St Boniface's College
Encyclopedia
Founded in 1856 as an independent boarding and day school for "young Catholic
gentlemen" in the West Country, since 1981 St Boniface's Catholic College has been a voluntary aided school
for boys and sixth-form girls, under the direction and trustees of the Roman Catholic Community in the Plymouth
area in the South West of England
. The College is named for St Boniface
who was born in Crediton, Devon and is the patron saint of Germany
.
The school has a list of distinguished former pupils including Air Chief Marshal
Sir John Gingell GBE
KCB
KCVO
, the writer and intelligence agent Alexander Wilson, and Sir Julian Priestley
KCMG, Secretary General of the European Parliament from 1997- 2007.
The school has been open for . It is situated on the west side of the A386, north of the A38
interchange - between the A38 and the B3413.
gentlemen" by the great, if austere, first Roman Catholic Bishop of Plymouth Dr Errington
(1804–1886). As a result of Bishop Errington's appointment as Coadjutor Archbishop of Westminster in 1855, the College was almost immediately placed under the patronage
of his successor as Bishop of Plymouth, The Right Reverend William Vaughan
(1814–1902). The College's first school building was in Wyndham Square, Plymouth.
Mr Clarke resigned his post in 1883, but in September of the same year the Basilian Fathers
, exiled from France, bought over the property at Beaconfield, Plymouth. This was at the time a considerable distance from the city's residential area and the efficient transport system of today did not exist. Hence, whilst the boarders were accommodated at the residence at Beaconfield a small school for day boys was opened at Grosvenor Street near the centre of Plymouth
. It was known as the Catholic Institute and was staffed by teachers from Beaconfield. Mr Clarke who apparently could not suppress his vocation to teach, again took over the school at Grosvenor Street and a little later transferred the pupils to his own residence at Wyndham Square where he carried on his valuable work until 1891. The boarding school at Beaconfield continued under the management of the Basilian Fathers
until July 1899, when, under the stress of financial difficulties, they resolved to close the school.
The following year the diocesan authorities purchased premised at Wyndham Square, and the school was placed under the patronage of St Boniface. It was staffed by the diocesan clergy under the headmastership of Provost
Burns.
The De La Salle Brothers
were invited to take over the management of the school in 1911, but on the outbreak of World War I
were recalled to France. Their places were taken by the Presentation Brothers
who found the premises at Wyndham Square inadequate, and gave up in 1931.
In September of that year the Christian Brothers accepted the invitation of Barrett
to re-open the school at Beaconfield. The buildings had been erected in 1910 as a convent boarding school, provided excellent accommodation for the 127 day boys and fifteen boarders who opened a new era in the schools chequered career.
With the outbreak of World War II the College was evacuated to Buckfast Abbey
between 1941 and 1945. The Abbey was instrumental in assuring the school continued during those difficult war years. During this period, the school buildings in Plymouth
were used as strategic operation bases for the Admiralty
and continued to be used even after the students returned to Beacon Park.
s where fees for selected day pupils from lower income families were partly or fully paid by the local authority. The College retained autonomy from the local authority and remained members of the Headmasters' Conference. Situated in Beacon Park, it had 450 boys in the 1970s.
and others, was forced to decide between reverting to a fully independent school or becoming a Voluntary-Aided school. After a period as an independent school, in 1981 St Boniface’s Catholic College and Bishop Vaughan Catholic School were amalgamated into a Voluntary-Aided boys’ Comprehensive school at Crownhill, which then became the Grant Maintained St Boniface’s Catholic College. Notre Dame High School became a state school at the same time. In 1999 the College reverted to Voluntary Aided status. On January 1, 2008 the College was renamed and readdressed as "St Boniface's Catholic College" at 21 Boniface Lane, Manadon Park
, Plymouth
.
Today the College is a five-form entry college of 813 students between the ages of 11 to 18, taught by a full-time staff of 50. Its main campus is at Manadon Park
with sports facilities at Marsh Mills
. Its sister school
is Notre Dame Catholic School. It is colloquially known as "Bonnies" or abbreviated as SBCC.
In 2007 Teachers' TV produced a programme about the use of video feedback to teachers by pupils. "Action! Pupil Video: Look What You've Started" is available for download on the Teachers' TV website.
Also in 2007, St Boniface's won the Schools Herald Team of the Year award and on Thursday 13 March 2008 pupils of the College produced the news for the BBC's School Report project.
