St. Joseph's RC High School, Newport

St. Joseph's RC High School is a comprehensive school on the western outskirts of Newport, South Wales. It is in the suburb of Duffryn, and has something of a rivalry with Duffryn High School, just a few hundred yards up the road. The school has around 1,400 pupils. The school recently underwent an Estyn inspection getting all grade ones (the highest mark). The school has a significant ethnic minority community, with over 30 pupils from the Philippines.

School uniform

Male pupils

Male pupils in the school aged 11–16 (Yrs 7 to 11) MUST wear in the 'winter' months (the second half of the Autumn term to after the whole of the spring term ):

• black school trousers and
• a sky-blue button-up shirt.
• St Joseph's tie

(although from when pupils return after easter to the end of the first half of the autumn term): pupils can wear

• royal blue polo shirt, with school logo
• black trousers
• no tie

Female pupils

For girls:-

• black school trousers or black school-skirts
• Sky-Blue button-up shirt
• St Joseph's Tie

In these cold months, the school advises pupils to wear additionally a school jumper and/or school fleece. Pupils are advised to wear thick coats.

Sixth Form (AS and A2) uniform at the school complies with the British Sixth Form dress code (see the Sixth Form Prospectus of St Joseph's High School or visit a governors website).

Education at St Joseph's RC High School

The school has first-class education from fine teachers with good histories of Teacher Training and Education. Although the school offers first-class education and training - and a lot of wonderful facilities - it lacks many subjects that are available at other schools at GCSE.

Core subjects

Mathematics is studied on average three times a week at Key Stage Three. English is also studied three times a week, and so is science, but in Year 7, once a fortnight an English lesson is converted into an 'LRC lesson', a study of libraries, readings of recommended books and a completion of Library-based research activities, games and projects.

The school elects 'Mathematician of the Month', which is one hard-working Mathematician from every maths class (around about out of 30 pupils) per month. There is also a 'Science Student of the Month', selected from over 600 pupils, students of Key Stage Three. These 'of the month' awards packages contain a certificate and a 5-pound WH Smith book voucher. There are also many other awards that the school offers.

Extracurricular activities and clubs

The school holds many clubs and groups, including Buddy Reading Scheme, Science Club, Drama Club, Netball Club, Football Club, Reading Group, etc, and most of the clubs are made for Year Seven pupils, with Sixth Form helpers.

There are many trips and outdoor activities. GCSE pupils and sixth-formers (especially GCSE pupils) will experience a world of fun field trips to abroad or in Britain, and will experience beautiful and amazing sites in the world for themselves, especially in Geography and History.

The school competes in the Young Enterprise competitions where pupils get to start and run their own business. In 2007 the team received a series of prizes:

• Runner Up: Gwent Best Company Overall
• Runner Up: Best Use of IT
• First Place: Company Report
• Runner Up: Best Trade Stand

In 2008 it bettered these results winning:-

• 1st Prize in every category at the Newport and Monmouthshire Young Enterprise 2008 final

In the Gwent Final they won;

• Best Company Report
• Best Trade Stand
• Runner-up Best Company

They then won best presentation at the Welsh final