Our Mission Statement


St. Anthony’s is committed to giving every pupil in our care the best start in life. Identifying and fostering each boy’s potential is written into the school’s DNA. In addition, our Catholic ethos highlights the spiritual dimension that reaches out to parents seeking an education that is enriching and nurturing.

Our four aims are:

  • To deliver an intellectual, moral and spiritual education.
  • To develop academic potential and a passion for learning.
  • To promote personal excellence in the creative arts, music and sport.
  • To cultivate independent thought and uniqueness in personality.
Aims and Ethos

Who Are We?


Strong moral values are at the core of life at St. Anthony’s. We are a Catholic school. While a substantial number of our pupils are Catholics, we also welcome those of other faiths and experience suggests that parents are strongly attracted by the universal appeal of our values. Education is always pupil-focused: the most confident and articulate pupils are encouraged to strive for ever-greater achievements, while those who are less confident receive the support they need to overcome any temporary challenges. Work undertaken in the classroom is supported by the opportunity to discuss current affairs in class and after school and by talks from visiting speakers – often experts in their field – at our weekly assemblies. Drama, music and sport also flourish at the school as we believe that these are an essential component of a well-rounded education.

We believe in the uniqueness and moral worth of every individual pupil: everyone has something to contribute, and no one should feel inadequate. Pupils are encouraged to be respectful to each other and to listen to points of view which may differ from their own. In the words of our founder, Richard Patton, the school proudly echoes our motto, “Virtute Adepta” (“acquired by virtue”). Our four aims, listed above, are empowering for pupils, leading to intellectual and spiritual fulfilment; learners gladly embark on a challenging, yet highly rewarding, educational journey. They graduate life-ready – in other words, well-prepared for the challenges of secondary school, university and, indeed, their professional future.

Catholic Life


The school believes Catholic Education is driven by a spiritual understanding of the human person; we seek to promote each individual’s relationship with Almighty God and with each other. 

 

Sacramental and Prayer Life

St. Anthony’s School for Boys supports Catholic families who wish to raise their children in the Faith. Regular school and form-time assemblies are a feature of school life and usually involve prayers, hymns and teacher-led (and increasingly pupil-led) reflections. 

Holy Mass is celebrated once a term, and our Chaplain, Monsignor Phelim Rowland, is also the Parish Priest of St. Mary’s, Holly Place. Mgr Phelim is much loved and respected by our boys, staff and parents.

The school prepares boys (and girls from our sister school) to receive their First Holy Communion, which is scheduled to take place around the Feast of our patron, St. Anthony of Padua, in June each year.

 

Spiritual and Moral Formation

We believe there is a close connection between seeking truth with sincerity of heart and academic learning. A Catholic school integrates scholarship, community and pastoral care, which are underpinned by the teachings of the Gospel and the Church.

We want our boys to be exposed to and grapple with ‘ultimate questions’ and to forge an objective moral compass. Putting others first, just as St. Anthony’s puts pupils first, builds perspective and resilience, allowing each boy to take their place in contemporary society.

St. Anthony’s is an inclusive community with a clear understanding of our identity as a Catholic school. We welcome boys from other religious traditions or none. The words of Pope Benedict XVI capture perfectly our approach when he writes: Each of us is a result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed. Each of us is loved. Each of us is necessary.

 

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Discover an educational path that celebrates individual excellence and nurtures the moral and spiritual lives of each student.