At St Joseph’s, leadership isn’t just about titles or recognition; it’s about the commitment to growth, helping others, and the courage to step up in any situation.
St Joseph’s has a rich and diverse programme of extra-curricular activities, and within this is an ever-growing wealth of opportunities for student leadership. Our staff are wholeheartedly committed to developing the next generation of leaders whether that be academic (Head), community-based (Hand) or spiritual (Heart) leadership.
Our students selflessly give of their own time to help others in school and within our wider community. Their commitment, courage and compassion are commendable and give us faith in the future of leadership. Their enthusiasm to lead is exciting and we encourage students to create their own opportunities for leadership where there may not have been an opportunity previously. While not an exhaustive list, some of the opportunities for student leadership include:
House Captains
School Council Representatives
Social Justice Ambassadors
Sustainability Representatives
Leader of the Orchestra
Leader of the Choir
Senior Prefects and Prefect Teams
Chaplaincy Representatives
Academic Ambassadors
Captains/Vice-Captains (in a range of sporting activities)
Duke of Edinburgh Programme
Positive Masculinity and Positive Male Leadership
Careers Ambassadors
St Joseph’s College operates a House System
All students coming into year 7 will be allocated to a House in which they will remain until the end of Year 9. Each house has a different colour and symbol which is reflected in the House tie. Friendly and healthy competition between houses is encouraged on the sports field, in the classroom and beyond. Students can collect merits for their Houses for all manner of good deeds, for getting involved and for academic achievements. Each year group has elected student representation in the form of house captains.
Kerrigan:
Brother Kerrigan is an inspirational figure in school. He was the Head teacher at St Joseph’s between 1984 and 1990. From St Joseph’s he went on to Sierra Leone to take up leadership of the Christian Brothers’ Formation Community. It was here on the 10th April 1995 that he was caught in a rebel ambush and sadly lost his life.
O’Donoghue:
Br. Dorotheus O’Donoghue was a very humble man born in Ireland around 120 years ago. Back in 1931, the Archbishop of Birmingham made a formal approach to the Christian Brothers inviting them to consider the possibility of opening a school in the Potteries. The Archbishop had the opportunity to buy a house called High Grove (which we now call the Brothers’ House).Brother O’Donoghue was the first Christian Brother to set foot on our school site and he was instrumental in the foundation of the school in 1932.
Nano Nagle:
Nano Nagle was born in Ballygriffin, County Cork, Ireland in 1718. She is one of Edmund Rice’s great inspirations and founded the Presentation Sisters. Nano Nagle selflessly educated the children of Cork during the day and visited and nursed the sick by night. As a result, she became known in Cork as the Lady with the Lantern, the symbol of the Sisters of the Presentation worldwide.
Edmund Rice:
Blessed Edmund Rice was the founder of the Christian Brothers some 200 years ago. His selfless and inspirational work as an educator is the reason why St Joseph’s College is here today and our school ethos is embedded in the work of this amazing man. We continue to be inspired by him and are encouraged to share in the vision and work of Edmund Rice.
Blessed Tansi:
Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi was born in Nigeria in 1903 and died in Leicester, England in 1964. He was an Igbo Nigerian ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1937. Those who knew him testify to his great love of God. Everyone who met him was touched by his personal goodness. He was a man of the people: he always put others before himself. He is a real inspiration to African Catholics because of him being modern and proclaimed blessed by the Church. Blessed Tansi is also the name of the school that we work closely with in Bo in Sierra Leone.
Another set of fantastic results!
94%
Of our students achieved English and mathematics GCSEs at grades 4 or greater (secure pass).
80%
Of our students achieved English and mathematics GCSEs at grades 5 or greater (good pass).
37%
Of all grades achieved at GCSE were grade 7 or higher.
41%
Of our students achieved grade 7 or higher in 5 or more GCSE subjects.
93%
Of our students were entered for the EBACC
OUTSTANDING
St. Joseph’s College is graded ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.