Long standing Headteacher David Kavanagh, having served at the College for over 20 years, retired in July 2007. The Board of Governors were unable to find an immediate replacement so then Deputy Head, Jim Murphy, had taken on the role until the end of the academic year 2009. Peter Fairweather is the Chair of the Governing Body. The current Head Teacher is Mr Peter Eccles.
In 2010 the College participated in BBC News School Report, with some students reading the news on the local BBC Spotlight news programme.
Head Boy Luke Garside was chosen as one of 100 Prime Minister's Global Fellows. The programme saw Luke representing the UK as an ambassador in China
through the summer of 2010.
The College badge proclaims the school’s origins. The cross of St Andrew represents the Old Cathedral Church of Plymouth, the Bishop’s staff represents the patronage of St Boniface; and the cross keys of St Peter represent the Catholic Church, towards which the College owes its allegiance. The badge’s blue background echoes the College’s connections with the sea.
The school tie is mainly purple to represent the Bishop. The diagonal silver band flanked with gold on either side denotes loyalty to the Holy See, whilst the thin red lines between purple and gold commemorates the martyrdom of St Boniface.
), Grosvenor (Grosvenor Street), Melbourne (Melbourne Street) and Wyndham (Wyndham Square). Then in 1981 the Houses were renamed for Plymouth Bishops, being Barrett
, Grimshaw
, Keily
and Vaughan
. To accommodate increasing intake numbers, a fifth house was added in September 1995, also named for a Bishop; Errington
House. These five houses remain to this day.
In July 2009 the House System was relaunched with the current Heads of Year becoming Heads of House. During the mid 1950s School House was establish. Its membership was confined to the Boarders. It often won the Inter House Rugby Trophy
Since 1904 St Boniface's has seen a good number of its First XV selected to play for the England Schools Rugby Union (ESRU).
in 2009 the Year 7 Rugby Team reached the final of the Cunningham Cup against Kelly College and drew the game, though came second in the competition because of points difference. The Year 9 Rugby team, who themselves had been Cunningham Cup winners when in Year 7, went on to win the West Devon 7’s and reached the final of the Devon 7’s.
In 2009 the College's junior hockey team were placed in the “elite” league playing against much more experienced sides because of their exceptional performance in the previous season.
The College operated an Army Cadet unit, or The Corps as it was more familiarly known, from an early date until becoming a voluntary-aided school in 1981. In 1908, when the Territorial Army was formed, the College unit became part of the Officer Training Corps, and in 1914, when all independent Cadet units were taken under control by the War Office, it became part of the Army Cadet Force
.
In 1923 all Governmental and Military support for the ACF was withdrawn as a result of Defence cutbacks (Geddes Axe), and this led to the forming of the British National Cadet Association (BNCA) by notable figures such as Lord Allenby who were keen to maintain the ACF and lobby for Government funding.
In 1942 the ACF was re-formed as a support to the Home Guard and in 1948 the College Corps, along with other independent school units, became part of the newly formed Combined Cadet Force
(CCF). The Corps, which had its own building including a rifle range, had a long association with The Devonshire Regiment, which became The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment
in 1958, and wore its regimental cap badge as part of the Cadet uniform. The College provided a steady stream of officers to both regiments from the late 19th century to the mid 20th century.
The College uniform has changed very little in almost a century. Though shorts and caps are no longer required, the following remain:
Until the 1980s, the College blazer and cap were purple for students in First Form (Year 7) - Fifth Form (Year 11), with Sixth Form wearing a black version of the blazer. This was eventually adopted as the main school uniform.
The Sixth Form uniform is a dark grey suit, with white shirt, black shoes and maroon Sixth Form tie (navy blue for prefects). The two ties reflect the College colours. Black ties are awarded to students who represent the College with sporting achievements. Half and Full Senior colour ties are given to students in the Sixth Form, whilst the lower school are given a gold bar under their blazer pocket.
In 2006 a black waterproof Gore-Tex
jacket was introduced to modernise the uniform.
In 2009 house coloured silicon bands were introduced to identify which house each student belonged to, whilst Diploma students were issued a grey version of the school jacket.
In 2010, a new sports kit will be launched.
Rise, rise and sing aloud proclaim
The School's renown and cherished name
Long years to come her beacon bright
Shine still undimmed, our guiding light
Enduring be the Faith we own, with zeal, as Boniface, to cast
The seed abroad of truth unknown and evil to things to crush at last
Then, Bonifacians, sing her praise:
In strength and grace through all her days
In strength and grace through all her days
And when to manhood we attain
We shall recall with pride again
Green fields where we her fame assured
Her sterner classroom tasks endured
Mid other scenes and joys newfound
Recall, while heart with pleasure fills
The View to South of Plymouth Sound
To North the rolling Devon Hills
Then, Bonifacians, sing her praise:
In strength and grace through all her days
In strength and grace through all her days
Long Live! Long live! The School!
