The College
Founded 1901
History of the College
One must go back over a hundred years for the beginnings of Salesian work in Farnborough. It was in 1901 that the Salesians started a small school for the boys of the district. This work was undertaken at the urgent request and with the full encouragement of the ecclesiastical authorities of the Diocese of Portsmouth. A period of slow but steady development followed. Many saw in the presence of the Salesians the possibility of provision of secondary education for Catholic boys in the area.
As the number of boys increased and as boarding requirements became heavier, more building took place, this time in the form of another storey. A new dormitory was added, a small refectory and some additional classrooms. As the First World War drew near, the new wing and tower, comprising dormitories, lavatories, etc., on the upper floor, and the staff refectory and up-to-date kitchens on the lower floor, were created.
In 1916 the area which is now the playground was acquired. The playing fields in Park Road were bought and were used in the War effort for the Grow More Food campaign. It was not until after 1921 that they came into full use. In 1927 property to the north of the playground was purchased.
During the war years 58 pupils fought and died for their country and many others were awarded decorations. After the War new classrooms on the far side of the church lawn were built, the offices of the Prefect of Studies were extended and the Cadet Force hut and new classrooms were built. Tennis courts, Ambulacrum (the covered way in the playground) and the area at the junction of Reading Road and Peabody Road were turned into a preparatory school.
In 1956 work began on the present Blackburn Building. It provided ten new classrooms, a new hall, gymnasium and changing rooms. In 1963 new laboratories and a lecture hall were built alongside the new school.
Salesian College finally became an independent grammar school in 1966. In 1970 the preparatory school was discontinued and three years later the Salesian Sisters left. In 1979, for the first time in its history, Salesian College had no boarders. From then on it became exclusively for day pupils.
In 1987 the College Chapel was moved to the priests’ refectory and four Sixth Form classrooms, two seminar rooms, a senior master’s office, a new library plus office and a Geography Room were converted in its place.
A £1.4 million building programme was completed in 1999 and included five language classrooms, ICT Rooms, an Art Room, Staff Room, first-aid room and two general teaching rooms. In September 2000 a catering facility was introduced into the College. A second ICT suite was also opened in September 2000. A Sixth Form Centre dedicated to the memory of Sean Devereux opened in September 2003 and a new sports pavilion has been constructed at the College playing fields in Park Road. These new facilities are all part of a continuous process of investment in the College.
In 2007 further building work has been undertaken to increase and enhance the Sixth Form Centre and to provide further teaching storage areas, and for the first time girls have been admitted into the Sixth Form, which afforded for greater development throughout the College.
A new extension to the Sixth Form Block was completed in 2008 allowing for our increased numbers in Year 12 and 13. Specialist bag storage areas have been constructed in 2008, with the addition of a new Psychology Room, PE Theory Room and Science Room – all equipped with interactive Whiteboards. The College has also undergone a major ICT Installation, with continuous updating of PCs and the majority of classrooms are now equipped with Interactive Whiteboards. In 2009 disabled access to the Foley Building has been commenced and there are new and exciting projects tabled to secure the future of the College as a high quality dedicated, specialist learning and teaching environment.
