Since its foundation, St Patrick’s Catholic College has been at the heart of our parish and local community. While our school has grown and changed over the years, our commitment to nurturing children in faith, family and future has remained steadfast. Inspired by the example of St Patrick and guided by Gospel values, generations of pupils have learned, prayed and flourished within our school community.

Our Foundation

As a Catholic faith community, Thornaby was first noted to have a chapel as early as 1868 and in 1871 a priest was appointed to the area. Father Carlile acquired a disused dance hall to say Mass and started the first school in two rooms of an old inn with 45 children attending for education. He built the first official school on Westbury Street in 1872 along with the Church. The Parish was named St Patrick’s due to the heritage of Irish travellers to this region and Father Gerard Shanahan served for 34 years taking the Parish and schools into the 20th century. St Patrick’s School was opened in 1930 and our current secondary school building was opened in 1964 with the former Westbury Street school remodelled to be a Junior School. We have been serving the people of Thornaby for 150 years and are very proud of our incredible legacy as a Catholic Community here in Thornaby.