History of the School

St Philomena’s Catholic High School for Girls in Carshalton, Surrey, was founded 130 years ago by the Congregation of the Daughters of the Cross (Liège) Their legacy and charism is evident in the school today.

The foundress of the Daughters of the Cross, Blessed Marie Thérèse, born Jeane Haze in 1782 Liège, Belgium. Experiencing the hardship and devastation of war, Blessed Marie Thérèse together with her sister Ferdinande, put themselves at the mercy of the poor and needy by caring for the vulnerable and opening a new school for deprived children.

As their work grew, the two sisters committed themselves to the love of God and a new congregation was born on the 8th September 1833 which took the name the Daughters of the Cross. 

Since those humble beginnings, the Daughters of the Cross continue to live the word of God throughout their lives inspiring all whom they meet, offering compassion and love. In 1893 the Daughters of the Cross opened a boarding school for Catholic girls in Carshalton called St Philomena’s.

Until recent years, it was a convent school with the Sisters practising their faith daily here at the school. The Sisters entrusted the school to our care so to continue to build upon their work by providing inspirational, educational opportunities and leadership for young women. This is underpinned by the strong Catholic ethos that permeates the whole school community.

St Philomena's School was first established in 1893, when the Daughters of the Cross purchased Carshalton House. This was advertised in The Times of 1859 as having "extensive and very complete arrangements for conducting an important scholastic establishment situated in finely timbered park grounds".

The school is situated in twenty-five acres of beautiful parkland and in buildings which include a refurbished Queen Anne Mansion. Since its foundation, the school has given its students every opportunity to develop spiritually, intellectually and socially in the context of a Catholic community which is forward looking while maintaining all that is best of traditional values.