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St Columba’s College in St Albans has welcomed its first girls into Reception. Last summer, the school announced that it would be moving to co-education and welcoming girls for the first time in 2021. From September, St Columba’s will also welcome girls into Lower Prep (Year 1 and Year 2) and the Lower Sixth (Year 12).

This will be followed by a phased transition which will eventually see St Columba’s offering a Catholic education to boys and girls from ages 4-18.

The move to co-education is already proving to be a great success, with the Admissions team receiving a record number of enquiries and registrations from interested families.

Parent, Mr Matthew Finn, is a former student of St Columba’s College and is delighted to have enrolled his daughter into Reception. Matthew said: 'I strongly believe there is no school like St Columba’s, it gives its students opportunities in life that they would not experience anywhere else. St Columba’s takes ordinary children, and both educates and morally guides them with a personal touch so that they can live as extraordinary adults.'

Mr and Mrs Veitch, who already have a son at the school, also chose St Columba’s College for their daughter who started in Reception in January. They said: 'When we discovered that the school was accepting girls this year, we were ecstatic. It’s a place we know that both our children will get the focus and attention they deserve to grow as individuals.'

Head of the Prep School, Mr Richard McCann, said: 'We are absolutely thrilled to open a new and exciting chapter at St Columba's College. We know that our values and ethos are equally applicable to boys and girls, and that we will continue to provide an outstanding holistic education that gears every child up for the skills that are needed in the future. Our first pioneer girls have settled in brilliantly and we look forward to welcoming many more.'