St Joseph's Primary school
ST. JOSEPH’S ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL,
LIDGET LANE, DINNINGTON
Jon Harvey 2006
THE BACKGROUND TO THE SCHOOL
The Dinnington parish in the early part of this century was one of the poorest in Yorkshire: very few of the mining community were Catholics and wages were low: even the church buildings were impoverished. In the 1950s the parishioners asked permission to build their own school, even though, in those days, the whole cost of the building would have to be shouldered totally by the parish. With serious misgivings, the diocese eventually agreed to offer a loan: the school was built and the heroic struggle to pay for it began. Even by the late 1970s, the parish- with an average offertory of only £80 was still facing a standing order for £65 simply to keep up payments for the interest on the school debt. But by a combined effort of school and parish the debt was finally paid off. Ironically, if the debt had still been unpaid today, the diocese would have released the parish from it.
It is well to remember, therefore, that one of the strongest characteristics of St. Joseph’s School is this lifeline between school and parish. For practically 30 years, before there were any parish rooms, when the school closed at 4 pm the parish took over – not just for its twice weekly Bingo and a stream of other money raising ventures but for a full range of parish activities, the weekly club for teenagers, parish meetings, meetings for adult education and so on. The “friends of the school” in those days were simply the people of St. Joseph’s. In turn the school provided most of the leadership in the parish – from servicing the Sunday Masses and liturgies to ensuring much of the pastoral care and visiting in the parish. The school was open too to broader community activities such as the play scheme for local children during the holidays and various ecumenical functions. It prided itself on being a ‘community’ school.
These roots from which the school grew were established in the 1960s and much of the character of the school developed from the social, religious and educational atmosphere of that time.
First of all, the character developed from the social conditions, especially in the immediate vicinity of the school. There was a lot of deprivation and for over 20 years the school staff enjoyed the benefits of serving a social priority area and were considerably involved in the homes and families of the children. The link with the Travellers from the school’s beginning led us in the 1980s to set up the Travellers’ Unit in the mobile classroom. We have always had a particular concern for children with special needs. From its beginnings the school has been grounded in a preferential option for the socially disadvantaged and underprivileged.
Secondly, the 1960s were the days of the Second Vatican Council and the spirit of the school from the beginning has always reflected this. In an area where religious commitment is so low and Catholics so few, St. Joseph’s has never been a ‘church school’ in the older sense but a ‘mission school’ or ‘Kingdom school’ in which a proportion of non-Catholics was always welcomed. The principles of Vatican II – consultation, collaboration, full participation in the liturgy, freedom and personal responsibility have always been highly prized. The renewal in religious teaching was eagerly taken up by the school in its early days and it even became a showpiece for the new ideas.
Thirdly, the 60s was the age of the Plowden Report and great developments in Primary education. Today there is a reaction against the excesses of that time. But the emphasis on ‘child centred’ education, on ensuring that the happiness of the child is a pre-requisite to learning, that the full potential of each individual child is developed – all this is still basic to the programme of education in St. Joseph’s. While keeping within the law and offering our children all that is best in modern educational theory and practice, we have tried to keep a sense of balance in the confusion of recent reforms.
An understanding of this background will help to explain the special flavour of our mission statement and the tone of our policy statements. We have much to be proud of in the first 41 years of the school’s life and it is surely no coincidence that so many of our staff have moved on to posts of senior responsibility in other school, but it is equally heartening that many staff are happy to stay and have given a great number of years of service to our school. Our planning will look to the future, but we need always to keep in mind our past and build on our achievements.
The above ‘Background of the School’ has been taken from the Annual Report to Parents – School Year 2004 – 2005. (J.D.H.)
On 6th January 1964 the new RC School on Lidget Lane was opened. The school was then blessed by Bishop Dwyer, RC Bishop of Leeds. The first Headmaster was Mr. Gerald Capper who stayed there for 18years finally retiring in July 1982. Prior to his post at Dinnington he was Headmaster at Spinkhill for three years and before that he was Deputy Head at St. Gregory’s School, Stoke on Trent. Gerald Capper’s successors have also had long spells at this school, and they are shown below: -
1964 – 1982
Mr. Gerald Capper
1982 – 1990
Sister Bridgett O’Connor
First lady Head
1990 – 2003
Mr. Trevor Horton
2003 -
Mr. John Greenwood
Current Head
Before this school was built most RC children were educated at the Doe Quarry and Park Avenue Schools. Before St. Bernard’s Comprehensive School in Rotherham was opened children progressed to such schools as Woodhouse or Maltby Grammar Schools, Dinnington Secondary Modern or Dinnington Junior Technical School. Some may have even gone to De La Salle Boys School or Notre Dame Girls School, both in Sheffield. There is also St. Joseph’s Schools at Handsworth where some may have been educated. Also, on the premises is an Infants class. A number of non-Catholic children have always been educated at the school.
Now most children progress to St. Bernard’s RC Comprehensive School in Rotherham, but some do go to Dinnington Comprehensive School.
In February 2006 there were: -
52 pupils in the Nursery Class.
196 in the Junior School.
