History of Our School

The charism of the Sisters of Mercy, the school’s founders ninety years ago, ‘Helping those in need’, is alive and thriving; the pupils of today follow in their footsteps with their kindness towards each other and their charitable deeds for people less fortunate than themselves.                                                                            Catholic Schools Inspectorate

Our historic school was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1934 on the site of an orchard in Vanda Crescent (where the EYFS and Key Stage 1 buildings currently stand). Originally educating children up to the age of 14 in just 3 classrooms, it was expanded in 1958.
When the junior school opened  in June 1974 in Cecil Road on the former site of Europe’s largest orchid nursery, the original school became an infant school. A nursery was added in 1975 which was extended in 2006, creating the current Foundation Stage block.

In 2019, the two schools became a federation, and in September 2020, we became a single, all-through primary school and nursery.

The Founding of our School

Catherine McAuley was a very wealthy woman who lived in Dublin in Ireland. She knew that God wanted her to become a nun and do something to help others. In 1831, Catherine used all of her money to build a large house as a school for poor girls and a shelter for women. Catherine called her house a House of Mercy.  Many other helpers joined her and they called themselves the Sisters of Mercy. The Sisters of Mercy helped the homeless and poor, taught children in schools, visited the sick, cared for old people and helped anyone in need.

Before long, there were Mercy Houses all over Ireland and England too. In 1899, some Sisters of Mercy came to St Albans. They opened a special rest home for working women. The next year in 1900, the Sisters of Mercy built a wooden hut in the garden as a school for Catholic children. Soon, the home and the school were much too small for all of the women and children who needed help. The Sisters of Mercy built a new school with three classrooms behind St Alban and St Stephen Church on Beaconsfield Road. They also opened a new convent called Maryland.

By the 1930s, the school was so crowded that there was not enough room for the children to learn, so the Sisters of Mercy bought some land in Vanda Crescent. The new St Alban and Stephen School opened in 1934 nearly 90 years ago with enough space for 160 children. All of the teachers were Sisters of Mercy. Since then, our school has grown and flourished. Our three separate key stage buildings are now spread over two beautiful sites, and more than 400 pupils attend our school.

'The Sisters of Mercy inspire us to do things for others and set us a good example. They helped the poor and spent their lives helping others.  We should remember them because they’re the whole reason that this school is here! They make our school special.' 

Year 5 pupil

 How the legacy of the Sisters of Mercy has shaped our school

Because St Alban & St Stephen Catholic Primary School was founded by the Sisters of Mercy, we believe that we have a special mission. Just as the Sisters of Mercy spent their lives helping those in need, we follow their example by caring for others. This might mean praying for someone, cheering someone up when they are sad and lonely, helping someone who is struggling, or raising money to help the poor and vulnerable.

Our Association with the Sisters of Mercy and Mercy Associates continues today. In 2023, we held a service and planted a tree to commemorate the founding of our school by the Sisters of Mercy. To celebrate 90 years since the founding of our school, we held a Celebration Mass in 2024, led by Bishop Paul McAleenan. This very special event was attended by former staff and pupils, including some of the Sisters of Mercy and Mercy Associates. Each year, our Year 3 classes lead staff, parents and pupils in an annual assembly, commemorating the founding of our school