1942 - 2022

ST PETER’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE

Part of the Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust ST PETER’S 1942 - 2022

THE ST PETER’S STORY The doors of our iconic building on Normanby Road in South Bank first opened on 19 January 1942. Within these corridors and classrooms, thousands of pupils have pursued a journey of “one faith, one family and one future”, leading us all to this landmark celebration. St Peter’s actually began teaching local children in January 1882, and so in many ways we are celebrating 140 years of Catholic education. Throughout the decades, it has been our privilege to serve the parishes of St Peter’s, St Mary’s, St Andrew’s, St Gabriel’s, St Alphonsus, Corpus Christi and the surrounding areas. Our families have forged friendships that have continued through the generations as our school has secured a treasured status at the heart of the community. Each child who has come into our classrooms and sat at our desks has gone on into the world enriched by the experiences they have gained here. Today, our pupils walk in the footsteps of the generations who came before them.

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We are immensely proud of every young man and woman whose lives this school has helped to shape. You will have your own recollections of your experiences here and you will also find photographs of people you have known and the teachers who have inspired you. We have survived being bombed during World War 2, as well as several threatened closures, most recently just in 2010. Now, after significant investment, we look forward with confidence towards a bright future. The building has remained solid over the years and has changed very little on the outside. As you journey through the inside, we hope you will be impressed by the transformation we have made for our next generation. If you are a member of the St Peter’s family past, welcome back. For the present and future members of our school family, you are and always will be very welcome here at St Peter’s.

1942

St Peter’s opens to pupils on 19 January, in the middle of World War 2. On 5 June 1942, a German delayed action bomb falls into Classroom 3, destroying a significant part of the school’s north wing.

1960s

Mr Skillen retires and the eras of Mr McNulty and Mr Conlon’s leadership begins. St Anne’s School for girls is built on the southern area of the site, with St Peter’s educating the boys.

1980s

Mr Conlon retires and Mr Roe becomes headteacher. The school acquires its first computer. The former St Anne’s building is demolished and the original building developed.

2000s

Mr Salverson Saur becomes headteacher. The fantastic Millennium Mural is commissioned in the small hall (the former gym).

2020s

Mr Skerry becomes interim headteacher. Mrs Garthwaite is named as head of school, with Mr Burns as executive headteacher. Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust funds extensive capital works to secure St Peter’s as a school for the future.

1950s

After briefly being named Eston RC County Modern in the late 1940s, the school reverts to the name St Peter’s.

1970s

The two schools amalgamate back to St Peter’s. Both buildings are fully utilised and developed and the sports hall is built.

1990s

Extensive development of the building, including new windows. The uniform and ties change to blue. Mr Cornally becomes headteacher.

2010s

Mrs Hanrahan becomes the first female headteacher. The school tie and badge is changed to purple.

The school becomes part of St Oswald’s Catholic Academy Trust and Mrs Hammond becomes headteacher.

St Peter’s faces closure, with a public outcry seeming set to fail. A lastminute reprieve is only granted due to a change in government.

St Peter’s then joins Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust, providing much needed financial security.

2022

St Peter’s celebrates its 80th anniversary. ST PETER’S 1942 - 2022

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1940s Photo of the library from St Peter’s publicity brochure

The assembly hall - now the chapel, Herlingshaw Suite & art room

The gym - now the small hall Babes In The Wood - a theatrical production from 1948

St Peter’s gym team - athletics was an important part of school life

Mr Skillen with a leaving class of 1949/50

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The woodwork room from the original St Peter’s publicity brochure

1950s Mr Peter Fizgibbon’s form class

Mr Joe Mullen with pupils in the dining hall

One of St Peter’s 1950s football teams

A 1950s class photo

The Upper Room - one of Mr Skillen’s favourite theatrical productions

A leavers class from the late 1950s

Festival Of Britain Concert

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1960s The South Building Hall - a late 1960s photo of pupils in the hall

A school trip from the 1960s HMS Pinafore - Gilbert & Sullivan performance from the early 1960s

Mr Barry and Mr Skillen with Mr Barry’s tutor group, early 1960s

HMS Pinafore - a rare colour photo from Mr Frank Barry

Mr Skillen’s last staff photo, early 1960s

HMS Pinafore full cast photo

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1970s Class photo from the late 1970s

Year 11 (Fifth Year) pupils from the late 1970s

Mr Kevin Drury and pupils on Sports Day

Mr Ted Atkinson’s famous staff pantomime

Pupils from the late 1970s

One of St Peter’s 1970s football teams

1970s pupils in the playground

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1980s Netball team from the late 1980s

Class photo from the early 1980s Leavers photo for the class of 1985

Mr Tony Robinson with a penalty winning football team

Mr Healy, Mr Hardwick and Mr Sawden

Year group photo from 1980 featuring a guest appearance from a local dog

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Mr Conlon and Mr Dixon with a winning football team

1990s Mr Tony Clark and pupils - Mr Clark taught RE for many years

Mr Brian Arnold and pupils - Mr Arnold taught Geography

St Peter’s Badminton Team from the 1990s

One of the St Peter’s netball teams from the 1990s

A 1990s football team

Mark Nevison showing his cookery talents

Older pupils with Mr Drury, Mrs Appleton, Mr Lawson and Mr Preddy

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2000s A school concert from the 2000s

Another photo from the school concert Floats being prepared outside St Peter’s Church on carnival day

Pupils’ university visit Pupils parading through South Bank on the carnival float

Pupils from the Lourdes Pilgrimage

Another photo from Lourdes

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2010s The launch of the Change Our Game campaign

Pupils demonstrating our new drum kit

Friendships from the 2010s

Visit from the famous paralympic champion Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson

