School History

In 1869, with the Catholic population of Chipping Campden growing, Charles, Earl of Gainsborough, commissioned a Catholic school and chapel in Lower High Street, staffed by the Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle. The building served as both school and chapel until 1891, when the new St Catharine’s Church was built. This original building is still at the heart of St Catharine’s today. It is the classroom where our Reception children start their learning journey.

Children attended the school until the age of 14 and were all taught in the same space. Average attendance was sixty in 1885, rising to seventy-eight in 1889. The site was held on a peppercorn lease granted in 1903 by the third Earl of Gainsborough. Pupil numbers had increased to one hundred and fourteen by 1910. By 1954, St Catharine’s, a mixed-age aided school until 1960, had one hundred and fifty-five pupils, including many Polish children from both Springhill and Northwick Park camps.

When pupil numbers reached one hundred and seventy, more space was found by using the Parish room in the Presbytery, the canteen and the convent as classrooms. The nuns moved to a new convent in Leysbourne. Sadly, this closed in 2005, and the remaining Sisters retired to the Mother Convent in Selly Oak.

In April 1939, fire swept through the school. It was caused either by the woodwork beneath the stove in the middle classroom or by woodwork in the roof heated by the stove pipe. The damage was estimated at £200, and the repairs were covered by insurance. Father Bilsborrow and the school managers thanked the Campden Fire Brigade, the Police and local people for their prompt and efficient response.

In 1957, the Dowager Countess of Gainsborough opened a significant new extension costing £8,000, half of which was borne by the Church. It included a spacious corridor forming an entrance hall, with access to all parts of the school, and a large main hall used partly as a canteen. The old green canteen, which had stood for years at the bottom of the field, was then demolished.

Bishop Declan opened two new classrooms in 2003, and over the years the school has added a library and a room to support children with additional learning needs. Today, approximately one hundred and ten pupils attend the school.

Fundraising for the school and church through the ages has included whist drives, rabbit pie suppers, concerts, organ recitals, rummage sales, fancy dress balls, bingo, square dancing, garden parties, coffee mornings and fêtes.

Notable early headteachers included Mother Mary-Mechtildis, who celebrated her Golden Jubilee in Campden, Sister Ignatius, Mother Theophane and Sister Jarlath, the last religious Head Mistress.

• Mr Doran 1979–1989
• Mr Sessarego 1989–2010
• Miss Cannon 2010–2012
• Mrs Welch 2012–2026
• Ms Grant 2026–present

“St Catharine’s School – Entertainments were given at the above school on Monday and Tuesday evening, when the programme consisted of a comedy entitled ‘The General’s Will,’ and a laughable farce, ‘A Household’s Reveries’. The performers were Mrs. Charles Blakeman, the Misses Curtis, Pleadon, E Wilkes, A. Burrowes, M. Haines, M P New, K. Blakeman, L. Skey, A. Wilkes, Maggie Haines, Master John Williams, Master Charles Bruce, and Master Frank Merriman. At the close of the performance the Rev. Father Lloyd in a few words thanked the actors for the admirable way in which they acquitted themselves in their respective parts, Sergeant New for his kindness in fitting up the stage and acting as stage manager, and also Mrs P Haines, who assisted him. There was a large and appreciative audience each evening.”

The Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle was established in England at Banbury in 1847 by Genevieve Dupuis, a nun from Chartres sent to England to set up an independent Order devoted to the conversion of England. The Congregation grew rapidly, and Sisters were sent to run schools in many parts of the country. It was approved by Rome in 1864, when the Mother House moved to Selly Park, Birmingham, and its Rule and Constitutions were confirmed in 1931. Spreading the faith was their main purpose, so the Sisters taught in both primary and secondary schools wherever they had convents.