Ages 
A lovely, happy vibrant school. In fact, we’ve never visited an establishment where so many of the teaching staff were actually pupils back in the day. Not big on existentialists or glossy sophisticates, but that’s a huge part of its charm. Instead it produces well-educated, confident and community minded young adults. We’ll take that.
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Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 506 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 117 ·
- Religion
- Non-denom
- Fees
- £14,040 - £20,820 pa
- Local authority
- Inverclyde Council
Headteacher
Rector
Mrs Victoria Reilly
Since 2020, Victoria Reilly MA (Edinburgh) PGCE (Sheffield). Started at St Columba’s as a languages teacher in 1992 and rose through the ranks, becoming senior depute rector in 2016. Married with three children, all of whom went to St Columba’s. ‘I
Entrance
At age 3 via play assessment; by age 5 there is an age-appropriate academic assessment. Test and interview to gain entry to Transitus and senior school. ‘We’re seeing a bigger intake into S1 rather than Transitus than previously,’ says head, ‘I think
- Open days
- October, November, March, April
Exit
Mostly Scottish universities, particularly Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews, Stirling and Strathclyde (23 per cent headed to Edinburgh in 2025). A handful go south and a few scoop sports scholarships to American universities each year. Four
Latest results
In 2025, 72 per cent A at National 5; 59 per cent A at Higher; 90 per cent pass rate at Advanced Higher.
Teaching & learning
We found the junior school a sheer delight - a beautiful light-filled building with lots of happy, busy little people enjoying an extensive outdoor nursery space and a surprisingly large forest area. There are two forms a year, with max 25 pupils in
Learning support & SEN
Two dedicated staff cover both the senior and the junior school. One-to-one support in junior school is provided by teaching assistants but not available in senior school: ‘We tend to tailor the curriculum to their needs,' says school. Junior head is
Arts & extracurricular
It’s quite something when a piece of pupil artwork stops you dead in your tracks, but this self-portrait was outstanding – no wonder the young artist is now at Chelsea College of Art and Design. The standard of all the art we saw on display was
Sport
Rather traditional sports offering, mainly rugby for the boys and hockey for the girls. ‘We do have girls who play rugby, but there isn’t a girls’ team. It’s within the curriculum for all genders to try all sports’. Disappointing for some, perhaps,
Ethos & heritage
St Columba’s may be in a village not far from Glasgow, but you don’t have to go far to drink in some of the beautiful west coast scenery. Founded in 1897 as part of the Girls’ School Company to provide a ‘sound and liberal education’ for young
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
Parents are thrilled with the junior school’s pastoral care: ‘Our child struggled with anxiety and they couldn’t have done more to help that, they really supported us as a family.’ ‘They really go above and beyond and you can see that in the
Mobile phone policy
A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.
Mobile phone policy
Provided by the school and not part of our review Between the hours of 8.40am and 3.40pm, pupils are not allowed to use their phones. If a pupil is caught with their phone during lunch or break, a letter is sent home and an automatic after school detention with a member of senior management is imposed. This zero-tolerance approach has resulted in a truly phone free educational space. Pupils socialise at lunchtime, attend a number of our 50 clubs on offer, play sports. Classrooms are spaces without distractions, where knowledge is shared, and curiosity stoked.
Pupils & parents
Very much an Inverclyde school, with lots of entrepreneurial parents from a mixed background. Doctors, lawyers, bankers - a range of professionals. Around half of pupils come from Kilmacolm, the rest from surrounding areas such as the wider
Money matters
Means-tested bursaries (very occasionally up to 100 per cent ) and means-tested sibling discount. No scholarships.
- Fee information
- £14,040 - £20,820 pa
The last word
A lovely, happy vibrant school. In fact, we’ve never visited an establishment where so many of the teaching staff were actually pupils back in the day. Not big on existentialists or glossy sophisticates, but that’s a huge part of its charm. Instead
