Founded in 1897, St Columba’s School is a non-denominational day school for children aged 3–18 years and is renowned for its first-class education and academic excellence. Situated at the heart of Kilmacolm, yet within easy reach of the city of Glasgow and the surrounding areas, it is a forward-looking, vibrant and dynamic school.
The first thing any visitor to St Columba's notices is the warm welcome and the strong sense of community. This is in part the result of the school's size where teachers know each pupil by name. Indeed, considerable effort is made to create an environment which allows the School to identify and nurture the unique talents and skills of each pupil, and encourage each one of them to realise their full potential, grow and flourish.
St Columba’s success is evident not only in its excellent academic results, regularly placing St Columba’s as one of the highest-achieving schools nationally, but in the impressive young people you will meet in a classroom, at an international debate, or on a rugby field: they are polite, articulate and quietly self-assured. The School combines the pursuit of academic excellence with a range of opportunity and challenge to develop self-confident and independent young people who benefit from our strong sense of community but who take ownership of their own paths in life, with many developing into responsible and reflective global citizens. High-quality teaching, a strong sense of belonging and the space for pupils to achieve their full potential is what St Columba’s offers. The School’s Pipe Band is known for its success, most notably becoming World Champions in 2023 in the Novice A category but we have also recently enjoyed considerable success in debating with two pupils (class of 2024) becoming debating world champions as part of Team Scotland and our Junior 6 class becoming Sumdog champions for the second year running, competing against 2,931 other classes throughout Scotland.
St Columba’s offers wraparound care from 7.30 am to 6.00 pm, financial assistance and a dedicated bus service around our large catchment area.
Facilities. St Columba’s is currently in the process of investing in an ambitious project which will see the school occupy a single site. The proposed new Junior School, which is set to open its doors in August 2025, will feature state-of-the-art dedicated facilities for the School’s youngest learners. Children will benefit from the finest teaching facilities in a bright and modern setting, fully equipped to inspire young minds. More than that, they will be in a unique position to offer even closer collaborations with subject specialists ensuring that children of primary age foster a curiosity for learning, and the world around them, not to mention stronger links between pupils of all ages.
Senior School pupils will benefit from investment in new classrooms across the campus as well as a new gymnasium, which will provide PE facilities at Duchal Road for all children. Kilmacolm is a vibrant, community-orientated village, a safe haven surrounded by nature, but within easy travelling distance of Glasgow City Centre.
In the last 10 years, St Columba’s has made significant investment into our campus – new buildings, significant upgrades, and new facilities such as our modern Wellbeing Centre. This new resource is located at the heart of the school and the school’s values. We recognise that, for children to flourish and for staff to support them, health and wellbeing is paramount.
Sports facilities include: gym area for gymnastics and dance, large purpose-built sports hall including fitness suite, all-weather floodlit hockey/tennis ground, access to three rugby pitches and a large playing field used for athletics and cross-country running.
Curriculum. St Columba’s School follows the Scottish Curriculum at all stages. Junior School pupils are taught French, music, drama and PE by specialist staff. Transitus (P7) is a transitional year with the core curriculum taught by the class teacher and science, languages, art, music and PE delivered by specialist secondary teachers. Pupils in Senior IV are presented for National 5 examinations followed by Higher Grade and Advanced Higher Grade examinations in Senior V and Senior VI.
Games. Rugby, hockey, netball, basketball, badminton, dance, gymnastics, handball, orienteering, table tennis, volleyball, health and wellbeing, swimming, athletics, cricket. Optional: squash, Strength and Conditioning, judo, curling, skiing, snowboarding, yoga, golf.
Extracurricular. Throughout the whole school there are approximately 60 clubs and societies. They range from athletics and orchestra, gardening and science, STEM and enterprise, debating and Lego club, through to coding and philosophy covering most letters of the alphabet. There is truly something for every child. Individual tuition in a wide range of instruments is available. Public performances and school shows are arranged on a regular basis.
Our progressive outdoor education programme allows pupils to develop resilience and the ability to problem-solve; and learn to work as part of a team in some of Scotland’s most beautiful locations. We are proud to be sector leaders running one of the most successful DofE Award programmes in Scotland, with Mini Duke and Junior Duke Awards offered to children in Junior 2–6 while Transitus and Senior I pupils take part in the John Muir Award. Over 90% of Senior III pupils enrol in the Bronze Award each year.
There is a very strong tradition of fundraising for charity and community service within the School.
St Columba’s has strong links with schools in France.
Organisation. The school is organised into four Houses for both pastoral and competitive purposes. Each house has a Head of House as well as a pupil Captain and Vice-Captain. Career guidance is supported by an external adviser.
Admission. Entry to St Columba’s is by a combination of entry test, interview and, where applicable, a report from the applicant’s previous school. Open events are held in November and entrance tests are held in January.
Fees per annum (2024–2025). Early Years: 1,140 hours of free EYC in partnership with Inverclyde Council, J1: £11,335.00, J2: £12,220, J3: £13,380, J4: £14,220, J5 & J6: £14,945, Transitus–Senior VI: £16,830 (our fees quoted here do not include VAT).
A number of bursary places ranging from 10–100% of fees are available.
Charitable status. St Columba’s School is a Registered Charity, number SC012598. It exists to provide education for pupils.