St Joseph’s is a Catholic school committed to the Statement of Aims of Catholic Schools and the promotion of an ethos throughout the school, which reflects the Christian teaching, and values of the Catholic Church. We seek to provide an effective educational service – one that is planned, developed to the highest professional standards and constantly evaluated so as to maximise the benefit each pupil receives from his experiences in school.
 
In Religious Education we seek to help the pupils not only to know about God, but to know God. As Religious educators our starting point for education experience and meaningful understanding is through prayer. We will foster in our pupils an attitude towards prayer – an awareness of God’s presence, the ability to be silent, to reflect and listen to God. 

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In the Religious department we seek to provide a caring service, which recognises the human value of each person who is a part of the total school community. We seek to create a climate of relationships, attitudes and styles of behaviour whereby every member of the school community will feel accepted and know that they have a role to play, and will be keen to play their part for their own personal development and for the common good of the whole school community.

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Jesus The Teacher

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He never taught in a classroom. He had no tools to work with such as blackboards, maps or charts. He used no subject outlines, kept no records, gave no grades, and his only text book was ancient and well worn. His students were the poor, the lame, the deaf, the blind, the outcasts – and his method was the same with all who came to hear and learn. He opened eyes with faith. Opened ears with simple truth and opened hearts with love born of forgiveness. A gentle man, a humble man. He asked and won no honour, no gold awards of tribute to his expertise or wisdom. Yet this was a quiet teacher from the hills of Galilee has fed the needs, fulfilled the hopes and changed the lives of many millions. For what he taught brought heaven to earth and revealed God’s love to mankind.

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In working with young people do not try to call them back to where they were and do not try to call them to where you are, as beautiful as that place may seem to you. You must have the courage to go with them to a place that neither you nor they have ever been before.