St Columba's College is a British fee-paying independent school for boys aged 4-19. The college, founded in 1939 by Philip O’Neill and acquired in 1955 by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, is Roman Catholic, and a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference of leading independent schools. St Columba's has a reputation for academic achievement as well as excellence in sport, particularly in rugby and basketball. Facing St Albans Cathedral across the River Ver, the college is built around two historic houses, Watling House and Iona House. It is fully day-schooling in both the Senior school and the adjoined Preparatory and Pre-Preparatory department. The college was founded in 1939 by Philip O’Neill. In 1955 it was acquired by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. The college originally had four houses named for British martyrs, Alban, Becket, Fisher and More. These were replaced in 2005 by six houses named after Brothers of the Sacred Heart Schools in America: Charles, Guertin, Joseph, McClancy, Stanislaus, and Vandebilt. The Preparatory school still uses the four house system.