Plaque honouring Old Bonaventurians killed in both world wars, St Antony's Church, Forest Gate
St Bonaventure's was founded as a private Roman Catholic school in 1855, by members of the Franciscan order based in the Stratford area of London. They moved to the St Antony's parish of Forest Gate in 1897, when they needed more space to build a larger school. Before the outbreak of the Second World War and for some years thereafter pupils were drawn from a large part of the County of Essex as well as the whole of the County Borough of West Ham Following the Education Act 1978 control of the school was taken over by the newly formed West Ham Education Authority and the school changed its name to West Ham (St Bonaventure's) Grammar School.
Following the Education Act 1944, the school reverted to full control by the Franciscan Order as a grammar school and soon after that became a comprehensive school with a tripartite nature (on the site there were grammar, secondary modern and technical streams). At this time the title of the school changed to St Bonaventure's. The current school jumper reflects this past, as the three stripes of colour were initially used to identify the three types of student in the school.[1][failed verification]
It became a state secondary school following the Education Act 1902 in 1904, when schools with a religious nature could gain access to public funding, then in 1918 changed its name to West Ham Grammar School. In 1944, it became St Bonaventure's Grammar School again. The school has a strong relationship with St Antony's Church, which is adjacent to the site, and whole school masses are held there on a regular basis. It is governed by the Diocese of Brentwood and strongly encourages and incorporates liturgical worship in all aspects of school life.[3]
Comprehensive
The school was called a "multilateral" in the tripartite system of education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 1960 and became a boys' comprehensive for ages 11–19. The change to a comprehensive school was successful according to the Ofsted reports and the position of the school in the annual attainment and achievement tables. The school gained Technology College status in 1994 and later it gained Language College status. As a 'high attaining school' it was also able to select a third specialism and chose applied learning.[3] In the 2012 results St Bonaventure's was the highest performing school in Newham. The admissions criteria show that the school has a comprehensive intake, however due to over-subscription, priority is given to year 6 students that are practising Catholics.[3]
Teaching school
Logo for the NCTL designated Teaching School St Bonaventure's and its alliance partners
The school was designated as a teaching school in February 2016. This means that the school has been judged as high performing and can take a lead role in training the next generation of school teachers, providing school to school support and supporting other teachers with their professional development.
There are other schools within a St Bonaventure's Teaching School Alliance and these are a range of secondary schools from across the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brentwood, these include;
The schools have formed a Teaching School Alliance that is called the Agnus Dei Teaching School Alliance and St Mary's University, Twickenham is the Higher Education Institute partner.
New signage for the newly designated Teaching School
The vast majority of pupils are Roman Catholic; ethnic minorities represent the socio-economically deprived local catchment area. It is traditionally heavily oversubscribed for entry to year 7 and accepts 186 students each year.[4]
Forms
Prior to 1969 the school's four houses were named Catherine, Clare, Francis and Mary after the four Saints on the school badge. For most of the sixties and seventies, the houses existed in name only. The current houses are listed below; Kolbe was introduced in 2014, but removed in 2020.
Atkinson – Paul Atkinson, died 1699. A Franciscan, ordained in Douai Abbey and imprisoned in Hurst Castle for 30 years for being a priest.[3]
Bell – Arhur Bell, died in London on 11 December 1643. He became a Franciscan in Segovia, Spain, then founded the Franciscan order in Douai Abbey. Convicted for being a Roman Catholic, he was held in Newgate Prison and later hanged, drawn and quartered.[3]
Colman – Walter Colman, died 1645. A Franciscan friar convicted of being a Roman Catholic and held in Newgate Prison, he was condemned to be hanged, drawn and quartered, but died of starvation before the sentence could be carried out.[3]
Forest – John Forest, died 22 May 1548. Franciscan friar held in Newgate Prison. He was tortured and burned over a fire while being hung by a chain around his waist.[3]
Kolbe – Maximillian Kolbe, died 14 August 1941. Franciscan friar that gave up his life in Auschwitz for a stranger. He was trapped underground, starved and dehydrated. He was given a lethal injection of carbolic acid by Nazi guards.
Heath – Henry Heath, died 1643. He was convicted of being a priest and a Roman Catholic, held at Newgate Prison and hung, drawn and quartered at Tyburn.[3]
Wall – John Wall, died 1679. A Franciscan friar ordained in Douai Abbey, and convicted for being a priest and a Roman Catholic. He was beheaded on 22 August.[3]
The students in years 7 and 8 wear a brown blazer to retain the old link with the Franciscan order. Students wear a white, collared formal shirt with the school tie. The trousers are black and black leather shoes are worn.[5] The school's coat is black with the school badge. A brown pullover V-necked jumper is also compulsory.[5]
The students in years 9–11 wear a black blazer with gold edging to the lapels. Students wear a white, collared formal shirt with the school tie. The trousers are black with black leather shoes worn. A black pullover V-necked jumper is compulsory for year 9 but is optional for years 10 and 11.[5]
The standard tie is a solid gold colour with a black diagonal stripe going down from right to left. A selection of ties is available to be awarded to boys that excel in particular subjects. These are given following excellence shown in the areas of sport (an additional green stripe), technology (an additional red stripe), languages (an additional blue stripe) and arts (an additional purple stripe).[5] In September 2011, a new tie for excellence in English and mathematics was awarded (an additional a pink stripe).[5] In 2013 a new RE tie was introduced that will have an additional white stripe. In 2014, ties have been awarded for excellence in science and humanities. From 2015 the school has also awarded colours for success in social sciences and computing. There is also the Assisi tie, given to those who show others what it means to be, as they say, a Bonaventurian, adding an extra brown stripe.