Pupils singing for local care home residents

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Present Day The innovative Virtual Reality suite, installed in 2021

Head of School Mrs Garthwaite meeting with pupils

PE and sport continue to be a big part of school life, with ever improving facilities

St Peter’s pupils in the school gardens

The St Peter’s leadership team of 2022 (L-R), Hugh Hegarty, NPCAT CEO; Angela White, NPCAT Senior Standards Officer; Michael Burns, Executive Headteacher; Stephanie Garthwaite, Head of School

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Pupils gather for assembly with Mrs Garthwaite

Brand new changing facilities, built 2021

The Future

​​ much can happen in a week – but 80 years! How So our world has changed since this school began its great work! Grandparents and great-grandparents of the present generation of students must have to pinch themselves looking back. Still St Peter’s continues to prepare students for the future, a future just as uncertain as it always has been. And for that future we need faith; faith in each other, faith in our world; but most importantly, faith in Christ Jesus who has the future in his hands. May St Peter’s Catholic College, all the pupils and staff, all the families associated with it, all walk together into that future guided by the Light of Christ and the example of our patron, St Peter, the Rock of Faith. In blessed hope,

On behalf of the NPCAT Board of Directors I wish to congratulate St Peter’s on the occasion of their 80th anniversary. To have served the Catholic community of South Bank for eight decades is an achievement to be rightly proud of. I have been involved with the school over the last four years and it is heartening to see the tangible progress that has been made. Students, parents and staff have worked together to ensure that St Peter’s delivers quality Catholic education and for that we offer our thanks. Looking ahead, I am certain that even greater success will be achieved.

THE BISHOP OF MIDDLESBROUGH, RIGHT REVEREND TERENCE PATRICK DRAINEY

NPCAT CHAIR OF THE BOARD, JOE HUGHES

The Catholic community is rightly delighted to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the opening of St Peter’s Catholic College. The vision and tenacity associated with the decision to build our school is still evident today as we strive relentlessly for the very best for our pupils. Under our stewardship we are determined to acknowledge our past and prepare for the future through the delivery of the highest quality of Catholic education through the second quarter of the 21st century.

St Peter’s rightly emulates its patron saint and stands as the ‘rock’ within its community. Built on firm foundations, inspired by St Peter, it rightly is a source of pride for the community. Reputations have to be earned in South Bank and St Peter’s has earned a reputation of putting pupils and their families at the heart of all they do. Generations of families have attended St Peter’s, and after recent significant investment, generations of future families will continue to choose our school and receive the quality Catholic education they deserve.

NPCAT CEO, HUGH HEGARTY

CHAIR OF LGB, MARK RYAN

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The Future

St Peter’s Catholic College is the centre of its community - the staff, pupils and parents come together to live out our mission. ‘One faith’, Christ at the centre of everything we do. St Peter’s is inclusive and we welcome everyone into our ‘one family’. We use our school, our trust, and its many layers to prepare our pupils to face ‘one future’ together, to improve their life chances. EXECUTIVE HEADTEACHER, MICHAEL BURNS Congratulations to everyone at St Peter’s as you celebrate 80 years of education. Good wishes for the future. PARISH PRIEST, FATHER MICHAEL SELLARS

St Peter’s has a long and proud tradition of serving the parishes and the community of South Bank, Middlesbrough. Our mission of ‘one faith, one family, one future’ ensures we put Christ at the heart of all our actions and we are dedicated to the values of our Catholic faith. As part of the Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust, we are called to serve our young people, families and parishes to help build young learners ready to construct their own successful futures. We take great pride in the outstanding progression record for all of our pupils that graduate from their secondary education at St Peter’s to continue in further education, training or employment. We regularly welcome alumni, from iconic institutions including Oxbridge and Westminster, as they seek to inspire the next generation of St Peter’s pupils to strive to achieve the highest aspirations. HEAD OF SCHOOL, STEPHANIE GARTHWAITE

“You are the Christ, the Son of God,” St Peter said to Jesus. Jesus called him “blessed” (happy) for knowing this. St Peter’s school is, for me, tasked with helping pupils discover for themselves how to find genuine happiness, and how they themselves can be a blessing to the world. PARISH PRIEST, CANON JOHN LUMLEY

Our faith is embroidered in the fabric of our school; it’s part of everything we do. Our Catholic values help guide us, highlight the qualities we should possess and the way we should treat all members of our family and community now and in our future.

Catholic teachings are at the heart of everything we do and being part of the St Peter’s family means that we know we have people to turn to for support, not just as pupils of St Peter’s but if we ever need anything in the future. It fills us with pride as we see the fantastic successes that St Peter’s alumni have achieved and we can’t wait to walk our own paths to bright futures.

MEGAN DONAGHY-MARSHALL, HEAD GIRL

AMAAN ROHMAN, HEAD BOY

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ST PETER'S CATHOLIC COLLEGE PROUD TO BE PART OF THE NICHOLAS POSTGATE CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST

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" S T P E T E R ' S C A T H O L I C C O L L ESTGPETER’S E : 1942 - 2022 UNLOCKING STUDENT POTENTIAL SINCE 1941

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ST PETER’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE

S T P ET ER ’ S C AT HO LI C C O LLEG E Normanby Road, South Bank, Middlesbrough, TS6 6SP

stpeters.npcat.org.uk 01642 453462 | [email protected]

Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust, Postgate House, Saltersgill Avenue, Middlesbrough, TS4 3JP 01642 529200 | npcat.org.uk |[email protected]

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CEO: Hugh Hegarty S T P E T E R ’S CATH OLIC COLLE GE