St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School was opened over a hundred years ago to serve the needs of a growing Catholic population in Hanwell. It was staffed by nuns from the Order of St. Joseph of Peace and the Order still has a convent of nuns across the road from the church. Children have attended school on our present site since 1907.
The school was set up to meet the needs of poor immigrants and throughout its century of service, St. Joseph's has welcomed Catholic children from across the world and helped them and their families to be successful members of Hanwell, London and U.K. society and good Catholic people. Now, we also welcome children of other faiths who play an active role in developing the culture of our school.
Every year, we celebrate the special feast day of St. Joseph on 19th March. Our whole school community comes together to acknowledge our Patron Saint by going to mass or having a liturgy. This is then followed by other special activities.
To add a bit of competitiveness to our daily lives, children are allocated Houses for which they collect House Points. Each week a house (St. Clare, St. Bernadette, St. Peter, St. Vincent, St. Martin) wins and a class receives a trophy for the week.
The Diocesan inspection of our school in October 2024 confirmed that "There is a lived sense of community at St Joseph’s, evident in the quality of relationships and strong culture of welcome for all, where pupils, staff and parents are guided by the mission to ‘Love, Learn, Believe’, which reflects our values from the moment a parent makes an enquiry about our school through to beyond when a child leaves us for high school.
This academic year is extra special in that Pope Francis announced that 2025 will be a year of Jubilee – an event that happens every 25 years. The theme for the upcoming Jubilee is “Pilgrims of Hope”. The 2025 Jubilee will begin in Advent 2024 and will run until the Feast of the Epiphany in 2026.
LOVE, LEARN, BELIEVE
Our Catholic Ethos
For well over a hundred years, St. Joseph’s has been serving local Catholic families in the Hanwell area. The school has seen wave after wave of communities come to the area, be embraced by the school and parish, and, in common with Catholic education across England, turn out fantastic young girls and boys who are ready to take the next steps in their journey.
We are a caring school community, and everybody counts. Our school is committed to giving your child, irrespective of their faith, a broad and balanced education where we consider the education of the whole child as being crucial. We will not shy away from directing your child into good habits and good ways of living, we wish to encourage and support every family to be the best they can be, and we do all this in the context of a Catholic school community
It is for all adults in school to model how to live according to the Gospel of Our Lord and it is for the children to learn from our example. In practical terms, this means we take special care of any child who is currently experiencing difficulties; we go out of our way to support families who need us; we explore where each child can excel and we try to put our catchphrases in to action:
“Primary school should provide every child with a reservoir of good memories.”
“The best preparation for adulthood is childhood.”
“Every child matters, every lesson counts.”
“Love, Learn, Believe.”
Our Mission Statement
St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School builds God’s kingdom here and now by being:
- A welcoming school, where everyone cares for and respects each other.
- A learning school, which inspires creativity and challenges through guidance and encouragement all members of the community to learn and aim to be the best they can be.
- A vibrant school, which celebrates its variety and creativity and seeks to meet the needs of each person by working together in this ever changing world.
- A holy school, where prayer and worship are valued and we the community serve as a living witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ
LOVE LEARN BELIEVE
St. Joseph's School is proud to share the news that we are now beginning our journey towards achieving the LiveSimply Award. We started this journey with LiveSimply launch assemblies, where we talked about Catholic Social Teaching and Care for Creation. We reminded ourselves that God created the world for us as a gift and that we should take care of it.
Pope Francis called the Earth “our common home,” and just like we wouldn’t leave rubbish around our house or damage something that belongs to a friend, we are called to treat the planet with the same care and respect.
‘Creation is a gift, it is a wonderful gift that God has given us, so that we care for it and we use it for the benefit of all,' Pope Francis, Laudato Si’
Our LiveSimply Plan is dedicated to exploring the many ways we can “live simply, live sustainably, and live in solidarity with the poor.” We want to show others that when we take action, such as like recycling, saving energy, walking instead of driving, or speaking up for change, we are living out our faith. We are loving God, caring for our neighbours, and showing that we are stewards of His creation.
‘Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience,’ Pope Francis, Laudato Si’
We are asking all members of our community, our families and friends to pray for us, that this journey may be fruitful and help us grow in faith.
How we have been living simply at St Joseph's...
