St Bonaventure's

St Bonaventure's

File:St Bon's Black Badge.jpg
Motto	In Sanctitate et Doctrina (In Holiness and Learning)
Established	1877 (in Forest Gate)
Type	VA, Teaching School
Religion	Roman Catholic
Headteacher	Mr Paul Halliwell
Chair	Mr Timothy Campbell MBE
Founder	Franciscans
Location	Boleyn Road Upton, Forest Gate Greater London E7 9QD England
Local authority	Newham
DfE number	316/4601
DfE URN	102787 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Staff	148 (approx.)
Students	1,258 as of April 2016
Gender	Boys (Girls in the 6th Form)
Ages	11–18
Houses	Atkinson, Bell, Colman, Forest, Gregory, Heath, Kolbe, Wall
Colours	Brown, Gold, Red and Black
Diocese	Brentwood
Former pupils	Bon's Boys
Website	www.stbons.org

St Bonaventure's, known informally as St Bon's, is a voluntary-aided Catholic secondary school for boys aged 11–16 in Forest Gate, London Borough of Newham, England, with a mixed gender 6th Form for 16 - 18 year old students.
It is under the trustee-ship of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brentwood.
St Bonaventure's is the oldest Boy's school in Newham, having been established in the West Ham area of Essex by the Franciscan order in 1875, following the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829.
The school was established in its current location in 1877.

St Bonaventure's has been judged as Outstanding by Ofsted since November 2000. The school motto is In Sanctitate Et Doctrina, which means "In Holiness And Learning".
The school also has a mission statement of "Live, Love & Learn In The Presence Of The Lord".
In March 2016, St Bonaventure's was designated as a Teaching School and the Headteacher Mr Paul Halliwell was designated as a National Leader of Education by the Department for Education and the National College for Teaching and Leadership.

History

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Plaque honoring Old Bonaventurians killed in both world wars, St Antony's Church, Forest Gate.

St Bonaventure's was originally founded as a private Roman Catholic school in 1875 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 1877, when they needed more space to build a larger school. Following the Education Act 1918 control of the school was taken over by the newly formed West Ham Education Authority and the school changed its name to West Ham Grammar School (St Bonaventure's).

Following the Education Act 1944, the school reverted to full control by the Franciscan Order as a Grammar school and became a Comprehensive school in 1960 with a Tripartite nature (on the site there was Grammar, Secondary Modern and Technical lessons taught). 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.

School patron

The school is named for St Bonaventure, a Doctor of the Church. Aged 22, he joined the Order of St Francis and promised to lead a life of poverty, chastity and obedience. He was made a Cardinal by Pope Gregory X in 1273. The Feast day of the Patron is 15 July. This day is always cause for celebration in the school and is often used as an opportunity to give thanks to long serving members of staff.

Grammar school

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.

Comprehensive

The School was called a "Multilateral" in the Tripartite system of education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 1960 & became a boys' comprehensive for ages 11–19. The change to a comprehensive school was very successful, as illustrated by 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 3rd specialism and chose Applied Learning. In the 2012 results St Bonaventure's was the highest performing school in Newham. The admissions criteria has shows that the school has a comprehensive intake, however due to over-subscription, priority is given to Year 6 students that are practicing Catholics.

Teaching School

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;

• Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School
• St John's Special school, Chigwell
• St John Payne, Chelmsford
• All Saints, Dagenham
• St Thomas More, Westcliffe-On-Sea
• Campion School, Hornchurch
• The Palmer Catholic Academy, Seven Kings

School prayers

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St Bon's with the Pope at Hyde Park 2010

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St Bon's students at Hyde Park for the Papal visit

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St Bon's students present a wreath of poppies at the Cenotaph in East Ham Central Park

Prayer before lessons
O God, grant me a calm mind,
a quiet disposition
and an attentive ear.
So that through this lesson
I may learn to come to your truth.
St Bonaventure,
Pray For Us
Amen

The Peace Prayer Of St Francis
Lord, Make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be
consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen

Admissions

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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.

Houses

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.

• Atkinson - Venerable Paul Atkinson (confessor), died 1699. A Franciscan, ordained in Douai Abbey and imprisoned in Hurst Castle for 30 years for being a Priest.
• Bell - Blessed Arthur Bell (martyr), 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.
• Colman - St 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.
• Forest - Blessed 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.
• Gregory - Pope Gregory X, Cardinal Protector of the Franciscan Order, he made St Bonaventure a Cardinal.
• Kolbe - Maximillian Kolbe O.F.M. 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 - Blessed Henry Heath (martyr), died 1643. He was convicted of being a Priest and a Roman Catholic, held at Newgate Prison and hung, drawn and quartered at Tyburn.
• Wall - St John Wall (priest), 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.

School uniform and colours

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The students in Year 7 & 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. The schools coat is black with the school badge. A brown pullover V-necked jumper is also compulsory.

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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 Year 10 and 11.

