A SCHOOL which has only had nine head teachers in over a century celebrated its 110th birthday today.

The Bishop of Brentwood, the Right Reverend Thomas McMahon, held a special mass to mark the occasion at St Joseph’s Catholic Junior School in Vicarage Road, Leyton.

Acting headteacher John Alexander, who has been at the school for 18 years, said it was opened in 1901 to cater for the area’s burgeoning Catholic community.

He added: “Faith schools are important and are still relevant today, whether it's Church of England, Muslim or Jewish, because they are the centre piece or the focal point of a community.

“This is a very diverse community and our children come from many different ethnic backgrounds and we teach them about other faiths.

“We do more than just provide education, we build their faith and help them prepare for life.”

The school and the church were in the same building when it was first built and St Joseph’s, now located at Grange Park Road, was the first Catholic place of worship in Leyton.

Mr Alexander said: “I love the school. I cannot see me working anywhere else.

“The reason why we have had so few headteachers is because it is a place where you want to stay, where the head is not just an active member of the school, but of the community too.

“It is a very caring and welcoming community for everyone.”

A special lunch was held after mass with the bishop, teachers, staff, children and parents.

In the run-up to the event, children learned about the school’s history, which included hearing that the school was hit by a bomb during the Second World War.

An old school registration and diary log, punishment books and newspaper cuttings were also put on display.