Maria Fidelis

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use British English|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox school | name = Maria Fidelis Catholic School FCJ | logo = | image = | caption = Maria Fidelis school building, opened in 2019 | coordinates = {{coord|51.53000795|-0.13195307880907303|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | motto = ''Growing together, through Christ, with courage, confidence and dignity'' | established = {{start date and age|1830}} | founders = [[Marie-Madeleine d'Houët]]; [[Faithful Companions of Jesus]] | schooltype = [[state school]] | type = [[Voluntary aided school|Voluntary aided]] comprehensive | religious_affiliation = Roman Catholic | head = Mark Anthony | address = 1-39 Drummond Crescent, London | city = [[London Borough of Camden|Camden]] | county = [[London]] | country = [[England]] | postal_code = NW1 1LY | local_authority = [[Camden London Borough Council|Camden]] | urn = 100055 | ofsted = yes | enrolment = | language = [[English language|English]] | houses = {{Unbulleted list|D'Houet|Guillemet|Faber|Loyola}} | colors = [[Blue]] | years_taught = Years [[Year 7|7]]-[[Year 13|13]] | gender = [[Co-educational]] | lower_age = 11 | upper_age = 18 | nickname = MF | website = {{URL|http://www.mariafidelis.camden.sch.uk}} }}

'''Maria Fidelis Catholic School FCJ''' is a [[Roman Catholic]] [[Mixed-sex education|co-educational]] [[secondary school]] in the [[London Borough of Camden]], [[England]]. It was founded by the [[Faithful Companions of Jesus]].

==History== {{unreferenced section|date=January 2024}} The school was founded in 1830 by the [[Faithful Companions of Jesus]], or more specifically, their founder, [[Marie-Madeleine d'Houët]]. Just months after the school's opening, [[Marie-Madeleine d'Houët|Marie]] later realised she could not keep running the school and passed the role of [[Head teacher|headteacher]] to Julie Guillemet, a friend of hers and [[Faithful Companions of Jesus|FCJ]] [[Religious sister|sister]].

It was at first an [[Industrial Schools in Ireland|industrial school]] financed by charitable appeals. The school then progressed to being a convent boarding school and then to a selective non-fee paying [[Grammar schools in the United Kingdom|grammar school]] known as St. Aloysius.

The school then became a [[comprehensive school|comprehensive]] in 1974 with the merger of St. Aloysius with St. Vincent's Schools which was run by the [[Sisters of Charity]]. The name ''Maria Fidelis'' was chosen by the Sisters meaning ''Mary Most Faithful.''

Maria Fidelis today stands on Drummond Crescent in the [[Somers Town, London|Somers Town]] area of [[London Borough of Camden|Camden]], near [[Euston Road|Euston]].

The school won [[BBC]]'s '[[Choir|School Choir Of The Year]]' and are known for their vocal arrangements under the direction of [[Karen Gibson (choir conductor)|Karen Gibson]]. The choir performed for [[Pope Benedict XVI]] at [[The Big Assembly]] at [[St Mary's University College, Twickenham]] on {{Start date|2010|09|17}} during his [[State visit by Pope Benedict XVI to the United Kingdom|visit to the UK]].

Since {{Start date|2013|09}}, the school admits boys as well as girls, in [[Mixed-sex education|co-education]].

==Current Building== The [[High Speed 2]] rail [[Rail transport|network]]'s planned route was to go through [[Gower Street, London|North Gower Street]], the location of the school's previous building.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-20493709 HS2 compensation for Camden 'not enough'], [[BBC]], 26 November 2012</ref> This meant the school was required to move locations to Drummond Crescent, nearby to [[Euston Road]]. Work began on the site in {{Start date|2017}}<ref>{{cite news |date=13 January 2017 |title=HS2: Work to build new Maria Fidelis School begins |publisher=Camden Council |url=http://news.camden.gov.uk/work-to--build-new-maria-fidelis-school-begins/ |accessdate=29 November 2017}}</ref> and the school started moving in {{Start date|2018}}, before its official opening in {{Start date|2019|09}}.

==Notable alumni== *[[Jane Wymark]] (b. 1952) - actress, ''[[Midsomer Murders]]'' *[[Kathy Burke]] (born 1964) - comedian, actress and theatre director *[[Roisin Conaty]] (born 1979) - comedian and actress *[[Brooke Kinsella]] (born 1982) - actress

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.mariafidelis.camden.sch.uk/ Official website] *[http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_providers/full/(urn)/100055 Ofsted inspection reports]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maria Fidelis FCJ Catholic School}} [[Category:Secondary schools in the London Borough of Camden]] [[Category:Catholic secondary schools in the Archdiocese of Westminster]] [[Category:Educational institutions established in 1830]] [[Category:1830 establishments in England]] [[Category:Voluntary aided schools in London]]