Visit
St Joseph’s College
One of the best ways to get to know St Jo’s is to visit us. We are delighted to offer a range of options to our prospective families, including Open Mornings and Individual Tours. To request a visit or register your interest in an Open Event, please complete the Enquiry Form, and a member of our Admissions Team will be in touch.
Come explore our school
After looking around our website, we hope you have a picture of what life is like at St Joseph’s College, an independent day and boarding school in Suffolk.
To gain greater detail and a real feel for the school, we would love for you to visit us during one of our Open Mornings or Friday Snapshots. Alternatively, you can come for a personal family tour – we craft our bespoke tours around you and your child’s individual interests so that you can find out everything you need to know before registering with us.
In their own words…
When a family joins the College community a door is opened to a new and wide network of friends, families and contacts. Members of the St Joseph’s community are present at the many events throughout the academic year, and many stay in touch through forums and social activities.
After leaving St Joseph’s in 2019, I realised fully how fortunate I was to study there for seven very special years. Memorable trips, various sports including playing in three rugby festivals, and on-stage highlights helped shape me. Great teaching led to top grades and an Economics degree in Leeds and Canada
The abundant sense of community at St Joseph’s College is what truly underpins our ethos of aspiration, confidence and respect. It is here where I have been supported, whether that be in my desire to play a high level of sport, to achieve the best grades possible, or even to take on new challenges such as public speaking! In my last year at St Jo’s, it has been my greatest pleasure to take on the role of Head Girl after many years of looking up to the previous Head Boys and Girls.
We have three daughters at St Joseph’s one in the Prep School and two in the senior school. I love the values the school instilled to be respectful to all as well as providing fantastic opportunities in all areas. My husband is an Old Birkfeldian and he has strong friendships to this day forged at the College. It is a special community.
St Jo’s is special to me because it has truly changed my life. It allowed me to be myself while at the same time excelling academically and developing emotionally. For the incredible job the staff have done, I will always be grateful and forever in their debt for all they have given me.
St Jo’s is a huge part of my family. Having been a pupil, and now teaching and sending my two sons to the College, I have had the privilege of experiencing the School as a child, parent and teacher. It is a strong, welcoming community that I am very proud to be a part of.
Travel to St Joseph’s College
St Joseph’s College is located on the edge/outskirts of the town of Ipswich and is easily accessible via both the A12 and A14. There are several convenient drop-off and collection points and parking areas on campus.
The College is an hour away from London and Cambridge by train, and with Stansted airport one hour and Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports just one and a half hours by car, it is ideally suited for international families.
St Joseph’s College operates its own daily Transport Service, with routes covering a number of locations including Colchester, Tendring, Dedham Vale, Coggeshall, Woodbridge and areas of Ipswich. Details of routes, times and costs can be found here. Because this service is operated by the school, it is designed to allow students to attend after-school clubs, sports practices and other activities and can, subject to demand, be expanded to take in different routes and pick-up points.
FAQs
Here you will find answers to some of the commonly asked questions about St Joseph’s College open days. Feel free to browse through the questions to learn more.
Can my child have a Taster Day?
Yes, of course! We do ask that an application has been received and their entrance assessment completed so that we can tailor the day with appropriate sets and subjects.
How can St Jo’s Senior School support my child’s transition from a smaller local school and help them feel confident and excited about this new chapter in their academic journey?
St Jo’s understands that moving to a new school can be daunting for some students and also for some parents! That’s why we offer several opportunities to bolster children’s confidence and excitement about joining us. Our Mission Impossible event provides incoming Year 7s with a chance to join our current Year 6s for a fun and immersive day before accepting a place at the College. Senior School students have two transition days in June. Year 7s have the place to themselves when they join us a day ahead of the rest of the College in September. This means they get off to a flying start by meeting their classmates and teachers, and learning a little more about St Jo’s before the timetable begins.
How do you stretch those who are thriving academically?
St Jo’s offers a range of opportunities to stretch those who are thriving academically. We have advanced courses, such as the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), Foundation Project Qualification (FPQ), and Higher Project Qualification (HPQ), allowing students to gain valuable research and presentation skills in areas of their choosing. There are enrichment programmes, and subject-specific challenges, such as national and international maths competitions and language spelling bees. Our teachers provide personalised support and guidance to help students reach their full potential.
I may need help with the fees. Is help available?
Our Admissions team are skilled at answering these enquiries. An open conversation is always welcome and as relevant, means-tested bursaries can be applied for.
Is St Joseph’s College an academically selective independent school?
We are proud to be a non-academically selective school. We welcome students of all abilities and believe in stretching the most academically able, whilst also supporting those who may need additional support. Our aim is to create an inclusive and supportive community where every student can reach their full potential.
Why St Jo’s?
We believe in the exceptional spirit of St Joseph’s College and the benefits our ethos brings. You will too when you get to know us.
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Education
St Joseph’s College delivers an outstanding independent education tailored to the individual child, with space to thrive and opportunity to shine.
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Boarding
Take a fresh look at Boarding. St Joseph’s College offers various family-friendly options and all share the same warm, caring and inclusive atmosphere.
Explore Boarding
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