St. Bede's Grammar School opened on 12 June 1900, in Drewton Street, Bradford.

Dr. Arthur Hinsley, later Rector of the Venerable English College, Rome, Apostolic Delegate to Africa, and Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster (1935–1943).

The old Hall, home of the Rosse family, proved unsatisfactory as the number of pupils continued to grow and a new school was opened in 1939.

From 2008 the school had one federated governing body with St Joseph's Catholic College and Yorkshire Martyrs Catholic College and when Yorkshire Martyrs closed in 2010 the boys transferred to St Bede's.

St Bede's shared an associated sixth form with St. Joseph's Catholic College for many years.