The Right Reverend Bishop Bosco MacDonald, Bishop of Clifton, visited St Joseph’s Catholic College this week to bless the St Aquinas Centre.
The Bishop's guard of honour
Mayor of Swindon Cllr Imtiyaz Shaikh also attended the ceremony, together with other invited guests.
The St Aquinas Centre is the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Unit within St Joseph’s, providing 60 places for students with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) based on their particular needs.
September 2024 marked the start of the first year that the centre was full, with 12 students in each year group. During his visit, the Bishop explained to students that Saint Aquinas, the patron saint of scholars, had overcome a number of challenges in his early life and education, finally becoming a renowned philosopher and theologian.
As well as performing the main liturgy of the Blessing, the Bishop also blessed each classroom, talking to each year group in turn as he did so.
Jerry Giles, Principal of St Joseph’s, said: “This was a fantastic occasion for all our students in the St Aquinas Centre – one they may well remember for the rest of their lives.
“We are really proud of the work that goes on in the St Aquinas Centre, and I know our students were thrilled to have their area blessed this week, were thrilled to meet the Right Reverend Bishop MacDonald, and were also thrilled to see their Mayor attending the event.”
As the Bishop left St Joseph’s, 150 students formed a Guard of Honour for him, so he took the time to ‘high five’ each and every one of the them as he passed through.
Cllr Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “St Joseph’s has done an amazing job with the Aquinas Centre, which supports the College’s Vision of providing a fully inclusive learning environment.
"It was wonderful that Bishop Bosco could witness at first hand the excellent SEND provision within the College.
“As a council we are committed to providing additional SEND places within our schools and have plans to expand our provision by providing an extra 158 places. We are working with multi-academy trusts and maintained schools to confirm which schools will be involved in the latest programme of work.
“St Joseph’s is a shining example of how this kind of provision can work in practice and I am sure, with the Bishop’s blessing, it will go from strength to strength.”
Places at the St Aquinas Centre are secured via the SEND Team at Swindon Borough Council. If parents are interested in the facility for their child, the school will be more than happy to show parents around and answer any questions they may have.
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