Long Live! Long live! The School!
to allow students, parents, Old Bonifacians and the press access to photographs of the school and its events. Images date back as far as 1911.
the College performs above the England average and about average for Plymouth Local Authority, but at A level
it is below the England average.
, home to the Plymouth Devils
speedway team. The land was used as playing fields for 25 years, until in 2006, the Local Authority approved temporary planning permission to Mike Bowden to build a stadium for the Plymouth Devils. In 2007, the planning permission was made permanent.
There is still one playing field for the school to use. The field is also used by Plymouth Victoria Rugby Club for fixtures in the Devon 1 SW league.
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
gentlemen" in the West Country, since 1981 St Boniface's Catholic College has been a voluntary aided school
Voluntary aided school
A voluntary aided school is a state-funded school in England and Wales in which a foundation or trust owns the school buildings, contributes to building costs and has a substantial influence in the running of the school...
for boys and sixth-form girls, under the direction and trustees of the Roman Catholic Community in the Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
area in the South West of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The College is named for St Boniface
Saint Boniface
Saint Boniface , the Apostle of the Germans, born Winfrid, Wynfrith, or Wynfryth in the kingdom of Wessex, probably at Crediton , was a missionary who propagated Christianity in the Frankish Empire during the 8th century. He is the patron saint of Germany and the first archbishop of Mainz...
who was born in Crediton, Devon and is the patron saint of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
The school has a list of distinguished former pupils including Air Chief Marshal
Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Sir John Gingell GBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
KCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, the writer and intelligence agent Alexander Wilson, and Sir Julian Priestley
Julian Priestley
Sir Julian Priestley , Secretary-General of the European Parliament from 1997-2007.He was educated at St Boniface's Catholic College, Plymouth, and Balliol College, Oxford, graduating in 1972 with an honours degree in philosophy, politics and economics . He was President of the Oxford Union and...
KCMG, Secretary General of the European Parliament from 1997- 2007.
The school has been open for . It is situated on the west side of the A386, north of the A38
A38 road
The A38, part of which is also known as the Devon Expressway, is a major A-class trunk road in England.The road runs from Bodmin in Cornwall to Mansfield in Nottinghamshire. It is long, making it one of the longest A-roads in England. It was formerly known as the Leeds — Exeter Trunk Road,...
interchange - between the A38 and the B3413.
Foundation
St Boniface's College was founded in 1856 as a school for "young CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
gentlemen" by the great, if austere, first Roman Catholic Bishop of Plymouth Dr Errington
George Errington
George Errington , the second son of Thomas Errington and Katherine of Clints Hall, Richmond, Yorkshire, was a Roman Catholic churchman....
(1804–1886). As a result of Bishop Errington's appointment as Coadjutor Archbishop of Westminster in 1855, the College was almost immediately placed under the patronage
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
of his successor as Bishop of Plymouth, The Right Reverend William Vaughan
William Vaughan (bishop)
William Vaughan was a British clergyman who held high office in the Roman Catholic Church.He was born on 14 February 1814 in London, England...
(1814–1902). The College's first school building was in Wyndham Square, Plymouth.
Early history
In 1863, the school was renamed "St Boniface Boys' Catholic School" and relocated to a larger building to Melbourne Street, and later to North Road with Mr Clarke, an old boy of the Christian Brothers' School in Gibraltar, as Head Master. From the beginning both boarders and day boys were catered for.Congregation of St. Basil
The Basilian Fathers, also known as The Congregation of Saint Basil, is an international order of Catholic priests and students studying for the priesthood, who focus on education and ministering through oratories....
, exiled from France, bought over the property at Beaconfield, Plymouth. This was at the time a considerable distance from the city's residential area and the efficient transport system of today did not exist. Hence, whilst the boarders were accommodated at the residence at Beaconfield a small school for day boys was opened at Grosvenor Street near the centre of Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
. It was known as the Catholic Institute and was staffed by teachers from Beaconfield. Mr Clarke who apparently could not suppress his vocation to teach, again took over the school at Grosvenor Street and a little later transferred the pupils to his own residence at Wyndham Square where he carried on his valuable work until 1891. The boarding school at Beaconfield continued under the management of the Basilian Fathers
Congregation of St. Basil
The Basilian Fathers, also known as The Congregation of Saint Basil, is an international order of Catholic priests and students studying for the priesthood, who focus on education and ministering through oratories....
until July 1899, when, under the stress of financial difficulties, they resolved to close the school.
