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School profile Verified 18 August 2026

Hertfordshire Private schools

St Columba's College

King Harry Lane, St Albans, AL3 4AW

St Columba's College is a private secondary-stage school in St Albans, Hertfordshire, with a published age range of 4-19.

Private school Co-ed Ages 4-19 Sixth form No boarders
Application ?
Apply direct to school
Age range
4-19
ISI ?
Standards met
Boarding ?
No boarders
Compare Official website Map

On this page

At a glance

Key facts

Sector
Private school
Gender
Mixed
Application ?
Apply direct to school
Age range
4-19
Boarding ?
No boarders
Route check
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
ISI ?
Standards met

Overview

Religious values, friendly discipline, personal attention and academic excellence are the four ideas attached to St Columba's College. The Brothers of the Sacred Heart are its proprietor, and the registered charity brings Prep, Senior and Sixth Form stages together in a co-educational Catholic day setting in St Albans.

The curriculum is intended as a continuous journey from Prep through Sixth Form. Senior pupils encounter academic subjects alongside digital learning, stretch and challenge work, careers and vocational guidance. Arts, sport, music, drama and co-curricular activity sit with pastoral care and House membership as parts of daily life, rather than as isolated extras.

Sport, music, drama, creative arts, STEM clubs, leadership, community service and trips provide a broad activity programme. Subject-linked visits have included Iceland, France and Pompeii, while service partnerships extend to Zambia. The House system connects year groups through sport, music, public speaking, drama, art and fundraising, giving pupils a consistent pastoral point of contact.

Entry is available at Reception, Prep, Year 7, Year 9 and Sixth Form. Senior applicants complete an assessment and structured interview, with a confidential reference and recent school report; Sixth Form applicants also meet the Head of Sixth Form. Academic, music and sports scholarships and bursary information are available, with arrangements varying by stage.

Key points
Assessment route
Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
Places and demand
Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
Catchment
Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
Results
0% grade 5+ in English and maths and 32.9 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 21.9% AAB or better.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Hertfordshire and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for St Columba's College, Hertfordshire, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M EBacc APS EBacc %
Attainment 8
32.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
EBacc APS
2.61
EBacc entry
0%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Hertfordshire and England.

School Local authority England
Attainment 8 trend line Attainment 8 over time for St Columba's College, Hertfordshire, and England. 60 46.7 33.3 20 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25

School details
Sector
Private school
School type
Other independent school
Funding
Independent fee-paying
Application
Apply direct to school
Gender
Mixed
Age range
4-19
Headteacher
Mr Karl Guest
Pupil roll
822 pupils
Sixth form
Yes

Location and contact

Address

Address
King Harry Lane, St Albans, Hertfordshire
Postcode
AL3 4AW
Area
Hertfordshire

School leadership

Headteacher
Mr Karl Guest

School contact

School phone
01727855185

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Admissions
Admissions phone
01727855185
Open in Map Open school website

Admissions
Application route
Apply direct to school
Age range
4-19
Gender
Mixed
Boarding
No boarders
Day fees
Check school fees page
Scholarships and bursaries
Check school site
Entrance details
Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
Admissions note
GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.

GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.

Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.

Oversubscription and eligibility

Use the official admissions policy for the current priority order and eligibility rules.

Exam and test format

Entrance route and assessment

Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.

Assessment route
Apply direct to school

Application

Key dates

Get date reminders

  1. 11+ and 13+ testing day

    28 November 2026

    Route: Years 7 and 9; entry: September 2027.

  2. 11+ and 13+ testing day

    5 December 2026

    Route: Years 7 and 9; entry: September 2027.

  3. 11+ and 13+ interviews

    2 December 2026

    Route: Years 7 and 9; entry: September 2027.

  4. Offer letters

    12 February 2027

    Route: Years 7 and 9; entry: September 2027.

How to apply

  1. 1

    Apply direct to the school

    Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.

    Check school admissions

Results

Attainment snapshot

Attainment 8 ?
32.9 Attainment 8
GCSE results
0% grade 4+ in English and maths
Grade 5+ English and maths ?
0% grade 5+ in English and maths
EBacc average point score ?
2.61 EBacc APS
A-level results
21.9% AAB or better
A-level average points
40.70 A-level points per entry

Inspection
View report
Standards met

Latest inspection: 27 January 2026

Use the latest ISI report for inspection detail.

Quick summary

  • Latest ISI report: Non-Routine Inspections 2026 records an inspection beginning 27 January 2026. The report says the relevant standards were met.

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Shortlist comparisons

Compare St Columba's College with Stanborough Secondary School Compare St Columba's College with Aldenham School Compare St Columba's College with The Purcell School

Explore this school in context

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Related pages and guides

Guides and related reading

Related guides are still being added.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How does St Columba's College handle admissions?

St Columba's College handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.

How do I apply to St Columba's College?

1. Apply direct to the school: Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.

When are the key dates for St Columba's College?

11+ and 13+ testing day: 28 November 2026. 11+ and 13+ testing day: 5 December 2026. 11+ and 13+ interviews: 2 December 2026. Offer letters: 12 February 2027

What does the latest inspection picture look like for St Columba's College?

St Columba's College is currently rated Standards met following the latest published inspection dated 27 January 2026.