College Ethos

“Communitas... that’s the ethos of this place: a community of mutual support, together with an appreciation of being part of the wider community and contributing to it.”
Helen Rodd, Foundation Student 1964

This College was named to commemorate St Hilda, the first known woman educationalist in the United Kingdom, an abbess of Whitby, who died in 680. She is also believed to have run the first co-educational abbey. Hilda established a regular life in her monastery, taught the observance of righteousness, mercy, purity and other virtues, but especially of peace and charity.

“Communitas” is the essential element of this College, inspired by the community formed by St Hilda.

The founders of this College aimed to provide a residential experience where students would have the opportunity to learn from each other, and where a spirit of enquiry would predominate. They encouraged a sense of caring and a sense of service, to be placed alongside an environment of academic excellence.