The History of St Philomena’s Catholic Primary School
St Philomena’s Catholic Primary School has a rich history rooted in the development of Catholic education in St Mary Cray. Our story brings together the traditions of St Joseph’s Catholic School and St Philomena’s Convent School and reflects generations of service by religious sisters, clergy, staff, governors, families and the wider parish community.
c.1856 – The beginnings of Catholic education in St Mary Cray
A Catholic school was established at Lawrence’s Yard, St Mary Cray, by Dr Todd, formerly President of the Royal Irish Society and a respected writer on St Patrick and the early Irish Church.
Founded before the Education Act of 1870, this private Catholic school represents the earliest known roots of Catholic education in the area and the beginnings of what later became St Joseph’s Catholic School. Mass was also celebrated in the school.
1895 – St Joseph’s Catholic Church
Three cottages were purchased on the High Street, and in January a contract for £1,330 was agreed for the construction of a church next to the school. It was named St Joseph’s Catholic Church.
1934 – Arrival of the Sisters of Charity
The Sisters of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy, a religious community originating in Holland, came to St Mary Cray.
Marion Bailey’s family moved with them. Her parents supported the convent, with her father working as a handyman and maintenance manager and her mother assisting in the convent kitchen.
Marion later became one of the school’s longest-serving teachers, teaching for around 40 years.
1935 – St Philomena’s Convent School opens
St Philomena’s Convent School opened on the site of the present school.
It was a private Catholic school run and taught by the Sisters of Charity, who educated generations of children in the parish.
1936 – Expansion of St Joseph’s Catholic School
Sister Clare McHugh became Headmistress of St Joseph’s RC School. She began fundraising and expanding the school buildings before the outbreak of the Second World War.
1941 – Wartime bombing and temporary relocation
During the bombing of London and the South East, St Joseph’s school building and church were destroyed.
The pupils temporarily moved to St Philomena’s Convent Hall, where lessons continued and Mass was celebrated until new parish facilities became available.
1942 – Rowlands Manor becomes a school site
Rowlands Manor, formerly the home of the Heckstall-Smith family near Reynolds Cross, was made available to the parish.
It was used as a school site, particularly for older pupils.
1940s – Evacuation during the Second World War
As bombing intensified, many St Joseph’s children were evacuated to Porthmadog in Wales, where they were billeted with Catholic families until the end of the war.
Sister Clare and other nuns continued teaching pupils in temporary accommodation, including a prefabricated hall transferred from another diocesan school in Dartford.
1945 – Sister Veronica becomes Headmistress
Sister Veronica became Headmistress and continued the development of St Joseph’s, which remained an all-age school for children aged 5 to 14.
1949 – New Church Hall
The Church Hall, later known as the Frawley Centre, was completed, providing an important meeting place for parish and school life.
1958 – Temporary classrooms
The Diocese of Southwark rented huts from the London Borough of Bromley at Rectory Paddock, Main Road, St Paul’s Cray, for use as temporary classrooms.
1959 – New St Joseph’s Church
A new St Joseph’s Church was built to replace the original church destroyed during the war.
1960s – Changes to Catholic education
With the introduction of secondary schools in the London Borough of Bromley, St Joseph’s gradually became a primary school, with older pupils transferring to Catholic secondary schools.
1965 – New leadership
Sister Veronica retired. She was succeeded by Head Teachers George Parker and, later, Roger Gilchrist Kelly.
1970 – Veronica Shelley-Pearce becomes Headmistress
Veronica Shelley-Pearce (née McCullagh) became Headmistress.
At this time, St Joseph’s was housed in sixteen Nissen huts at Riverside, St Mary Cray.
1971 – St Philomena’s Convent School closes
After 36 years as a private Catholic school, St Philomena’s Convent School closed in July 1971.
1972 – The move to the present site
During the October half-term, St Joseph’s RC Primary School moved to the former grounds of St Philomena’s High School.
The school was renamed St Philomena’s Roman Catholic Primary School, bringing together the traditions and memories of both St Joseph’s and St Philomena’s.
c.1972 – Governance
Jim Lovell was appointed Chair of Governors.
1980 – The convent building closes
The old convent building was demolished. The Sisters of Charity moved to two houses in Southborough Lane, Petts Wood, where they continued their community life.
1998 – Change in governance
Jim Lovell stepped down as Chair of Governors, and Anne Greenidge was appointed Chair.
c.2000 – New leadership
Mary Riley succeeded Veronica Shelley-Pearce as Head Teacher.
2002 – Change in governance
Anne Greenidge stepped down as Chair of Governors, and Phillip O’Halloran was appointed Chair.
2006 – Formation of the Cray Valley Parish
Following consultation by the Archbishop with his bishops and priests, the parishes of St Mary Cray and St Peter and St Paul were brought together to create the Cray Valley Parish.
A new church, Our Lady of the Crays, was built to replace St Joseph’s. The tower of St Joseph’s was retained, preserving an important link with the parish’s history. Father Bill became Parish Priest.
2011 – Father Sharju becomes Parish Priest
Father Sharju became Parish Priest.
2012 – New leadership
Veronica Maher became Head Teacher following the retirement of Mary Riley.
2014 – Becoming an academy
On 1 October 2014, St Philomena’s Roman Catholic Primary School converted to academy status, becoming a single-academy trust.
The school’s official name became St Philomena’s Catholic Primary School, while continuing its Catholic identity and its relationship with the Archdiocese of Southwark.
2014 – Fr Cyriacus Okafor becomes Parish Priest
Fr Cyriacus Okafor joined Our Lady of the Crays, St Mary Cray, beginning his ministry with the parish and continuing the close relationship between the parish and St Philomena’s Catholic Primary School.
2016 – Change in governance
Mags Fairhall was appointed Chair of Governors, with Phillip O’Halloran becoming Vice-Chair.
2020 – COVID-19 pandemic and remote learning
During the COVID-19 pandemic, St Philomena’s moved to remote learning during periods of lockdown.
The school continued supporting its pupils and families throughout this challenging period, including providing on-site education for eligible children and introducing measures to enable the school community to return safely.
2022 – 50th anniversary
St Philomena’s celebrated 50 years since the school moved to its present site in 1972.
The anniversary marked five decades since the relocation of St Joseph’s RC Primary School and the creation of St Philomena’s RC Primary School on the site.
2025 – Joining the St Oscar Romero Catholic Academy Trust
Following direction from the Diocese of Southwark to join a Catholic Multi-Academy Trust, St Philomena’s became part of the St Oscar Romero Catholic Academy Trust.
2025 – Change in governance
Phillip O’Halloran was appointed Chair of Governors, with Mags Fairhall becoming Vice-Chair.
2026 – Completion of Governors’ terms
The Diocese concluded that Phillip O’Halloran and Mags Fairhall had reached the end of their terms as Governors, following many years of valued contribution to the school community.
2026 – New leadership
After many years of dedicated leadership, Veronica Maher retired as Head Teacher of St Philomena’s Catholic Primary School.
Stacey Anderson was appointed as the school’s new Head Teacher.
St Philomena’s today
Today, St Philomena’s Catholic Primary School continues a proud tradition of Catholic education in St Mary Cray stretching back more than 150 years.
The school carries forward the combined legacy of St Joseph’s and St Philomena’s, building on the dedication of the Sisters of Charity, clergy, teachers, governors, families and parishioners who have shaped its history.
Rooted in its Catholic faith and inspired by those who came before us, St Philomena’s continues to provide children with a strong foundation in faith, learning and community.
