Welcome to St Joseph's
The purpose of our web site is to provide you with a glimpse of the college and its community.
We are a Catholic College and at the beginning and end of all that we do is the person of Jesus Christ. We want each girl to be able to:
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Learn to value prayer and
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We are very proud of the reputation the College has earned over the years since its foundation in 1908 by the sisters of the Cross and Passion. We receive excellent support from our parents and the local Catholic community. In September 2001 the College was awarded Beacon School status by the DfES.
The staff, governors and girls work very hard to further enhance this reputation. The legacy we have inherited, and we continue to seek to provide, is a first class education that enables each girl to fulfil her potential, to gain a sense of achievement, and to acquire the confidence to take up her place in the world with enthusiasm.
This is our vision, this is our purpose and we strive to make them reality.
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Pat McDermott Headteacher |
THE PATRON OF THE COLLEGE: SAINT JOSEPH
All that is known about the foster-father of Jesus Christ, Son of God, is found in the Gospels. He was of the house of David, a carpenter or builder by trade, and an ‘upright’ man. After the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem, Joseph was warned from Heaven in a dream, first to flee with Mary and Jesus to Egypt in order to escape Herod and afterwards when Herod was dead, to return to the land of Israel. However, Joseph feared Herod’s successor in Judea and went on to Galilee, where the Holy Family made their home at Nazareth (Matthew (i) 18-25; (ii) 13-23). The story of the 12 year old Jesus being lost for three days on the way back from the Passover at Jerusalem (Luke (ii) 41-48) again shows Joseph faithful in his capacity as guardian of Mary and Jesus. It is not known when Joseph died, but certainly it was before the Crucifixion (John (xix) 26-27) and Jesus and Mary must have been with him giving comfort and strength. These few Biblical references give the impression of Joseph as a just, kind, dignified and level headed man, prompt in action but self-effacing.
As Joseph was the Guardian of Jesus and Mary, so he has been declared the Guardian and Patron of the Universal Church. He has been chosen as the Patron of the College and we pray that he will guide and care for the College Community, girls, staff, parent/guardians and governors. We ask Saint Joseph that we may lead good lives and that Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the Holy Family, will inspire and protect our families and will grant us the help and peace we need at the time of death.
The College Feast Day of Saint Joseph is the 19th of March.
HISTORY OF THE COLLEGE
St. Joseph’s Catholic College was founded by the Order of the Sisters of the Cross and Passion in 1908. It was a Direct Grant Grammar School until 1977 when it became a Voluntary Aided 13-19 Girls’ Comprehensive School under the trusteeship of the Diocese of Leeds, which owns the buildings and grounds, and appoints the majority of the Governors. In 1995 due to Bradford Catholic re-organisation the College became an 11-19 Catholic Girls’ Comprehensive School.
The Governors are responsible for managing the budget, for the appointment of staff and the admission of pupils. The College has over 1,000 pupils, of whom 176 are in the Sixth Form, and 69 teaching staff. The intake of 150 comes from 16 Catholic parishes. |