1957 to present day
Brook Road Boreham Wood
The school opened as a Junior Mixed Infants in 1957 and was named after the recent canonisation of its patron saint. The first headteacher was Mr J Bateman. This was a voluntary aided school taking children from ages three to eleven years old. From here they went to St Albans to complete their education, usually to St. Lorretto College or Nicholas Breakespeare, as there was not a senior Roman Catholic school locally.
Building the school
The school prospectus c. 1998-8 and 2000-1 stated that ‘Catholics have their own system of Catholic schools but the Church has to pay 15% of the cost of maintaining and improving the building’. Parents were asked to contribute to the running costs of the school by making a contribution of £5.00 per child per term or £12 for a family. School meals in 2000-2001 were charged at £1.15 per day for infants and £1.21 per day for juniors.
In 2001 the headteacher was Michael Nolan who was appointed in 1986. The school roll totalled 275 and there were eight classrooms, a nursery and an assembly hall which also served as the dining hall. About 95 children had the school meal whilst the majority of the remainder took packed lunches.
If anyone from St Theresa's reads this - please update us with the last twenty years at your school!
YOUR MEMORIES
Tom Staunton Remembers :
I’ve read your info on St Theresa’s with interest and note that you say pupils went to St Albans at eleven years old. Many also went firstly to St Thomas’ in Stanmore and free busses provided transport from Borehamwood. Many of us 11-13 year olds joined the busses at Manor Way shops. From age 14 onwards we transferred to St James’ in Burnt Oak and got free bus passes for the 292 or 52. A lot of those who passed their 11+ exam also went to Finchley Grammar - all catholic schools. Here's a photo Tom sent us :
School football team 1959-60 team and includes :
Back row, L-R Mr King, Len Goff, Maurice Jevons, Ray Lynch, Mr Creaton, Tony Fitzgerald, Cliff Monger and Mr Bateman
Front row, L-R Doug Connealy, John OShea, Tom Staunton, Paddy McGovern, John Dougan, John Lunn and John McGregor
Kevin Shanahan Remembers :
The first Head at St Theresa’s School died on 11 August 1960 so the photo of him with the school football team would be the last likely photo there is.
The school was told at assembly on return in September 1960 by the new Head, Sister Evangelist. She joined the school with another sister at her convent and both left at Easter 1964. I recall the convent decided they did not want to provide teaching to the school, presumably to reallocate their teaching nuns elsewhere.
The new Head was Bernard Godwin who retired in July 1972. I spoke to Bernard on my only return to the school since leaving in 1965, having returned to Borehamwood for a job interview in the May. He told me he was retiring. He saw me entering the school from a distance, recognised me instantly and I was invited to have lunch with the teachers.
[Added 14 April 2025].