20 years of new St Joseph’s School

Sean Keywood Monday, November 26, 2012
3.37 PM

Pupils and staff, past and present, have celebrated 20 years of the new St Joseph’s Primary School.

Celebrating 20 years of the new St Josephs School building-two Louis' together with Katie and Florence get ready to tuck into a rainbow coloured cake as part of the celebrations. Photo by Simon Horn. Ref exe 0200-45-12SH To order your copy of this photograph go to www.exmouthjournal.co.uk and click on MyPhotos24.

The current school building opened in 1992, after the original school – on what is now Regents Gate housing estate – blew down in storms in 1987.

To mark the anniversary, the school held a day of events including a celebration mass with parishioners, parents and ex-governors, and then an open house to let people see how the school looks now, along with afternoon tea.

Many teachers at the school have been there ever since it reopened – including Cathie Doyle, who is now the headteacher.

She said: “It’s a great achievement. It’s a fantastic school and a fantastic place to work.

“The fact we kind of rose from the ashes was thanks to the head at the time and the governors, as the council, I think, were quite happy to close us down, but the diocese and the governors fought very hard to make sure the school was maintained.

“It’s amazing because nobody believes it’s 20 years old – it still looks very new and fresh.”