The following year the diocesan authorities purchased premised at Wyndham Square, and the school was placed under the patronage of St Boniface. It was staffed by the diocesan clergy under the headmastership of Provost
Provost (religion)
A provost is a senior official in a number of Christian churches.-Historical Development:The word praepositus was originally applied to any ecclesiastical ruler or dignitary...
Burns.
The De La Salle Brothers
Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools
The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools is a Roman Catholic religious teaching congregation, founded in France by Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle and now based in Rome...
were invited to take over the management of the school in 1911, but on the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
were recalled to France. Their places were taken by the Presentation Brothers
Presentation Brothers
The Congregation of Presentation Brothers is an international Catholic congregation of laymen founded in 1802 in Waterford, Ireland, by a local businessman, Edmund Ignatius Rice, now Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice....
who found the premises at Wyndham Square inadequate, and gave up in 1931.
In September of that year the Christian Brothers accepted the invitation of Barrett
John Patrick Barrett
John Patrick Barrett was a British clergyman who held high office in the Roman Catholic Church.He was born on 31 October 1878 in Liverpool, England...
to re-open the school at Beaconfield. The buildings had been erected in 1910 as a convent boarding school, provided excellent accommodation for the 127 day boys and fifteen boarders who opened a new era in the schools chequered career.
With the outbreak of World War II the College was evacuated to Buckfast Abbey
Buckfast Abbey
Buckfast Abbey forms part of an active Benedictine monastery at Buckfast, near Buckfastleigh, Devon, England. Dedicated to Saint Mary, it was founded in 1018 and run by the Cistercian order from 1147 until it was destroyed under the Dissolution of the Monasteries...
between 1941 and 1945. The Abbey was instrumental in assuring the school continued during those difficult war years. During this period, the school buildings in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
were used as strategic operation bases for the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
and continued to be used even after the students returned to Beacon Park.
Direct Grant Grammar School
In 1946 the College was encouraged to become one of the 179 direct grant schoolDirect grant grammar school
A direct grant grammar school was a selective secondary school in England and Wales between 1945 and 1976 funded partly by the state and partly through private fees....
s where fees for selected day pupils from lower income families were partly or fully paid by the local authority. The College retained autonomy from the local authority and remained members of the Headmasters' Conference. Situated in Beacon Park, it had 450 boys in the 1970s.
Comprehensive
When the Labour Government withdrew funding from direct grant schools in 1976, the College, like Manchester Grammar SchoolManchester Grammar School
The Manchester Grammar School is the largest independent day school for boys in the UK . It is based in Manchester, England...
and others, was forced to decide between reverting to a fully independent school or becoming a Voluntary-Aided school. After a period as an independent school, in 1981 St Boniface’s Catholic College and Bishop Vaughan Catholic School were amalgamated into a Voluntary-Aided boys’ Comprehensive school at Crownhill, which then became the Grant Maintained St Boniface’s Catholic College. Notre Dame High School became a state school at the same time. In 1999 the College reverted to Voluntary Aided status. On January 1, 2008 the College was renamed and readdressed as "St Boniface's Catholic College" at 21 Boniface Lane, Manadon Park
Manadon
Manadon is an area in Plymouth, England. It has two primary schools, St Boniface's Catholic College , and is home to the Manadon interchange, on the A38 road....
, Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
.
Today the College is a five-form entry college of 813 students between the ages of 11 to 18, taught by a full-time staff of 50. Its main campus is at Manadon Park
Manadon
Manadon is an area in Plymouth, England. It has two primary schools, St Boniface's Catholic College , and is home to the Manadon interchange, on the A38 road....
with sports facilities at Marsh Mills
Plympton
Plympton, or Plympton Maurice or Plympton St Maurice or Plympton St Mary or Plympton Erle, in south-western Devon, England is an ancient stannary town: an important trading centre in the past for locally mined tin, and a former seaport...
. Its sister school
Sister school
The term sister school has several meanings:*a definite financial commerce between two colleges or universities*two schools that have a strong historical connection...
is Notre Dame Catholic School. It is colloquially known as "Bonnies" or abbreviated as SBCC.