In September, St. Joseph’s School has launched our participation in CAFOD’s Live Simply initiative with special assemblies for all children. These assemblies introduced the values of living simply, sustainably, and in solidarity with others, helping our children understand how their actions can make a positive difference in the world. Our involvement in this initiative links closely with Catholic Social Teaching, particularly the theme of Care for Creation, which will be a key focus in our Religious Education and wider curriculum this term. Thank you for supporting us as we encourage our children to live out their faith through action and care for God’s world. Coming soon! This week, the students and staff of St. Joseph’s School came together in unity and hope as they participated in special assemblies for the International Day of Prayers for World Peace. This was a meaningful opportunity for our school community to reflect, pray, and commit to taking care of God's creation. * * * Pax Christi Icon Visits Cardinal Wiseman High School In October, the Pax Christi Icon made a special visit to Cardinal Wiseman High School, offering a unique opportunity for reflection and prayer for peace. Our chaplains were warmly invited to take part in special prayers, joining the school community in a moving act of unity and hope. Accompanied by Ms. Martin and Mrs. Bone, a group of our children visited the school and contributed to the prayers, sharing messages of peace and compassion. It was a truly memorable event — one that reminded everyone of the importance of prayer, solidarity, and the power of young voices in promoting peace in our world. Pax Christi daily prayer: Thank you loving God * * * St. Joseph's Weekly Rosary Prayers – Join Us This October! Throughout the month of October, a special time dedicated to the Rosary, all staff members gather for the Weekly Rosary Prayers led by Mr. Rakowski or Mrs. Ingham. Each week, we come together to reflect, pray, and grow in faith through this beautiful devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus. It's a peaceful and meaningful way to start the day and to deepen our connection with God and one another. “The Rosary is the most beautiful and the richest in graces of all prayers.” – Pope Pius X * * * Love in a Box – A Heartfelt Thank You from the Lower Phase This term, the Lower Phase took part in a wonderful charity initiative called “Love in a Box.” Pupils, families, and staff came together to fill shoeboxes with thoughtful gifts, toiletries, stationery, and small treats for children and families in need. Each box was carefully packed with kindness and love, showing the true spirit of giving. We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated items or helped prepare the boxes. Your generosity has made a real difference and will bring smiles to many faces this Christmas. Taking part in Love in a Box is not only a chance to help others, but it also supports our journey toward earning the Live Simply Award. By living simply, sharing generously, and caring for others, we are taking important steps to make our world a kinder, fairer place. Thank you once again for your continued support and compassion — together, we are living simply and loving generously. National Recycling Day at St. Joseph’s Did you know that November 15th is National Recycling Day? It’s a special time to reflect on how we can all make a difference by reducing waste and protecting our planet. At our school, we're proud to be part of the movement—and leading the way is our enthusiastic Year 6 Recycling Team! This dedicated group of students has taken on the important task of promoting eco-friendly habits throughout our school. They’ve already launched several exciting initiatives, including our Weekly Classroom Recycling Checks – Making sure each room is sorting paper, plastics, and waste correctly. The Year 6 team is a fantastic example of student leadership in action, and we’re proud of the passion and responsibility they bring to their role. Let’s all take a moment this National Recycling Day to recommit to greener habits—every little action counts! Together, we can build a cleaner, more sustainable future. * * * St. Joseph’s Remembrance Day Celebrations On November 11, the St. Joseph’s school came together to honour Remembrance Day with solemn reflection and gratitude. Students and staff gathered to remember the bravery and sacrifice of all those who served in times of war and peace, and to pay tribute to those who lost their lives protecting the freedoms we cherish today. This annual observance is not only a moment of silence and remembrance, it is also a way for our school to unite with the whole country in shared respect and empathy. As we pause to remember, we stand in solidarity with families who have lost loved ones in service, and we reaffirm our commitment to peace, understanding, and compassion. Through various activities, reflection and prayer, St. Joseph’s honoured the past while inspiring a sense of hope for the future, a reminder that remembrance is not only about looking back, but also about how we choose to live with kindness and gratitude today. Lest we forget. * * * Coming soon! Coming soon! Coming soon! Coming soon! Hopefully coming soon!.JPG)
For the gift of life
For this wonderful world which we all share
For the joy of love and friendship
For the challenge of helping to build your kingdom.
Strengthen
My determination to work for a world of peace and justice
My conviction that, whatever our nationality or race, we are all global citizens, one in Christ.
My courage to challenge the powerful with the values of the Gospel
My commitment to find nonviolent ways of resolving conflict—personal, local, national and international
My efforts to forgive injuries and to love those I find it hard to love.
Teach me
To share the gifts you have given me
To speak out for the victims of injustice who have no voice
To reject the violence which runs through much of our world today.
Holy Spirit of God
Renew my hope for a world free from the cruelty and evil of war, so that we may all come to share in God’s peace and justice.
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Welcome to the ECO Schools page
We’re excited to have you join us on our journey toward creating a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable future. Here, you’ll find updates on our environmental projects, tips for eco-friendly living, and ways you can get involved in making a positive impact at school and beyond.
Together, we can make a difference—one small change at a time.
St. Joseph's ECO Team Members are: Cole, Maja, Dylan in Year 5. Ms. Martin is currently working with the team.
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Our ECO Code is:
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Our ECO Team is proud to lead a range of projects designed to make our school community more sustainable, environmentally aware, and inspired to take action. From reducing waste and improving recycling, to talking about transport and energy use, each project is driven by students who are passionate about creating real change.
Through hands-on activities, creative problem-solving, and teamwork, we’re turning big ideas into meaningful impact. Explore our initiatives to see how we’re working together to build a greener future for everyone! Join us for updates on our latest initiatives:
NATIONAL RECYCLING DAY
Did you know that November 15th is National Recycling Day? It’s a special time to reflect on how we can all make a difference by reducing waste and protecting our planet. At our school, we're proud to be part of the movement—and leading the way is our enthusiastic Year 6 Recycling Team!
This dedicated group of students has taken on the important task of promoting eco-friendly habits throughout our school. They’ve already launched several exciting initiatives, including our Weekly Classroom Recycling Checks – Making sure each room is sorting paper, plastics, and waste correctly.
The Year 6 team is a fantastic example of student leadership in action, and we’re proud of the passion and responsibility they bring to their role. Let’s all take a moment this National Recycling Day to recommit to greener habits—every little action counts!
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ECO Team Sustainability Meeting:
On Thursday, November 6th, our St. Joseph’s ECO Team leaders proudly represented our school at the Our Lady of the Visitation Sustainability Meeting. The event brought together ECO Team leaders from local catholic schools to share ideas, celebrate environmental successes, and plan future initiatives to make our community greener and more sustainable.
During the meeting, our ECO leaders engaged in inspiring discussions about sustainability at home and at school, and ways to promote eco-friendly habits within our school. The team returned full of enthusiasm and new ideas to help St. Joseph’s continue its journey toward a more sustainable future. Stay tuned to hear more about their upcoming projects—and how you can get involved in making a difference!
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