Personal Development

At St. Joseph's, we are proud to support all children to develop social awareness; strength of character; acceptance of others; and academic confidence. Personal Development is not an added extra - it is woven through all we do. Through every interaction; every lesson; every event; every assembly. Our primary aim is to prepare children for the wider world so that they can have a strong sense of purpose and belonging, and so that they have the confidence to make their voices heard.

Artsmark Silver Award

We are thrilled to hold the Artsmark Silver Award, recognising our continued commitment to inspiring and developing creativity amongst our children. Presented by Arts Council England, Artsmark is the only creative quality standard for schools and involves a rigorous assessment process. St. Joseph’s was recognised for its progress and resilience. A statement from Arts Council England praised the school’s dedication and approach, saying: “We know how much of an impact they had on learners’ confidence and sense of wellbeing, so it is great to see how your setting has shown resilience and stuck with your plans.” They also noted that “Pupils find learning fun, engaging and energising.”

Rachel Perry, Music, Art and DT subject leader at St. Joseph’s, said: “We are extremely proud to have achieved this prestigious award, which demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing a creative, varied and engaging range of learning opportunities within the arts for all the pupils in our school community.

Proud to be an Active School

As part of the Calderdale Active Schools programme, we’re committed to being as active as possible across the whole curriculum — not just in PE lessons.

At St Joseph’s, we provide high-quality sporting opportunities for all our children. Throughout the academic year, pupils take part in competitions, develop strong teamwork skills, and have the chance to experience a wide range of sports.

We are extremely proud of our sporting achievements at St Joseph’s!

After school club opportunities

Mental health and wellbeing 

At St. Joseph’s, we recognise the importance of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all pupils and staff, alongside their physical health. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued, supported and able to thrive.

Our vision is that every child is entitled to develop to their fullest potential — academically, socially and emotionally — and to grow into a confident, healthy individual who can participate fully in the wider community. As widely recognised, a child’s emotional health and wellbeing plays a vital role in their learning, their physical and social development, and their future mental health in adulthood. We understand that everyone faces challenges at times, and we are dedicated to offering the support needed to navigate these moments.

At our school we aim to:

• help children understand their emotions and feelings

• ensure children feel comfortable sharing concerns or worries

• support children in forming and maintaining positive relationships

• promote self-esteem and help children recognise their value

• encourage children to be confident and ‘dare to be different’

• help children develop emotional resilience and manage setbacks
  
  

We promote a mentally healthy environment by:

• promoting our virtues and nurturing a strong sense of belonging

• encouraging pupil voice and providing opportunities to take part in decision-making

• celebrating both academic and non-academic achievements

• offering opportunities to develop a sense of worth through responsibility

• creating space for reflection

• ensuring access to appropriate support when needed

PD Opportunities & Experiences at St Joseph's