From its beginning the School of Blessed Martin was run as a fee-paying Private Independent School, preparing candidates for the G.C.E. at O and A level. The Education Act of 1944, which stipulated that Primary and Secondary Education be provided in separate schools, made imperative the need for a Secondary Modern School for the pupils attending the All-age schools at Hinckley and Earl Shilton. This site of Stoke Golding, with its beautiful rural setting was considered an ideal spot for the project. The Right Rev Dr Ellis, Bishop of Nottingham, and Chairman of the Nottingham Commission for Schools, entered into negotiations with the Ministry of Education for the establishment of a Voluntary Aided Mixed Secondary School. At the request of the Diocesan Authorities and of the Parish Priest of St Peters, Hinckley, the Dominican Sisters agreed to co-operate in the scheme. Meanwhile two important changes took place: The Leicestershire Plan came into operation; the Catholic School would not be a Secondary Modern, but a High School catering for pupils of mixed ability from ages of 11 to 14 years and also providing facilities for 14 to 15-year olds, whose parents did not wish them to remain in school until they were sixteen. Blessed Martin de Porres, the Patron of the school was canonised in May 1962 and would henceforth be known as Saint Martin. Therefore the official title of the institution is now Saint Martin’s Catholic School. The extensions comprised a beautiful chapel, an Assembly Hall and Stage, Dining Hall, Kitchen, Staff Accommodation, Changing Rooms, Science Laboratories, Housecraft, Art and handicraft Rooms and four new Classrooms. The playing fields provide two Hockey pitches, two Football pitches, one Rugby pitch and one Cricket Square. The Architects were Messrs Bartlett & Gray of Nottingham and the Main Contractors were Messrs Greaves Brothers of Hinckley. The blessing and official opening was again performed by Bishop Ellis on 12th May 1965. It was during the previous decade, too, that several eminent visitors, among them Most Reverend Father Emmanual Suarez, Master General of our Order, His Eminence Joseph Cardinal Wendel of Munich and the Auxiliary Bishop John Neuhaeusler called and stayed at our Convent. Student Sisters from the Continent came to improve their English and to learn of English ways and customs at first hand. In 1962, Sister Louis-Bertrand Curran replaced Sister Miriam Illing at Headmistress of St Martin’s School, while the latter transferred to Hinckley. A special word of thanks is due to the friends of the Sisters who had helped them financially in the erection of St Martin’s School by arranging Sales, May Fairs and Christmas Draws. May God reward them for the part they played in providing Christian education for our youth!