that their sons are “thriving both personally and academically at the school”.