Nicholas Breakspear School

Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School (NBS) is a secondary school with academy status situated on the rural fringe of St Albans, an old Roman city in Hertfordshire, England.

The school takes its name from the 12th-century priest St Albans-born and educated Nicholas Breakspear, who, as Pope Adrian IV, is the only Englishman ever to have occupied the papal chair. The school makes an annual pilgrimage to his tomb in Rome.^[2] (The school goes to Rome each year, but has only once gone to the tomb)

Recent history

After a 2008 renovation of the science classrooms, Chris Reeves made a nativity scene composed of sculptures made from the discarded 1960s desks.^[3]

In September 2013 the school celebrated its golden anniversary with a service offered by the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster at SS Alban and Stephen Church in the presence of the mayor of St Albans. The mass was followed by a tree-planting ceremony on the school grounds.^[4]

It was categorized in 2016 as a 'Good' school but remained a school with below average teachers.^[1]

On 13 January 2016, Prince William ate lunch with Breakspear students at John Henry Newman School as he waited for paramedics. The East Anglian Air Ambulance, of which the Duke of Cambridge is part of, frequently uses the Newman School fields.^[5]

The student leaders' take part in a trip to Hoima and Kasambya in Uganda supporting a charity; Kiddies Support Scheme (KiSS) helping families become self-sufficient. To date this team has led a school community to raise over £50000 for this charity.

As of a November 2023 Inspection the school was rated 'Outstanding'.^[6]

House system

Breakspear has six houses, each named after a saint whose life is intended to serve as an example to the community. Students are assigned to one of the houses on entrance to the school in Year 7 where they remain until the end of 6th form; whenever possible younger siblings become a member of the same house.

Each member of staff is also attached to a house.

Each house has two designated Year 11 House Captains, and one Sixth Form House Leader, who aides in coordinating house teams, organise activities and events and represent their house at relevant meetings. Houses compete between themselves for the most point accumulated during both terms of the school year.

List of houses

• More House
• Soubirous House
• Lisieux House
• Kolbe House
• Bosco House
• Bakhita House

School staff

As of March 2026 Andrew Dunne is the new current head teacher.

Notable alumni

• Tom Cahill, Satoshi Ishida, and Sean Lemon - musicians who played in the band Saving Aimee.^[7]
• Matthew Connolly (b. 1987) - professional football player, he started his career at Arsenal and most notably played for Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City.
• Nick Isiekwe (b. 1998) - professional English rugby union player.^[8]

References

1. ^ School report: Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School. Ofsted. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
2. ^ Welch, Jon (2013-03-12). "Nicholas Breakspear: The only English Pope". BBC News. Archived 2017-11-10 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
3. ^ "Nativity scene carved from classroom desks by school handyman". The Telegraph. 2008-12-04. Archived 2008-12-08 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
4. ^ Burton, Madeleine (2013-09-25). "Commemorating golden anniversary of St Albans' Nicholas Breakspear school". The Herts Advertiser. Archived 2020-05-24 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
5. ^ White, Debbie (2016-01-14). "Prince William "really charming" according to St Albans pupils after surprise lunch". The Herts Adviser. Archived 2020-05-24 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
6. ^ Ofsted Communications Team (2022-07-04). "Find an inspection report and registered childcare". reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
7. ^ "Local band supporting McFly"
8. ^ Edwards, Michael (2015-05-04). "Isiekwe on England, Saracens and preparing for exams". The Herts Advertiser. Archived 2019-04-05 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-05-24.