The students in sixth form wear a dark-coloured business suit with a formal shirt. Boys must also wear a neck-tie. Students on the sports science course must wear the designated black PE kit when having practical sports sessions.[5]
School arms
St Bon's Crest
The school badge and crest have existed in the present format since the school was founded by the Franciscan Order in the 19th century. The red hat (Galero) represents the fact that St Bonaventure was a cardinal in the Roman Catholic church. The white fleur-de-lis symbolises St Mary, the Mother of God, illustrating that the school and all Bonaventurians have a particular devotion to Mary.[5] The Jerusalem cross on a brown background symbolises the Franciscan heritage of the school. This is also demonstrated in the uniform for Years 7 and 8 and the names used for the school Houses. The wheel symbolises St Catherine of Alexandria, also known as Saint Catherine of the Wheel. Even in Medieval times she was the patron saint of educators. The yellow shield on black background symbolises St Clare of Assisi. She was greatly influenced by the teachings of St Francis of Assisi. She eventually started the order of Poor Clares.[5]
The motto at the base of the coat of arms states In Sanctitate Et Doctrina, "in holiness and learning", showing that all "Bon's Boys" should be faithful at all times and always try to discover something new each day throughout their lives.[5] The motto has changed in the past; during the period as West Ham Grammar School through to the end of the Second World War the motto was Animo Et Fide (in courage and faith).
The school performs well in the local and national league tables at GCSE level, and in 2012 over 99% of year 11 Pupils achieved five or more A*–C passes, above the national average.[6][7]
As a Roman Catholic school, all pupils are entered for a compulsory GCSE in religious studies as well as English, maths and science. In 2005, the school became a language college, meaning that all pupils are also entered for a GCSE in a modern foreign language in French, Spanish or German.[7]
At the end of year 9 students choose their options from a wide range of different GCSE subjects, including history, geography, PE, business studies, sociology, art, music and a selection of design technology subjects.
Sixth form
New head boy and head girl
St Bonaventure's has a sixth form which gives access as a preference to the boys in year 11, as long as boys meet the entry requirements for the courses that they choose. All other places are filled by students that apply from other Secondary schools.
The sixth form offers various qualifications, from the traditional GCE A-levels to BTEC courses, and has a tradition of preparing students for admission to prestigious UK higher education institutions such as Oxbridge, Imperial College London, University College London, London School of Economics and other Russell Group universities. Many of these students go on to read subjects such as medicine, law, engineering and economics.[8]
Sport
St Bon's student at an athletics track
In 1965 the school football team won the Thomas Lipton Trophy (London & S.E Schools Cup) winning the final 7–0 against Beaufoys at the Old Spotted Dog Ground. Over the past few years the school's football and basketball teams have reached numerous national finals, such as the London Cup Final in football and the Essex Cup Final in both football and basketball.[3] The school's cricket team have also won the Newham Cup several times. Many representatives of the school's football team have gone on to forge careers as professional footballers.
Athletics
In 2014, the school was the overall winners of the Simmons Cup, an elite athletic invitational featuring the best schools across London. The school was also joint athletics champions of the 2015 inaugural Indoor (winter) Simmons Cup with Dulwich College. In 2015, the year 9 team won the summer Simmons Cup and went on to win the indoor Simmons Cup in January 2016 as a year 10 group. In May 2016, all competing year groups won in the Newham Athletics finals, meaning that St Bon's will represent Newham for year 7, year 8, year 9 and year 10.[citation needed]
Basketball
In 2008 St Bonaventure's became English Schools Basketball Association Under 14 boys national champions, and in doing so became the first team to achieve such a feat in the school's history.[3] It repeated the feat in 2015, with the under 15 beating Holy Trinity and City of Leicester in the finals.[9]
In 2016, St Bon's beat all previous English basketball records by all five year groups becoming Basketball England national champions. The year 7 competed in the Junior NBA winning the final on 22 March 2016. On the weekend of Friday 6 May 2016 to Sunday 8 May 2016, year 11 won, then year 10, followed by year 9 on Saturday then year 8 on Sunday. In September 2016, the school was accepted onto the elite Academy Basketball League (ABL) for post 16 due to the success of the school in all year groups below the sixth form.[10]
Football
In 2013, the year 10 team won the Dewar Shield.[11] In 2015, the year 9 football team became the under-14 Essex FA Jubilee Cup Champions[12] and the year 7 football team won the Lyca Mobile WHUFC Community Cup. The finals were held in the Boleyn Ground and St Bon's beat WHUFC under-12's 2–1.[13]
Former pupils
Alumni of St Bonaventure's are known as Bonaventurians and informally as Bon's Boys. The following people have been educated at St Bonaventure's:
^"St Bons – GCSE Result". St. Bonaventure's Roman Catholic Comprehensive School. London, UK. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
^ ab"Curriculum Overview". St. Bonaventure's Roman Catholic Comprehensive School. London, UK. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