In 2007 Teachers' TV produced a programme about the use of video feedback to teachers by pupils. "Action! Pupil Video: Look What You've Started" is available for download on the Teachers' TV website.
Also in 2007, St Boniface's won the Schools Herald Team of the Year award and on Thursday 13 March 2008 pupils of the College produced the news for the BBC's School Report project.
Long standing Headteacher David Kavanagh, having served at the College for over 20 years, retired in July 2007. The Board of Governors were unable to find an immediate replacement so then Deputy Head, Jim Murphy, had taken on the role until the end of the academic year 2009. Peter Fairweather is the Chair of the Governing Body. The current Head Teacher is Mr Peter Eccles.
In 2010 the College participated in BBC News School Report, with some students reading the news on the local BBC Spotlight news programme.
Head Boy Luke Garside was chosen as one of 100 Prime Minister's Global Fellows. The programme saw Luke representing the UK as an ambassador in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
through the summer of 2010.
Motto and Badge
The College motto is Bona Facite, usually translated as Do Good, and, while being a linguistic play on the name of St Boniface, is possibly taken from Chapter 35, Verse 15 of Jeremiah, "Misique ad vos omnes servos meos prophetas, consurgens diluculo mittensque, et dicens: Convertimini unusquisque a via sua pessima, et bona facite studia vestra: et nolite sequi deos alienos, neque colatis eos, et habitabitis in terra quam dedi vobis et patribus vestris: et non inclinastis aurem vestram, neque audistis me" (And I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising early, and sending and saying: Return ye every man from his wicked way, and make your ways good: and follow not strange gods, nor worship them, and you shall dwell in the land, which I gave you and your fathers: and you have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened to me).The College badge proclaims the school’s origins. The cross of St Andrew represents the Old Cathedral Church of Plymouth, the Bishop’s staff represents the patronage of St Boniface; and the cross keys of St Peter represent the Catholic Church, towards which the College owes its allegiance. The badge’s blue background echoes the College’s connections with the sea.
The school tie is mainly purple to represent the Bishop. The diagonal silver band flanked with gold on either side denotes loyalty to the Holy See, whilst the thin red lines between purple and gold commemorates the martyrdom of St Boniface.
House system
The College has a long standing House System. Originally it hosted three Houses - named for local areas: Devon, Edgcumbe and Peverell. In 1951 the College felt it was time to increase the number of houses to four to "facilitate the organisation of inter-house competitions." The new Houses were named to bear "some relation to the history and progress of Catholic secondary education in the city." The houses were: Abbey (Buckfast AbbeyBuckfast Abbey
Buckfast Abbey forms part of an active Benedictine monastery at Buckfast, near Buckfastleigh, Devon, England. Dedicated to Saint Mary, it was founded in 1018 and run by the Cistercian order from 1147 until it was destroyed under the Dissolution of the Monasteries...
), Grosvenor (Grosvenor Street), Melbourne (Melbourne Street) and Wyndham (Wyndham Square). Then in 1981 the Houses were renamed for Plymouth Bishops, being Barrett
John Patrick Barrett
John Patrick Barrett was a British clergyman who held high office in the Roman Catholic Church.He was born on 31 October 1878 in Liverpool, England...
, Grimshaw
Francis Joseph Grimshaw
Francis Joseph Grimshaw was a British clergyman who held high office in the Roman Catholic Church.-Life:Born in Bridgwater, Somerset on 6 October 1901, he was ordained to the priesthood on 27 February 1926. He was appointed the Bishop of the Diocese of Plymouth by on 2 June 1947...
, Keily
John Joseph Keily
John Joseph Keily was an Irish clergyman who held high office in the Roman Catholic Church.The son of Bartholomew and Margaret Keily, he was born on 23 June 1854 in Limerick, Ireland...
and Vaughan
William Vaughan (bishop)
William Vaughan was a British clergyman who held high office in the Roman Catholic Church.He was born on 14 February 1814 in London, England...
. To accommodate increasing intake numbers, a fifth house was added in September 1995, also named for a Bishop; Errington
George Errington
George Errington , the second son of Thomas Errington and Katherine of Clints Hall, Richmond, Yorkshire, was a Roman Catholic churchman....
House. These five houses remain to this day.
