St Paul’s R.C. School opened on the 10 September 1963 as a secondary modern school to serve the Mid Sussex area. Derek Grindley, the Headteacher and his 5 full time and 3 part time colleagues taught the 132 students on roll. The school changed its status to become a Catholic comprehensive school in 1973. Around the same time, the County boundaries were changed and Haywards Heath became a West Sussex town, having previously been in East Sussex.

Derek Grindley retired in 1986, replaced by John Flower as the new Headteacher. The Sixth Form which for years had been unofficial and threatened with closure, was finally recognised in 1987. With the continued growth in pupil numbers, it became clear of the need for some additional classrooms and specialist facilities. A successful bid was made to the DfES for funding of about £1.4 million in 1998. However, coinciding with this bid, was the possibility of St Paul’s being offered a green field site in Burgess Hill to rebuild the school.

In September 2004, St Paul's Catholic College (as it is now known) moved to the new site in Burgess Hill. Forty-two years since St Paul's first opened, there are now approximately 850 students on roll at our new site, with well over 70 teachers and 50 support staff, compared with just two in 1963.

Take a virtual tour of the new St Paul's building to see for yourself all of the wonderful facilities that we are offering to our students.

About Our Patron Saint

St Paul, the patron saint of our college, originally Saul was born a Jew in Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia (now modern day Turkey). Saul was born into a successful tent and cloak making family about the same time Jesus was born. He was a well educated Roman citizen, speaking Greek (his native language), Aramaic and Hebrew.

Saul belonged to a sect called ‘Pharisees.’ He hated and persecuted the followers of Jesus and was given authority by the High Priests of Jerusalem to arrest the so-called troublesome followers of Jesus. Saul, accompanied by several assistants, made their way to Damascus where they intended to persecute Jesus’ followers.

As Saul approached Damascus, he and his associates were suddenly enveloped in a bright light from heaven. All saw it and all fell to the ground, however Saul alone saw in the light a vision. It was Jesus himself. Jesus said to him, unheard by the others, "Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?"

"Who are you, sir?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Get up and go into the city, where you will be told what to do."

When Saul arose he found himself blind. Saul continued into Damascus where he lodged with a Jew named Judas. For three days, the blind man touched neither food nor drink. Then Jesus appeared to a Damascus Christian named Ananias and instructed him to go to Judas' house and heal Saul’s body and soul.

Ananias went to Judas’s house and told Saul he had been "sent by the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the way here, to help you recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Then he laid his hands on Saul, who at once recovered his sight, was baptized and having taken some food, recovered his strength.

After Saul’s conversion, God revealed everything to him. Saul changed his name to Paul whilst preaching in Cyprus, travelled to many places preached in the name of Jesus without fear, meeting any challenges head on. He spent more than 20 years of his life travelling the regions we now call Greece, Turkey and Israel. He was ridiculed, insulted and even imprisoned on several occasions but was eventually executed in Rome by being beheading at the command of Emperor Nero who outlawed Christianity and encouraged persecution of all Christians.