Bishop Douglass School
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| Motto | Moving Forward & Raising Achievement |
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| Type | Voluntary Aided |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Headteacher | Miss Angela Murphy |
| Specialism | Science |
| Location | Hamilton Road London N2 0SQ England |
| Local authority | Barnet |
| DfE number | 302/5408 |
| DfE URN | 101365 |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Students | 793 |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Houses | Campion, Fisher, Line, More, Owen, Ward |
| Colours | Royal Blue Blue, Yellow , Pink , Maroon , Green , Purple |
| Website | Bishop Douglass School |
Bishop Douglass School is a mixed Catholic secondary school with a sixth form located in the London Borough of Barnet. The school first opened in 1963 as a secondary modern facility and later became a comprehensive school.
The School has been granted Specialist Science College status which came into effect in September 2007. As a result, the size of the school has increased rapidly, growing by over 100 students since the status was granted. Bishop Douglass's status as a Specialist Science College was renewed in July 2010.
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[edit] History
The original headmaster, Michael Caulfield, was at the time the youngest head teacher of any school in the UK. Around 1990, he was succeeded by his deputy John Meadows. In 2002 an interim headmaster, Mr. Kelly, followed Meadows for one year, resulting in improved standards across the board before current head Ms Murphy took over in the following year.
At the time of Ms Murphy’s appointment in 2003 the school was under 'special measures' and was threatened with closure. Since this date standards have consistently improved. Bishop Douglass was taken out of Special Measures following HMI Inspection in December 2005 and in its most recent Ofsted Inspection in January 2008 was credited as “Good with Outstanding features” and “a Good school of which students, parents, staff and governors are proud” [1]
A Diocese of Westminster inspection of 2008 concluded that “Bishop Douglass is a good Catholic school”[2]
In February 2009 the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust recognized Bishop Douglass’s consistent raising of results by awarding it Most Improved status.
[edit] Bishop Douglass SchoolScience College Traditions
[edit] School Uniform
Before 2001 the Bishop Douglass uniform for girls consisted of a long royal blue skirt, grey V-neck jumper and a royal blue blazer. This would be worn with a blouse of the same colour as the house they were in. The girl's uniform blazer was originally collarless and double breasted. In the 1980s it became a standard jacket similar to the boy's uniform. Originally, a navy bow-tie was worn with the blouse, but this was abandoned around 1974, at around the same time that the summer dress in blue and white dog tooth check was discontinued. Prior to 1977, first year girl students ('Discovery Year)' wore a navy blue 'gym slip' dress with their house blouse, rather than the skirt. The boys' uniform consisted of dark grey trousers, a white shirt, a grey V-neck jumper and royal blue blazer. This would be worn with a blue tie with stripes of the same colour as their house. The Sixth Form uniform for girls was navy skirt and navy sweater with a white blouse and for the boys it was black trousers, black sweater, black jacket and white shirt. The sixth form tie for boys was black, with the school emblem stitched in white.
In 2001, a new uniform was implemented, the most noticeable change being in the new girls' uniform: a green Douglass Tartan Kilt, a white shirt, a royal blue blazer and a blue tie with stripes of the same colour as their house. A new option was that the girls were now allowed to wear black trousers instead of the skirt. The boys' uniform remained the same except for a darker shade of blue for their blazers.
[edit] School Prayer
In 2003, Bishop Douglass College introduced the school prayer which was to be said during registration. The school prayer is as follows:
Thank you, O God, for another day.
Help me to spend it wisely and to spend it well.
Grant that everything I do today may be done as well as I can do it.
Grant that everyone I meet may be happier for the meeting.
Keep me all through today conscientious in my work;
Truthful in my speaking;
Loyal to my friends and faithful to those who love me,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
[edit] School Houses
Each house at Bishop Douglass Science College is represented and named after a different catholic martyr.
· Campion House takes its name from Saint Edmund Campion, a Catholic convert, Jesuit priest and martyr who was canonized as a saint in the Catholic Church. The house colour is light blue.
· Fisher House takes its name from Saint John Fisher, an English Catholic bishop, cardinal and martyr. The house colour is yellow.
· Line House takes its name from Saint Anne Line, an English martyr who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I for harbouring a priest. The house colour is pink.
· More House takes its name from Sir Thomas More the patron saint of politicians and statesmen. The house colour is orange.
· Owen House take its name from Saint Nicholas Owen an English martyr who built several priest holes in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England. The house colour is pale green.
· Ward House takes its name from Saint Margaret Ward a Catholic English martyr. The house colour is lilac.
In addition to school houses, for many years the form years were named. First year students were classified as "Discovery" Year students in recognition of their new status in the school. Second year was named "Exploration"; the third year was "Understanding"; the fourth year was "Preparation" - as they prepared for their examination years; and the fifth year was "Appreciation" - a somewhat arrogant statement that the students were appreciating all the school had done for them. The sixth form was named Lower and Upper Sixth years. The naming convention was abandoned in 2002.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Tina Hobley, actress (Holby City)
- Michael Obiora, actor (Hotel Babylon)
- Kaya Scodelario, actress (Skins)
- Charlotte Lewis, actress (The Golden Child)
- John Kennedy O'Connor, author and broadcaster
