St Joseph's History

The college was founded by the Order of the Sisters of the Cross and Passion in 1908. It was a direct grant grammar school and later was under the trusteeship of the Diocese of Leeds, which owns the buildings and grounds, and appoints the majority of the Governors.

The college's first headmistress from 1908–1916 was Mother Gonzaga. From 1916–1956 the headmistress was Mother Sister Mary Immaculate, Yorkshire Women of the Century, educationalist, who oversaw St Joseph’s becoming one of the major private Catholic girls' grammar schools in the country. The college's motto was "Per Crucem ad Lucem" - Through the Cross to the Light.