The standard tie is a solid gold colour with a black diagonal stripe going down from right to left. A selection of ties are 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 art (an additional purple stripe). In September 2011, a new tie for excellence in English and mathematics was awarded (an additional a pink stripe). In 2013 a new RE tie was introduced, this will have an additional white stripe. In 2014, ties have been awarded for excellence in science and humanities.

The boys in 6th Form wear a dark-coloured business suit with a formal shirt and tie. In September 2011, a new formal uniform for girls in the 6th Form was introduced.

School Crest

St Bon's Crest

The school Badge and crest has existed in the present format since the school was founded by the Franciscan Order in the 19th Century.
The red hat (Galera) represents the fact that St Bonaventure was a Cardinal in the Roman Catholic church.
The white Fleur De Lys symbolises St Mary, the Mother of God. Illustrating that the school and all Bonaventurians have a particular devotion to Our Lady.
The Jerusalem cross on a brown background symbolises the Franciscan heritage of the school. This is also demonstrated in the uniform for Year 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.
The motto at the base of the coat of arms states In Sanctitate Et Doctrina, which translates as "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. 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 Anime Et Fide (In Courage and Faith).

Headteachers

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• Paul Halliwell, 2010–present
• Paul C. Doherty (interim; 2010–10)
• Stephen Foster (2003–09)
• Sir Michael Wilshaw (1985–2003)
• Owen Craddy (1974–85)
• Fr Howard Docherty (?-1974)
• Charles Gourlay (1919–49)

Academic performance

The school does very 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, well above the national average.
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.
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.

6th Form

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St Bonaventure's has a 6th 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 6th 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.

Sport

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In 1967 the School team won the Thomas Lipton Trophy (London & S.E Schools Cup) winning the Final 7 -0 against Beaufoys at The 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. 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 onto 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.

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. It repeated the feat in 2015, with the Under 15 beating Holy Trinity and City of Leicester in the finals.
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.This has never been achieved by any school ever before.

Football

In 2013 the Year 10 team won the prestigious Dewar Shield. In 2015 the Year 9 football team became the under-14 Essex FA Jubilee Cup Champions 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.

Notable Bon's Boys

See also: Category:People educated at St Bonaventure's Catholic Comprehensive School

The following list consist of notable former pupils of St Bonaventure's Catholic Comprehensive School, who are known as Bon's Boys:

