This momentous occasion was an opportunity to honour the school’s journey, shaped by its commitment to nurturing strong character, academic excellence, and compassionate leadership in its students.
The celebration was anchored by St. Justus Day, an annual tradition that highlights the school’s foundation and ongoing legacy. The event brought together students, staff, and special guests for a day filled with inspiration, recognition, and community spirit.
Two esteemed guest speakers shared their wisdom and experiences with the Bishop Justus community. Mrs. Kathy Griffiths, the founding headteacher and CEO of the Aquinas Trust, which the school is part of, delivered a moving reflection on the school’s early challenges and triumphs. She emphasised the virtues of perseverance and faith, inspiring students to embrace resilience as they strive for success.
The second speaker, Mr. Andy Wolfe, Executive Director of Education for the National Society for Education, encouraged students to celebrate their unique talents and make a positive impact on the world. His powerful message of embracing God-given gifts resonated deeply, reminding all present of the transformative power of self-belief and courage.
At the heart of Bishop Justus is its ethos of developing students with strong character, rooted in virtues of faith, hope, love, wisdom, courage, and kindness.
The event recognised the outstanding achievements of students across all year groups, with awards celebrating academic excellence, personal growth, and contributions to the school community. Highlights included the Aquinas Award for Commitment to the School and Wider Community, awarded to Joshua Mendoza and the Aquinas Award for Personal Endeavour, awarded to Daniel Nugent.
Each recipient exemplifies the school’s belief in the balance of rigorous academic skills and a compassionate, thoughtful approach to life. Students celebrated their peers’ success with genuine enthusiasm, underscoring the supportive and inclusive spirit of the Bishop Justus community.
Samantha Thompson, Headteacher at Bishop Justus CE School, said: “Celebrating 20 years of our school was a wonderful moment to look back on all the hard work and dedication that has gone into our school’s journey.
“Congratulations to all the award winners and a heartfelt thank you to all who made the event a resounding success. In particular, I want to thank our founding headteacher and CEO of our trust, Kathy Griffiths, for her tenacity in establishing the school and her continued support throughout the years.”
Kathy Griffiths, CEO of Aquinas CE Education Trust, said: “Having the opportunity to reflect on the 20 years of Bishop Justus School was a moment of personal and professional pride. It has been an honour to watch the school flourish over the past two decades, and I want to thank all those who have worked hard to create the wonderful school community over the years.
“As a trust, we will continue to support the school as it delivers life-transforming learning for young people in our community.”