A brief history by Alan Mace

The celebration of the 25th anniversary of the opening of St. Teilo's RC School is also a celebration of the Catholic education in Tenby by the Sisters of Mercy nuns. The sisters came to St. Teresa's Convent in St. Florence Parade in April 1932. Until September 1979 they ran a private school for boys aged four to 11 and girls from four to 16. [Some of the latter proceeded as far as Advanced Level and went on to Higher Education.] In the late 1970s, Tenby Primary School had to be rebuilt in Heywood Lane, because their Greenhill Road premises was getting too small for the larger number of pupils. At this time, Tenby was expecting the Dyfed Health Authority to build a replacement hospital on the former site of the Primary School, adjoining the health centre (now Acorn Heights). Unfortunately, the Health Authority was unable to finance the hospital renewal, and an alternative use for the site had to be found. At this time, the Convent School was a private school, and although various parish priests had tried to get local education funding, none had been successful. As soon as it was known that a use needed to be found for the now empty school, the Menevia Diocese made an application to Dyfed County Council for the setting up of a voluntary controlled school, led by the Parish of Tenby, the Sisters of Mercy and the Education Secretary. After a long period of discussion it was agreed, and St. Teilo's RC School was opened on September 5, 2004. Although this September sees the 25th anniversary of St. Teilo's School, this was not the beginning of Roman Catholic education for Primary age children in Tenby. Really, this is a celebration of a school reborn. Alan Mace, of Tenby, was a county councillor who happened to be in the right place at the right time, because "out of the blue" at a Further Education Committee meeting it was mentioned that the Primary School premises were empty, and a use was being sought. It appeared that there simply wasn't the money to go ahead with the council's favourite idea of building a hospital on site. The health centre which stood next to it, where Acorn Heights is now, was only a prefabricated structure, and in time it would become redundant as the new health centre was built near Gas Lane. It was decided, therefore, to offer the school to the Menevia Diocese (Catholic parent body of St. Teresa's Convent School). A leading member of staff at the convent welcomed the move, saying that it was becoming "impossible to continue at the present premises." These adjoined St. Teilo's Church, off St. Florence Parade. She also said that the school wanted grant aid status and the move would enable them to gain it. This would mean the abolition of school fees. Many parents were finding it difficult to meet the fees, and numbers were increasing annually. The formal opening took place in January 1980. Pembrokeshire MP and then Secretary of State for Education, Mr. Nicholas Edwards, officiated, delivering his speech to warm applause. The Secretary was impressed with the standard of dress and behaviour of the pupils and he was serenaded with a medley by 10 girl musicians, whose prowess, he claimed, could not be matched by many schools in the country. General Vicar of the Diocese, Mgr. James Hannigan, blessed the school and passed on the good wishes of Bishop Fox, who was unable to attend through illness. Settling in at St. Teilo's

Extract from Observer, February 8, 1980

'A glance above the main entrance serves as an instant reminder to headmaster Mr. Damian Carr that the premises were built in the year MCMXV (congratulations to mathmaticians, young and old, who arrived at the correct conversion - 1915!). Although he will not have completed his first year in charge of St. Teilo's RC School until September, Mr. Carr already feels settled and at home in the Greenhill Road building, which formerly served as a school for Tenby County Primary pupils. He, his half-dozen staff and 117 pupils, ranging from three to 11-year-olds, moved into the building after concerted efforts by doctors and councillors for it to be converted into a health centre had failed. The Roman Catholic authorities, meanwhile, have been granted what is reported to be a 25-year lease on the property, because they encountered difficulties in their original plan for a new school on a site known as Slippery Back on the northern outskirts of Tenby. The Greenhill Road building is in fine shape. Extensive alterations have included the re-siting of the hall, providing adaptations for a nursery unit and conversion of one of the cloakrooms into a toilet block... gone forever is the boys' outside lav which, with its six-foot high urinal wall, stood like some forbidding machine-gun post. Introductions to the school's curriculum have included pottery, which is taught across the road in the Further Education Centre, and swimming. Mr. Carr, still in his early 30s, is young among headmasters. He had just returned from the pool with pupils when I spoke to him last Friday. He could easily be mistaken for a folk singer - he does play the guitar - or rugby threequarter.' (BRIAN PENSON)

Now, the observant reader of Brian Penson's article may be thinking about that 25-year lease expiring. There does not seem to be any concern about the school's future, however. St. Teilo's status as a Voluntary Aided school means that the Local Education Authority supplies most of its requirements, including staff and training. Governors have responsibilty for the buildings, however, and the Parish is responsible for 15 per cent of the work. The involvement of the Parish in the life of the school works well, helping to create a family environment. Indeed, the convent and St. Teilo's together have served several generations of the same families. There is still a strong Catholic emphasis, both in the teaching and administration. As has always been the case, non-Catholics are welcome, but pupils are still taught about mass, and everyone except those in the nursery class are brought to church on 'holy days of obligation' and for regular visits. Non-Catholic parents are happy with this, as they are often impressed by the interest taken in their children, not only by the school, but also by the church. Some of the strict ethos employed by the Sisters of Mercy still remains, resulting in a well disciplined group of children, and an excellent team of staff. Inspection reports bear witness to this. After 25 years, St. Teilo's continues to find its site ideal, being central, visible, not too far from the church and suitable for the numbers, which currently total 130 to 140 pupils.