History
Our story began in 1912 when the Dominican sisters, who had a convent in Stroud, were asked to provide education for a young girl who could not be accommodated in the parish school. Through the inspiring courage of the Sisters, this event led them to found St Rose’s, one of the very first special schools in the country. With money they borrowed, they bought and extensively renovated Badbrook House, near the convent, at the corner of Merrywalks. Through dedicated work they created a place ready to nurture and provide specialist and individual education and residential care for children and young people. Their mission was to provide education for children with disabilities, as well as encouraging the children to develop strong moral values and have the self-belief to become valued members of society.
The school quickly became known for its caring and supportive atmosphere. Over the years, St Rose’s grew in size and reputation. It moved to a larger building to accommodate more students and to offer a wider range of activities, including sports and music. This growth helped St Rose’s become a well-respected school in the area, providing a multidisciplinary approach to education for children with complex needs.
From early on students were encouraged to think about others. In 1915 they entertained wounded and recovering soldiers from the First World War who were in hospital in Stroud.
Encouraging independence of students has always been important as noted as far back as 1923 when a Board of Education report said, ‘plenty of scope has been given to develop the children’s self-reliance.’
The school continued to grow and flourish and admitted girls from all parts of the country, providing residential support for those who needed it. The first child came from Southport and the second and third from Birmingham. The first male student was admitted on November 4th 1969 followed by another in early January 1970.
The social life of students and involvement in the local community runs through St Rose’s history, illustrated by a talk given in 1969: ‘Out of school activities include swimming, riding and Guides. There is plenty of space outdoors. Weekends are relaxed and children choose their own activities.’
In 1973 children took part in a sponsored silence to raise money for Mother Teresa. News of this reached her, and she visited St Rose’s later that year.
This is no different today, our students support many local, national and international projects which helps them to develop their understanding of the wider world.
Growth and development has been a continuous part of St Rose’s history. Many buildings have been bought and adapted, and purpose built. The specialist and individual care for students and their families has developed to meet twenty-first century needs, retaining the ethos and happy, family atmosphere created from its inspiring beginnings. A more recent example of this was the setting up of St Martin’s College in 2010 when permission was granted by the Department for Education to provide further education for students with disabilities.