St Mary's College, Blackburn

St Mary's College was a school in Blackburn, Lancashire, England, from 1925 to 2022. It was established in 1925 by the Marist Fathers as a Catholic boys grammar school. It later became a sixth form college. The college closed on 1 August 2022.^[1]

St Mary's College, Shear Brow (B6233)

History

Grammar school

The college was founded by the Marist Fathers as a Catholic boys grammar school in 1925. The former football ground of Blackburn Olympic F.C. was subsequently acquired as a site for the school, which was known as St Mary's College RC Grammar School.

Sixth form college

The school became a co-educational Catholic sixth form college in 1978.^[2]

The Finley-Stokes Centre was opened in March 2005, named after former principal Michael Finley, who retired in 2008, and former deputy principal Peter Stokes, who died in 2004. The building was opened by former teacher Right Rev. Bishop Thomas Burns.^[3] A science block was opened in August 2007, named after a former headmaster, Father Graystone. A performing arts complex was opened in February 2008, named after former college principal, Rev. Kevin O'Neill.^[4] In 2017, allegations of sexual abuse perpetrated by O'Neill led the governing body to remove his name from the performing arts centre.^[5]

St Mary's was the smallest sixth form college in the UK. It closed in August 2022 with £8 million of debt.^[1] The college said in a statement: "Despite good leadership and effective governance, St Mary’s have been unable to meet the financial challenges as a small standalone College".^[6]

Alumni

• Eniola Aluko, footballer
• Anthony Green, actor
• John Hopkins, landscape architect (Olympic Park, 2012) ^[7]
• Fred Smithies, trade union leader

St Mary's College RC Grammar School

• Sir Gerald Barling QC
• Thomas Burns (bishop)
• Mike Duxbury, footballer - Manchester United and England
• Brian Miller (footballer) - Burnley and England. Manager - Burnley FC
• Greg Pope, Labour MP for Hyndburn
• Sir John Skehel, virologist

References

1. "St Mary's College Blackburn to close in 2022". www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk. 25 November 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
2. "TALES FROM THE PAST: Call for former Blackburn pupils to share school stories". Lancashire Telegraph. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
3. "Lasting legacy to two key officials". Archived from the original on 16 May 2006. Retrieved 22 November 2008.
4. "Greystone Science Centre". Retrieved 2 June 2024.
5. "Author reveals how his adolescence was blighted by sexual abuse at the hands of his headteacher". Lancashire Telegraph. 30 August 2017.
6. "St Mary's College Blackburn to close in 2022". Lancashire Telegraph. 26 November 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
7. "John Hopkins obituary". theguardian.com. 28 January 2013.

External links

• The former official St Mary's College website

Video clips

• The official St Mary's College YouTube page

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