In July 2009 the House System was relaunched with the current Heads of Year becoming Heads of House. During the mid 1950s School House was establish. Its membership was confined to the Boarders. It often won the Inter House Rugby Trophy
Games
The College has a long tradition of playing rugby, cricket and athletics to a very high standard, consistently challenging the strongest school opponents in the west country and further afield. In more recent years hockey has also been played to a very high standard.Since 1904 St Boniface's has seen a good number of its First XV selected to play for the England Schools Rugby Union (ESRU).
in 2009 the Year 7 Rugby Team reached the final of the Cunningham Cup against Kelly College and drew the game, though came second in the competition because of points difference. The Year 9 Rugby team, who themselves had been Cunningham Cup winners when in Year 7, went on to win the West Devon 7’s and reached the final of the Devon 7’s.
In 2009 the College's junior hockey team were placed in the “elite” league playing against much more experienced sides because of their exceptional performance in the previous season.
The Corps (OTC/ACF/CCF)
Army Cadet Force
The Army Cadet Force is a British youth organisation that offers progressive training in a multitude of the subjects from military training to adventurous training and first aid, at the same time as promoting achievement, discipline, and good citizenship, to boys and girls aged 12 to 18 and 9...
.
In 1923 all Governmental and Military support for the ACF was withdrawn as a result of Defence cutbacks (Geddes Axe), and this led to the forming of the British National Cadet Association (BNCA) by notable figures such as Lord Allenby who were keen to maintain the ACF and lobby for Government funding.
In 1942 the ACF was re-formed as a support to the Home Guard and in 1948 the College Corps, along with other independent school units, became part of the newly formed Combined Cadet Force
Combined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
(CCF). The Corps, which had its own building including a rifle range, had a long association with The Devonshire Regiment, which became The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment
Devonshire and Dorset Regiment
The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, usually just known as the Devon and Dorsets, was an infantry regiment of the British Army. It was formed in 1958 by the amalgamation of two county regiments:*The Devonshire Regiment*The Dorset Regiment...
in 1958, and wore its regimental cap badge as part of the Cadet uniform. The College provided a steady stream of officers to both regiments from the late 19th century to the mid 20th century.
Head Teachers
- Mr Clarke (1863–1883) Melbourne Street
- Basilian FathersCongregation of St. BasilThe Basilian Fathers, also known as The Congregation of Saint Basil, is an international order of Catholic priests and students studying for the priesthood, who focus on education and ministering through oratories....
(1883–1899) Beaconfield - Mr Clarke (1883–1899) Grosvenor Street/Wyndham Square
- Provost Michael John Burns (1900–1911) Wyndham Square
- Presentation BrothersPresentation BrothersThe Congregation of Presentation Brothers is an international Catholic congregation of laymen founded in 1802 in Waterford, Ireland, by a local businessman, Edmund Ignatius Rice, now Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice....
(1911–1931) Wyndham Square - Br J H Dudley McDonald (1931–1944) Beaconfield
- Abbot Bruno Fehrenbacher (1941–1945) Buckfast Abbey
- Br B P Dolan (1944–1950) Beaconfield
- Br P C Curran (1950–1954) Beaconfield
- Br Harry A Grice (1954–1960) Beaconfield/Beacon Park
- Br B D McHugh (1960–1966) Beacon Park
- Br Tom Coleman (1966–1971) Beacon Park
- Br Darcy (1971–1972) Beacon Park
- Br Cornelius John Sreenan (1972–1987) Beacon Park/Crownhill
- Br David Kavanagh (1987–1995) Crownhill
- Mr David Kavanagh (1995–2007) Crownhill
- Dr James Lawrence Murphy (2007–2009) Crownhill/Manadon Park
- Mr Peter Eccles (2009 - ) Manadon Park
Uniform
- Black blazer with the school badge on the pocket
- White or grey shirt
- Black/charcoal grey trousers (shorts can be worn in the summer)
- Black socks
- Black shoes
- Blue school tie
Until the 1980s, the College blazer and cap were purple for students in First Form (Year 7) - Fifth Form (Year 11), with Sixth Form wearing a black version of the blazer. This was eventually adopted as the main school uniform.
The Sixth Form uniform is a dark grey suit, with white shirt, black shoes and maroon Sixth Form tie (navy blue for prefects). The two ties reflect the College colours. Black ties are awarded to students who represent the College with sporting achievements. Half and Full Senior colour ties are given to students in the Sixth Form, whilst the lower school are given a gold bar under their blazer pocket.
In 2006 a black waterproof Gore-Tex
Gore-Tex
Gore-Tex is a waterproof/breathable fabric, and a registered trademark of W. L. Gore and Associates. It was co-invented by Wilbert L. Gore, Rowena Taylor, and Gore's son, Robert W. Gore. Robert Gore was granted on April 27, 1976, for a porous form of polytetrafluoroethylene with a...
jacket was introduced to modernise the uniform.
