St Joseph's College, Upper Norwood

The college was founded in 1855 when six De La Salle brothers came over from France to set up the first De La Salle school at the ‘Redemptorist St Mary’s Church Elementary school’ in Clapham Old Town. In 1856 the roll had expanded and the school moved to ‘Brooklands’ at 49 Clapham High Street. In 1895, after just over 30 years, the school moved to ‘The Grange’ in Upper Tooting. A brief stay and financial difficulty led to another move in 1897 to ‘Dane House’ in Denmark Hill. 7 years later, in 1903, the ever-transient brothers bought a beautiful property at Beulah Hill called the ‘Grecian Villa’. It is the gateway for our modern school today and has seen many thousands of De La Salle students pass through it. The school has been on its present site in Beulah Hill since 1904.

The oldest part of the school is the Grecian Villa which predates the school. The current Hall and Science Block was constructed in 1964, followed by a Design and Technology department in 1975, which has since been refurbished. The school features a newly built History block which includes four Classrooms and an office. It has been a voluntary aided school as of 1973. In 2003, it became a Mathematics and Computing specialist school.

In 2011, Headmaster Eamon Connolly retired, and was succeeded by Marco Franchetti (formerly a deputy head and a psychics teacher) who after his retirement was replaced in January 2016 by David Garrido, then later succeeded by Catherine Kane, in September 2021 making her the first female Headteacher in the college's 168-year history. In 2016, a local internet company, Limetree, decided to sponsor the senior school football team at the school.

• Jamael Westman (2003-2010), Actor, lead role in West End production-Hamilton.
• Andrew Grima (1921–2007), British jewellery designer.[1]
• Roddy McDowall (1928–1998), British and American radio, stage, film, and television actor, director and photographer.[2]
• Dickie Henderson (1922–1985), British comedian, dancer and entertainer.
• Francis George Kenna Gallagher (1917–2011), British Foreign Office official and diplomat.
• Ted Clark, cricketer for Middlesex C.C.C.
• Martin Long, founder of Churchill Insurance Company, co-owner of Crystal Palace F.C.
• Myles Kenlock, footballer for Ipswich Town Football Club.
• Fankaty Dabo, footballer for Coventry City Football Club.
• Peter Ventress, Non-executive chairman of Galliford Try.
• Nick Bright, radio and television presenter for BBC Radio 1Xtra & BBC Sport.
• Bernard Skinner, author of an epoch-making book on British moths.[3]

• Official website
• Old Josephinians website
• History (from Old Josephinians website)
• St Joseph's College 1855-2005
• croydon.gov.uk