St Joseph's College is a co-educational
private school
A private school or independent school is a school not administered or funded by the government, unlike a State school, public school. Private schools are schools that are not dependent upon national or local government to finance their fina ...
for day and boarding pupils between the ages of 2 and 19 in
Ipswich
Ipswich () is a port town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in Suffolk, England. It is the county town, and largest in Suffolk, followed by Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds, and the third-largest population centre in East Anglia, ...
,
Suffolk
Suffolk ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Norfolk to the north, the North Sea to the east, Essex to the south, and Cambridgeshire to the west. Ipswich is the largest settlement and the county ...
, England. With usually 550-600 pupils on the roll, the College is located in
South West Ipswich, surrounded by a 60-acre campus, which includes administrative offices in the Georgian Birkfield House, a nursery and Prep School, the College Chapel, and teaching and sports facilities. Also in the grounds are the College's two boarding houses, Goldrood and The Mews.
History
St Joseph's College was established in 1937 by the
De La Salle Brothers
The De La Salle Brothers, officially named the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (; ; ) abbreviated FSC, is a Catholic lay religious congregation of pontifical right for men founded in France by Jean-Baptiste de La Salle ( ...
, a Catholic order. The original site for the school was at nearby Oak Hill. When Birkfield House was bought, Oak Hill was used as the College's prep school. With the creation of a new, purpose-built prep facility, Oak Hill ceased to be part of the school site. In 1996 the school merged with a girls' school, the Convent of Jesus and Mary, and became independent of the De La Salle order. However, the order retained the freehold of the site and charged rent to the school. In 2014, the school bought the freehold outright. As a result of the merger with the girls' school, the College crest was altered. Whilst the crest had previously borne two oak leaves (reflecting Oak Hill, the original grounds of the school), and the de la Salle star, the design at that time replaced one of the oak leaves with a crown of thorns from the crest of the Jesus and Mary Convent School.
Future development
The College campus has evolved over the decades. There is a
''Building for the Future" programme underway. Phases 1 and 2 have already been completed, with a new Technology Centre and a state-of-the-art Sixth Form Centre. Other buildings on the site include the Prep School, with rounded walls, a circular library and high-tech classrooms. The grounds include trees, shrubberies, gardens, sports pitches and open spaces. The College has an Astroturf for all weather sports, tennis courts, a sports hall and a changing room block/PE office.
House system
The College currently has four
houses
A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...
:
* Birkfield (Red)
* Goldrood (Yellow)
* La Salle (Green)
* Orwell (Blue)
Birkfield House takes its name from the Georgian building of the same name found at the centre of the campus. Birkfield House was the original building that the school moved into in 1946. Birkfield Mews is one of the two boarding houses on campus, but it is more commonly known as ‘The Mews’. Goldrood House is named after ‘
The Gold Rood’ house and estate, which the school acquired in 1963. The mansion, built in 1811 is now home to 50 boarders, having previously been the home of the Prep School. Prior to the Mansion's existence, the land held an ancient cross - or rood - erected in monastic times. La Salle House is named in honour of the College's patron saint, John-Baptist de la Salle (1651–1719), a French priest and educational reformer who spent his life teaching poor children in parish charity schools. Saint John-Baptist is also the patron saint of teachers. Orwell House takes its name from the
River Orwell
The River Orwell flows through the county of Suffolk in England from Ipswich to Felixstowe. Above Ipswich, the river is known as the River Gipping, but its name changes to the Orwell at Stoke Bridge, about half a mile below where the river beco ...
flowing through Suffolk and visible from the first floor windows of the buildings on the College campus.
The house system originally had two houses designated for day pupils and two for boarders, all named after major figures in England's Roman Catholic history:
* Campion (named after St
Edmund Campion
Edmund Campion, SJ (25 January 15401 December 1581) was an English Jesuit priest and martyr. While conducting an underground ministry in officially Anglican England, Campion was arrested by priest hunters. Convicted of high treason, he was ...