In 2009 house coloured silicon bands were introduced to identify which house each student belonged to, whilst Diploma students were issued a grey version of the school jacket.
In 2010, a new sports kit will be launched.
Voluntary Aided School
- Mickey Evans (1984–1991) - Retired footballer who played for Plymouth ArgylePlymouth Argyle F.C.Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
- Alex MeechanAlex MeechanAlexander Thomas "Alex" Meechan is an English footballer who plays for AFC Telford United as a striker. He is currently on loan at Harrogate Town.-Career:...
(1991–1996) - Footballer who played for Swindon TownSwindon Town F.C.Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011... - Luke ArscottLuke ArscottLuke Arscott is a rugby union player for Exeter Chiefs in the Aviva Premiership.Luke Arscott's position of choice is as a full-back....
(1995–2000) - Rugby player who currently plays for Exeter ChiefsExeter ChiefsExeter Rugby Club are a rugby union club based in Exeter, Devon.The Exeter club was formed around 1871 and played its first match in 1873. The first team has been rebranded as the Exeter Chiefs and play in a strip of Black , White .... - Tom ArscottTom ArscottTom Arscott is a rugby union player for Worcester Warriors in the Aviva Premiership.Arscott joined Bristol from Plymouth Albion R.F.C...
(1998–2003) - Rugby player who currently plays for Worcester Warriors - Ben Ferguson (1999–2004) - Semi-professionalSemi-professionalA semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
footballer who played for Torquay UnitedTorquay United F.C.Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley... - Jack GildingJack GildingJack Gilding is a rugby union player for Edinburgh in the RaboDirect Pro12.He hails from Plymouth and attended St Boniface's Catholic College, but qualifies to play for the Scotland national rugby union team through his Scottish Grandmother.He plays as a tighthead prop. He previously played for...
(1999–2004) - Rugby player who currently plays for Edinburgh - Joe MasonJoe MasonJoseph "Joe" Mason is an Irish footballer who plays for Cardiff City as a striker.-Plymouth Argyle:Mason began his career as a youth player with home-town club Plymouth Argyle at the age of 10...
(2003–2008) - Footballer who currently plays for Cardiff CityCardiff City F.C.Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for... - Jordan Trott (2003–2008) - Semi-professionalSemi-professionalA semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
footballer who played for Plymouth ArgylePlymouth Argyle F.C.Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
Direct Grant Grammar School
- Malcolm S Ashworth (1939–1944), Chairman of Crawford's Advertising AgencyCrawford's Advertising AgencyCrawford's Advertising Agency, formally WS Crawford Ltd, was one of the most important British advertising agencies of the first half of the 20th century. It was responsible for introducing a highly visual style more influenced by European artistic movements such as modernism and futurism than by...
- David Burke CBE, Director from 1982-91 of the Green AllianceGreen AllianceGreen Alliance is a charity and an independent think tank focused ambitious leadership for the environment in the United Kingdom . We have a track record of over 30 years, working with the most influential leaders from the NGO, business, and political communities...
- BrigadierBrigadierBrigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
Lionel Burns, CBE DSO MC - Air Chief MarshalAir Chief MarshalAir chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Sir John Gingell GBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
KCBOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
KCVORoyal Victorian OrderThe Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
- Senior Royal Air Force commander. Retired in 1984, then served as Black RodBlack RodThe Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, generally shortened to just Black Rod, is an official in the parliaments of several Commonwealth countries. The position originates in the House of Lords of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
in the Houses of Parliament until 1992 - Dr Bernard MacManus, Vice-Chancellor from 1992-4 of Bournemouth UniversityBournemouth UniversityBournemouth University is a university in and around the large south coast town of Bournemouth, UK...
, and Director from 1983-91 of the Dorset Institute for Higher Education and from 1991-2 of Bournemouth Polytechnic - Prof Stefan Nahorski, Professor of Pharmacology from 1984-2006 at the University of LeicesterUniversity of LeicesterThe University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
- Prof Peter Nolan CBE, Sinyi Professor of Chinese Management since 1997 at the Judge Business SchoolJudge Business SchoolCambridge Judge Business School, formerly known as the Judge Institute of Management Studies, is the business school of the University of Cambridge. Established in 1990, the School is a provider of management education and is consistently ranked as one of the world's leading business schools. It is...
