The college was founded by the Order of the Sisters of the Cross and Passion in 1908.[1] It was a direct grant grammar school until 1977 when it became a Voluntary Aided 13–19 Girls' School under the trusteeship of the
Diocese of Leeds, which owns the buildings and grounds, and appoints the majority of the Governors. In 1995 due to Bradford Catholic re-organisation the College became an 11–19 Catholic Girls' School.
The college's first headmistress from 1908–1916 was Mother Gonzaga.[1] From 1916–1956 the headmistress was Mother Sister Mary Immaculate (born ca. 1890 – died 1977), Yorkshire Women of the Century, educationalist, overseeing St Joseph’s to become one of the major Catholic girls' grammar schools in the country. The college's motto was "Per Crucem ad Lucem" – Through the Cross to the Light.
From 2008 the school had a federated governing body with St. Bede's Grammar School and Yorkshire Martyrs Catholic College. When Yorkshire Martyrs closed in 2010 the girls transferred to St Joseph's.
St Joseph's shared an associated sixth form with St. Bede's Grammar School for many years. In 2008 the sixth forms of St Bede's and St Joseph's joined with the sixth form of Yorkshire Martyrs Catholic College to form the Bradford Catholic Sixth Form. When Yorkshire Martyrs closed in 2010 the sixth form transferred to St Bede's and St Joseph's and in 2011 the Sixth Form was renamed St Benedict's Sixth Form.