11 Teaching Staff.
LIDGET LANE, DINNINGTON
Jon Harvey 2006
THE BACKGROUND TO THE SCHOOL
The Dinnington parish in the early part of this century was one of the poorest in Yorkshire: very few of the mining community were Catholics and wages were low: even the church buildings were impoverished. In the 1950s the parishioners asked permission to build their own school, even though, in those days, the whole cost of the building would have to be shouldered totally by the parish. With serious misgivings, the diocese eventually agreed to offer a loan: the school was built and the heroic struggle to pay for it began. Even by the late 1970s, the parish- with an average offertory of only £80 was still facing a standing order for £65 simply to keep up payments for the interest on the school debt. But by a combined effort of school and parish the debt was finally paid off. Ironically, if the debt had still been unpaid today, the diocese would have released the parish from it.
It is well to remember, therefore, that one of the strongest characteristics of St. Joseph’s School is this lifeline between school and parish. For practically 30 years, before there were any parish rooms, when the school closed at 4 pm the parish took over – not just for its twice weekly Bingo and a stream of other money raising ventures but for a full range of parish activities, the weekly club for teenagers, parish meetings, meetings for adult education and so on. The “friends of the school” in those days were simply the people of St. Joseph’s. In turn the school provided most of the leadership in the parish – from servicing the Sunday Masses and liturgies to ensuring much of the pastoral care and visiting in the parish. The school was open too to broader community activities such as the play scheme for local children during the holidays and various ecumenical functions. It prided itself on being a ‘community’ school.
These roots from which the school grew were established in the 1960s and much of the character of the school developed from the social, religious and educational atmosphere of that time.
First of all, the character developed from the social conditions, especially in the immediate vicinity of the school. There was a lot of deprivation and for over 20 years the school staff enjoyed the benefits of serving a social priority area and were considerably involved in the homes and families of the children. The link with the Travellers from the school’s beginning led us in the 1980s to set up the Travellers’ Unit in the mobile classroom. We have always had a particular concern for children with special needs. From its beginnings the school has been grounded in a preferential option for the socially disadvantaged and underprivileged.
Secondly, the 1960s were the days of the Second Vatican Council and the spirit of the school from the beginning has always reflected this. In an area where religious commitment is so low and Catholics so few, St. Joseph’s has never been a ‘church school’ in the older sense but a ‘mission school’ or ‘Kingdom school’ in which a proportion of non-Catholics was always welcomed. The principles of Vatican II – consultation, collaboration, full participation in the liturgy, freedom and personal responsibility have always been highly prized. The renewal in religious teaching was eagerly taken up by the school in its early days and it even became a showpiece for the new ideas.
Thirdly, the 60s was the age of the Plowden Report and great developments in Primary education. Today there is a reaction against the excesses of that time. But the emphasis on ‘child centred’ education, on ensuring that the happiness of the child is a pre-requisite to learning, that the full potential of each individual child is developed – all this is still basic to the programme of education in St. Joseph’s. While keeping within the law and offering our children all that is best in modern educational theory and practice, we have tried to keep a sense of balance in the confusion of recent reforms.
An understanding of this background will help to explain the special flavour of our mission statement and the tone of our policy statements. We have much to be proud of in the first 41 years of the school’s life and it is surely no coincidence that so many of our staff have moved on to posts of senior responsibility in other school, but it is equally heartening that many staff are happy to stay and have given a great number of years of service to our school. Our planning will look to the future, but we need always to keep in mind our past and build on our achievements.
The above ‘Background of the School’ has been taken from the Annual Report to Parents – School Year 2004 – 2005. (J.D.H.)
On 6th January 1964 the new RC School on Lidget Lane was opened. The school was then blessed by Bishop Dwyer, RC Bishop of Leeds. The first Headmaster was Mr. Gerald Capper who stayed there for 18years finally retiring in July 1982. Prior to his post at Dinnington he was Headmaster at Spinkhill for three years and before that he was Deputy Head at St. Gregory’s School, Stoke on Trent. Gerald Capper’s successors have also had long spells at this school, and they are shown below: -
1964 – 1982
Mr. Gerald Capper
1982 – 1990
Sister Bridgett O’Connor
First lady Head
1990 – 2003
Mr. Trevor Horton
2003 -
Mr. John Greenwood
Current Head
Before this school was built most RC children were educated at the Doe Quarry and Park Avenue Schools. Before St. Bernard’s Comprehensive School in Rotherham was opened children progressed to such schools as Woodhouse or Maltby Grammar Schools, Dinnington Secondary Modern or Dinnington Junior Technical School. Some may have even gone to De La Salle Boys School or Notre Dame Girls School, both in Sheffield. There is also St. Joseph’s Schools at Handsworth where some may have been educated. Also, on the premises is an Infants class. A number of non-Catholic children have always been educated at the school.
Now most children progress to St. Bernard’s RC Comprehensive School in Rotherham, but some do go to Dinnington Comprehensive School.
In February 2006 there were: -
52 pupils in the Nursery Class.
196 in the Junior School.
11 Teaching Staff.