About our school

At St Joseph’s we strengthen and integrate the Catholic faith by embracing and respecting our differences, through exploring other denominations alongside Catholicism and listening to each other’s ideas. Catholic traditions are authentically embedded and integrated throughout the curriculum. We put our faith-based learning into action through daily prayer and student led liturgies; living Jesus’ word by example. We demonstrate respect in all that we do, and work together to celebrate our Catholic identity through linking social justice initiatives between school, Parish and community.

We are a staff that focuses, supports and builds both pedagogy and wellbeing taking time to foster relationships through team building activities. Staff are dedicated to providing a stimulating and challenging work environment within well-resourced and contemporary classrooms. We have common high expectations for best practice and we implement professional learning and personal development, taking time to evaluate the outcomes we achieve. We explore staff individual expertise and interests with an openness to different ideas including within our school, other schools and networks. All staff spend time in the classroom on a regular basis, which allows us to master a ‘change’ before implementing the next. We develop trustful relationships that promote honest and open conversations when planning and meeting. Staff are empowered through a feeling of value and acknowledgement.

We value, support and take time to measure and analyse growth data through pre and post testing. Students are given time to reflect on their learning through self-assessment and evaluations. We use and need assessment and reporting data from all parts of the community that is timely, purposeful and appropriate to inform our teaching. We strive to understand the data we collect to create positive change. We frequently allocate time to analyse our data, evaluate our methods, and remove testing or adjustments that are not relevant, redundant or ineffective.

We promote a sense of dignity and optimism in each student to work towards a better future. We continuously develop whole-school social and emotional wellbeing practices through our rigorous Social and Emotional Learning program. In turn, we help students understand their personal strengths and how to use them, and consequently they develop a sense of self-worth that is independent of their academic ability. Through building strong and positive relationships between students, staff and parents, everyone is able to establish and promote a healthy growth mindset and work together to build resilience in the students. Our students are empowered because their strengths are celebrated and they are helped to navigate through the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

Our students leave St Joseph’s as lifelong, faith filled, critical thinkers and learners; creative, innovative and adaptable problem solvers.