, an English Jesuit and martyr) (green)
oarders* Sherwin (named after St
Ralph Sherwin, an English martyr) (blue)
oarders* More (named after St
Thomas More
Sir Thomas More (7 February 1478 – 6 July 1535), venerated in the Catholic Church as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, judge, social philosopher, author, statesman, theologian, and noted Renaissance humanist. He also served Henry VII ...
, English lawyer, politician and martyr) (black)
ay pupils* Beckett (named after St
Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket (), also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London and later Thomas à Becket (21 December 1119 or 1120 – 29 December 1170), served as Lord Chancellor from 1155 to 1162, and then as Archbishop of Canterbury fr ...
, an early archbishop of Canterbury and martyr) (orange)
ay pupils
Boarding
The College offers full, weekly and flexi-boarding and its boarders come from both the United Kingdom and overseas.
Goldrood House is used for younger male boarding students and The Mews for female boarders, as well as Sixth Form boys, with separate sleeping areas.
Annual Rugby Festival
The National Schools Rugby Festival was launched in 1987 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the College. Schools invited to take part come from both the state and independent sectors. The festival has previously featured: former England captain
Chris Robshaw
Chris Robshaw (born 4 June 1986) is an English former rugby union player. He was the captain of the England national rugby union team from January 2012 until December 2015. Robshaw's position of choice was in the back row of the scrum, usually ...
; British and Irish Lion
Mako Vunipola
Mako Vunipola (born 14 January 1991) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a loosehead prop for French club Vannes in the Top 14 He previously played for the England national team. Born in New Zealand to Tongan parents, he qualifi ...
; England winger
Charlie Sharples;
Zach Mercer;
Mike Tindall
Michael James Tindall, (born 18 October 1978) is an English former rugby union player and a member of the British royal family. Tindall played outside centre for Bath and Gloucester, and won 75 caps for England between 2000 and 2011. He was ...
;
Jonathan Joseph; and
Marcus Smith.
Chapel
One of the most notable buildings on the campus is the College Chapel. Built in a modern style, the Chapel design echoes the form of a tent, like those used by the Israelites whilst they were in the desert. In 2017, just as the Chapel reached its 50th anniversary, serious flaws in the roof were discovered. The building was temporarily closed for renovations, which were completed in 2019 and the Chapel was reopened to welcome the College community once again.
Old Birkfeldians
The Old Birkfeldians is the Alumni Association of St Joseph's College. It is named after the site of the original school (Birkfield House). It has been merged with the Alumni Association of the old Junior School (Old Oakhillians).
*
Richard Ayoade
Richard Ayoade ( ; born 23 May 1977) is a British comedian, actor, writer, director and presenter. He played the role of socially awkward IT technician Maurice Moss in Channel 4 sitcom ''The IT Crowd'' (2006–2013), for which he won the 2014 Br ...
, actor and comedian
*
Derek Henderson
Derek Henderson (9 March 1926 – 13 June 2019) was an English first-class cricketer and educator.
Henderson was born at Bexhill-on-Sea in March 1926. After attending St Edward's School, Oxford, he went up to Trinity College, Oxford. He m ...
, international DJ
*
Sean Blowers
Sean Anthony Blowers (born 26 January 1961) is an English actor.
Blowers was born in Middlesbrough, North Riding of Yorkshire. He is best known for playing John Hallam in '' London's Burning'' from 1986 until the character was killed off in 199 ...
, actor
*Sir
Dominick Chilcott
Sir Dominick John Chilcott (born 17 November 1959) is a British diplomat who was Ambassador to Turkey from 2018 to 2022.
Early life
He went to the Catholic independent school, St Joseph's College, Ipswich, later also attended by his broth ...
, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and Ambassador to Iran, Ireland and Turkey
*
Dominic Christian
Dominic Gerard Christian is a Councilman of the City of London Corporation where he represents the Ward of Lime Street. He is Global Chairman of Aon Reinsurance Solutions and a member of Aon's Global Executive. He is also the Deputy Chairman ...
, CEO of
Aon UK
*
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George Jean-Baptiste de la Salle Eno (, born 15 May 1948), also mononymously known as Eno, is an English musician, songwriter, record producer, visual artist, and activist. He is best known for his pioneering contributions to ambien ...