Name	Birth	Death	Achievements
Dr Steve Acquah	1980		Chemistry Doctorate working in Florida State University with Nobel laureate Sir Harold Kroto, with whom he founded Geoset, and Bill Nye The Science Guy.
Lance Agyepong	1988		Music Producer and Performer.Migraine Skank Official Video. Known professionally as Gracious K.
Chuba Akpom	1995		Current Arsenal F.C. striker on loan to Hull City.
Sir David Amess MP	1952		British Conservative Member of Parliament.
Chuks Aneke	1993		Current Zulte Waregem Footballer. Formally with Arsenal andCrewe Alexandra playing in the midfield position.
Charles Babalola	1990		Actor. Winner of the prestigious Alan Bates Bursary in 2014.
Alex Bailey	1983		Winner of the FA Youth Cup with Arsenal F.C. in 2001, then went on to play for Chesterfield, Halifax Town and St Albans City.
Peter Bakare	1989		Represented Great Britain in the men's volleyball tournament at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Aaron Black	1994		Youngest Commercial Pilot to gain a licence. Currently flying for flybe.
Francis Bongwalanga	1995		Playing American Football for East Los Angeles College 'Huskies'.
Junior Busia	1993		Music Producer called Jay Vades working with his Brother Nana-Kofi under the name Dr. Vades
Nana-Kofi Busia	1989		Music Producer called Dr. Kane, part of Dr. Vades with his younger brother Junior
Tim Campbell MBE	1980		The Apprentice 2005 series winner and businessman. Current Chair of the Governing Body of St Bonaventure's.
Voltaire Taiwo de Campos	1996		Social campaigner, charity worker and winner of Youth Compassion Award from the Dalai Lama
John Chiedozie	1960		Former footballer with a distinguished career playing for Spurs and Nigeria amongst others.
Ted Childs OBE	1934		Film and television producer (The Sweeney, Inspector Morse, Sharpe and Soldier Soldier). He was Chair of BAFTA from 1993 to 1995. Ted Childs on IMDB. Ted Childs' Nottingham Alumni video
David Christie	1986		Labour Councillor for Beckton, Newham
George Chukwuma	1988		Former England footballer, current Sports Community Officer for West Ham, star of film made by 1000londoners.com and honoured for his work with 'Grass Roots' football. George on 1000Londoners
Fr Andrew Cloonan O.F.M.	1917	2008	Franciscan priest and teacher.
Patrick Diai	1990		Twice British Universities Boxing Champion.
Jermain Defoe	1982		Current Sunderland former Toronto, Spurs and England, Portsmouth and West Ham footballer.
Clint Dyer	1968		Actor, Director, Producer including Sus (film) Clint Dyer on IMDB.
Anthony Edgar	1990		Current Braintree Town formerly Dagenham & Redbridge, Barnet, Yeovil, and West Ham footballer.
Sir Peter Fahy QPM	1959		Chief Constable Of Greater Manchester Police (GMP)
Sir Edward (Ned) Fennessy	1912	2009	Electronics Engineer, developer of radar & Deputy Chair of the General Post Office
Clayton Fortune	1982		Footballer. Currently with Weston Super Mare.
Aron Galabuzi	1986		Visual effects artist and Creative Director for films such as Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Men in Black 3 and BAFTA and Academy award winning Gravity (film)
Behrad Gholipour	1986		Nanotechnology Scientist. Winner of the UK Government ICT Pioneers 2011
Darren Hart	1989		Stage, film and television actor. Darren Hart profile, IMDb.com; accessed 6 May 2014.
Chris Hughton	1958		Current manager of Brighton And Hove Albion. Former Norwich, Newcastle and Birmingham manager and former Spurs, West Ham and Ireland footballer and coach.
Thomas Humfrey	1962		Lecturer of Educational Technology, first independent CD-ROM publisher in the UK in 1993, co-author of the ICT exemplar schemes of work for the National Curriculum and lead education consultant on the National Strategies. Now a professional Stamp Dealer and owner of Postal Pursuits.
Lewis Iwu	1986		First Black President of the Oxford Student Union. World University debating champion and winner of the English Speaking Union School Mace.
Ashley Joseph	1988		Actor, Dancer, Performer.
John Junkin	1930	2006	Film, television and radio actor.
Cllr Greg Kelly	1975		Sinn Féin Councillor on Dublin City Council.
Denis King	1939		Double Ivor Novello Award winning composer, musician and singer.
Fr John King	1937	2012	Priest at Our Lady of Compassion, Upton Park.
Terry Lawless	1933	2009	World famous boxing promoter/manager. Funeral on Sky TV.
Martin Ling	1966		Current Swindon Town and former Torquayand Leyton Orient manager and footballer.
Gregor Mapfumo	1988		Rapper, Songwriter. As heard on BBC Radio 1Xtra. Known professionally as Terry Trill.
Bill March	1941	1990	Mountaineer, adventurer and educator. He led the successful Canadian 1982 ascent of Mount Everest, Director of Plas-y-Brenin and academic at Calgary University.
Fr James Mackay	1979		Parish Priest for the new parish of Our Lady of Walsingham in Royal Docks. Youth coordinator for the Diocese of Brentwood; St John Bosco Camp Brother and chaplain.
Mickey May	1937	2014	Boxing Coach at West Ham Boxing Club. ABA coach of the year 2012. Mickey on the opening day of UEL SportsDock
Christian McNeish	1997		Represents Team GB for Taekwondo, previous WAKO Junior European & World Champion. Has since transferred from Kick Boxing to Taekwondo to compete for Gold in Rio 2016.
Stephen Mulhern	1977		British television presenter, entertainer, and former magician.
Glenn Murphy MBE	1957		Film and television actor
Billy Murray	1941		Actor (The Bill, EastEnders, Call Of Duty)
Kevin Myers	1956		Acting CEO of the Health and Safety Executive since August 2013.
Bondz N'Gala	1989		Current Portsmouth, former Yeovil, Plymouth Argyle and West Ham footballer.
Tolulope Ogunmefun	1989		Actor Known professionally as T-Boy and Don't Jealous Me.
Teddy Okereafor	1992		Current Rider Broncs basketballer, previously with VCU Rams. While at St Bon's he was part of the England Under 18 team, he moved to USA to pursue a career in basketball.
John Okusi	1968		Current RBA Global Executive headhunter and sports agent.
Clement Okusi	1972		Currently at the Potters House Christian Church, Croydon (theologian, senior founding pastor and social commentator)
Terry Paul	1967		Labour Councillor for Stratford, Newham
Tommy Seagull	1994		Won Scholarship to study A Levels at Eton, winner of the English Speaking Union School Mace 2012 Winning The Times Advocacy Competition 2013
Kiell Smith-Bynoe	1989		Actor.
Alex Stavrinou	1990		Current Cray Wanderers, former Ebsfleet, Charlton and Cyprus footballer.
Kwasi Danquah III	1986		Musician, business manager (known professionally as Tinchy Stryder)
William Sharp	1986		Winner of the English Speaking Union School Mace with Lewis Iwu
Steve John Shepherd	1973		Actor
Pat Stack MBE	1954	2001	Head boy, teacher.
Alton Thelwell	1980		Footballer (Spurs, Hull City and others).
Andre Thomas	1989		Current Assistant Manager & Coach for Clapton Football Club
Les Thompson	1988		Current Maidenhead United, former Arsenal F.C, Bolton Wanderers, Stockport County and Torquay United footballer.
Gordon Tucker	1968		Managing Director & CEO of GT Law Solicitors
Jonathan Woodhouse	1986		Actor, director, producer.

External links

• St Bonaventure's Catholic School official website
• Profile, EduBase.gov.uk; accessed 6 May 2014.