, University of CambridgeUniversity of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally... - Sir Julian PriestleyJulian PriestleySir Julian Priestley , Secretary-General of the European Parliament from 1997-2007.He was educated at St Boniface's Catholic College, Plymouth, and Balliol College, Oxford, graduating in 1972 with an honours degree in philosophy, politics and economics . He was President of the Oxford Union and...
KCMG (b. 1950), Secretary General of the European Parliament from 1997–2007 and author
School song
The School's renown and cherished name
Long years to come her beacon bright
Shine still undimmed, our guiding light
Enduring be the Faith we own, with zeal, as Boniface, to cast
The seed abroad of truth unknown and evil to things to crush at last
Then, Bonifacians, sing her praise:
In strength and grace through all her days
In strength and grace through all her days
And when to manhood we attain
We shall recall with pride again
Green fields where we her fame assured
Her sterner classroom tasks endured
Mid other scenes and joys newfound
Recall, while heart with pleasure fills
The View to South of Plymouth Sound
To North the rolling Devon Hills
Then, Bonifacians, sing her praise:
In strength and grace through all her days
In strength and grace through all her days
Long Live! Long live! The School!
Long Live! Long live! The School!
Online Archive
The College has an extensive photographic and digital document archive, hosted with flickrFlickr
Flickr is an image hosting and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community that was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and acquired by Yahoo! in 2005. In addition to being a popular website for users to share and embed personal photographs, the service is widely used by bloggers to...
to allow students, parents, Old Bonifacians and the press access to photographs of the school and its events. Images date back as far as 1911.
150th Anniversary
Established in 1863 as "St Boniface's College", the school plans to mark its sesquicentennial in September 2013. The celebrations will begin in T.Academic performance
At GCSEGeneral Certificate of Secondary Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is equivalent to a Level 2 and Level 1 in Key Skills...
the College performs above the England average and about average for Plymouth Local Authority, but at A level
GCE Advanced Level
The Advanced Level General Certificate of Education, commonly referred to as an A-level, is a qualification offered by education institutions in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Cameroon, and the Cayman Islands...
it is below the England average.
Arson attack
On October 13, 2002 an arson attack created £100,000 of damage. Fortunately, only a temporary classroom block was destroyed.St Boniface Arena
The College owns St Boniface ArenaSt Boniface Arena
St Boniface Arena is a rugby field and speedway venue in Plymouth, Devon. It is situated adjacent to the River Plym near Marsh Mills.-The Stadium:The stadium dates back to 1982 and has hosted speedway since 2006...
, home to the Plymouth Devils
Plymouth Devils
The Plymouth Devils are a speedway team in the British Premier League. The club was re-formed after a gap of thirty-six years in 2006 by former St Austell Gulls rider Mike Bowden....
speedway team. The land was used as playing fields for 25 years, until in 2006, the Local Authority approved temporary planning permission to Mike Bowden to build a stadium for the Plymouth Devils. In 2007, the planning permission was made permanent.
There is still one playing field for the school to use. The field is also used by Plymouth Victoria Rugby Club for fixtures in the Devon 1 SW league.
See also
- Buckfast AbbeyBuckfast AbbeyBuckfast Abbey forms part of an active Benedictine monastery at Buckfast, near Buckfastleigh, Devon, England. Dedicated to Saint Mary, it was founded in 1018 and run by the Cistercian order from 1147 until it was destroyed under the Dissolution of the Monasteries...
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth
- Notre Dame Catholic School
- Bishop ErringtonGeorge ErringtonGeorge Errington , the second son of Thomas Errington and Katherine of Clints Hall, Richmond, Yorkshire, was a Roman Catholic churchman....
- Saint BonifaceSaint BonifaceSaint Boniface , the Apostle of the Germans, born Winfrid, Wynfrith, or Wynfryth in the kingdom of Wessex, probably at Crediton , was a missionary who propagated Christianity in the Frankish Empire during the 8th century. He is the patron saint of Germany and the first archbishop of Mainz...
- Stoodley Knowle Convent School
- Plymouth Devils Speedway TeamPlymouth DevilsThe Plymouth Devils are a speedway team in the British Premier League. The club was re-formed after a gap of thirty-six years in 2006 by former St Austell Gulls rider Mike Bowden....
- St Boniface ArenaSt Boniface ArenaSt Boniface Arena is a rugby field and speedway venue in Plymouth, Devon. It is situated adjacent to the River Plym near Marsh Mills.-The Stadium:The stadium dates back to 1982 and has hosted speedway since 2006...
- List of direct grant grammar schools