, musician
*
Jonathan Green, journalist
*
Matt Henry, New Zealand cricketer
*
Matt Hunn,
Kent
Kent is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Essex across the Thames Estuary to the north, the Strait of Dover to the south-east, East Sussex to the south-west, Surrey to the west, and Gr ...
cricketer
*
Trevor Jacques, writer and researcher in the area of consensual BDSM, sexual fetishism and sexual health
*
Lewis Ludlam,
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints (officially Northampton Rugby Football Club) is a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The club plays in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby union.
It was formed in 1880 as "Northampton St. ...
rugby player
*
John McDonnell
John Martin McDonnell (born 8 September 1951) is a British politician who served as Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2015 to 2020. He has been the Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Hayes and Harlington ...
, Labour Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
*
Pablo Miller
*
Pat Mills
Patrick Eamon Mills (born 1949) is an English comics writer and editor who, along with John Wagner, revitalised British boys' comics in the 1970s, and has remained a leading light in British comics ever since. He has been called "the godfath ...
, comics writer and editor
*
Chris Mullin
Christopher Paul Mullin (born July 30, 1963) is an American former professional basketball player, executive and coach. He is a five time NBA All-Star and four time All-NBA Team member. He is also two-time Olympic Gold medalist and a two-time ...
, Labour Member of Parliament
*
Dan Murphy,
Harlequins rugby player
*
Peter Nelson, 9th Earl Nelson
Peter John Horatio Nelson, 9th Earl Nelson (9 October 1941 – 28 March 2009), was a British police officer and peer. He was the oldest son of Captain John Nelson, and grandson of Edward Nelson, 5th Earl Nelson. He inherited the title in 1981 on ...
, hereditary peer
*
Vincent Regan
Vincent Regan (born 16 May 1965) is a Welsh film and television actor.
Early life
Regan born 16 May 1965 in Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales. He attended Nicholas Breakspear School, St.Albans, Hertfordshire, then St Joseph's College, Ipswich, before ...
, actor
*
Drew Locke, rugby
*
Louise Rickard
Louise Rickard (born 31 December 1970) is a Welsh rugby union player. She has played at lock, wing and centre positions. She is one of the most capped players in the history of women's rugby at 112 caps for Wales.
Rickard played her first inter ...
, rugby player
*
James Rowe, professional football manager
*
George Wacokecoke,
Bath
Bath may refer to:
* Bathing, immersion in a fluid
** Bathtub, a large open container for water, in which a person may wash their body
** Public bathing, a public place where people bathe
* Thermae, ancient Roman public bathing facilities
Plac ...
rugby player
*
Richard Westbrook
Richard Westbrook (born 10 July 1975) is a British professional racing driver noted for his success in racing Porsche and International sports cars. As a junior, he attended St Joseph's College, Ipswich. He has won both the Porsche Supercup in ...
, racing driver
*
David Willis, journalist
Sexual abuse
Francis Carolan, a former teacher of religious education and assistant housemaster at St Joseph's College, was remanded in custody and charged in November 2021 with four offences of indecent assault on a boy aged between 14 and 15 in the early 1990s. Carolan committed suicide shortly before his trial was due to take place.
[https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/20665940.inquest-hears-former-re-teacher-awaiting-trial-took-life/]
Popular culture
In August 2005, the school was used as the setting for the third and final season of the Channel 4 historical reality show ''
That'll Teach 'Em
''That'll Teach 'Em'' is a British historical reality documentary series produced by Twenty Twenty Television for the Channel 4 network in the United Kingdom.
Concept
Each series follows around 30 teenage students who have recently completed t ...
''. The school was re-branded as "Charles Darwin Grammar School" and took thirty sixteen-year-olds for a summer of 1950s style
boarding school
A boarding school is a school where pupils live within premises while being given formal instruction. The word "boarding" is used in the sense of "room and board", i.e. lodging and meals. They have existed for many centuries, and now extend acr ...
education, with an emphasis on practical sciences.
References
External links
School Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Joseph's College, Ipswich
Private schools in Suffolk
Roman Catholic private schools in the Diocese of East Anglia
Catholic boarding schools in England
Boarding schools in Suffolk
Schools in Ipswich
1937 establishments in England