A ‘wonderful sign of growth’ for Catholic schools in Tasmania

By Catherine Sheehan

The start of the 2023 school year was particularly significant for three Catholic colleges in Hobart, as two admitted Year 11 students for the first time, and one after more than 30 years.

MacKillop Catholic College, St Virgil’s College and St Aloysius Catholic College welcomed Year 11 students to the new academic year, with plans to accommodate Year 12 students from 2024.

Executive Director of Catholic Education Tasmania (CET), Dr Gerard Gaskin, said the school extensions were “a wonderful sign of growth” and “of continuing parent commitment to senior Catholic education”.

CET launched its Greater Hobart Catholic Extension Project in 2020, with the aim of extending the three schools to include Year 11 and 12 students from 2023.

 “An unexpected consequence of this project is that the total number of students staying in Catholic education after Year Ten has increased across the board in Hobart by about 100 additional students,” Dr Gaskin said.

The college Principals were equally excited about what the extensions meant for their school communities.

“As the only catholic co-educational college on Hobart’s eastern shore, 2023 will be a milestone year for MacKillop Catholic College,” Principal of MacKillop College, Stephen Hill said.

“The excitement of the introduction of Year 11 has brought many changes to the College. New and refurbished facilities, a wider range of curriculum offerings, greater program support for students and many new staff. A new student leadership structure has been developed and the College’s Year 11 students will have access to a senior student’s café.”

Jon Franzin, Principal of St Virgil’s College, said, “St Virgil’s College is excited to be offering Year 11 in 2023 after more than 30 years.”

“With the construction of the new Senior School and the introduction of a broad range of curriculum offerings, our young men will have access to contemporary teaching and learning programs and facilities as well as co-curricular, wellbeing and leadership opportunities.”

Principal of St Aloysius College, Craig Deayton, said the extension of the school was a significant development for Catholic education in Tasmania.

“The extension of St Aloysius College to Years 11 and 12 in 2023 and 2024 will mark a major improvement in provision and service to the Catholic education community and to the southern region of Hobart,” Mr Deayton said.

“With this change, St Aloysius becomes Tasmania’s only K-12 Catholic co-educational College and, as it builds to its full enrolment capacity in the years ahead, one of Tasmania’s largest schools.

“More importantly, St Aloysius continues to build on its reputation for educational excellence and with the addition of the new senior school at Huntingfield, will welcome senior students into outstanding facilities.”

Dr Gaskin, said initial concerns about the school extensions negatively impacting enrolments at other Catholic colleges offering Years 11 and 12 had proved unfounded.

“I am delighted to say that none of these dire predictions came into reality,” Dr Gaskin said. “We are now able to offer Year 11 and 12 education in five Catholic colleges in Hobart.

The enthusiasm was shared by Year 11 students at MacKillop College.

“Firstly, I am excited to be continuing on at the same school with my mates, and have the familiar faces of the teachers and the school environment,” Zane Bennis said. “I am also really excited to have the smaller classes which will be a great learning opportunity and have more intensive teaching.”

Another Year 11 student, Dean Griffiths, also said he appreciated being able to remain at the school.

“I chose to stay because I know all of the teachers, and they know me,” he said. “It will be great to be able to set the standard for the rest of the school as well, and to be able to create history.”

Dr Gaskin said the three schools were growing, as were all colleges in Hobart that offer senior education.

“The mission of Catholic education is to bring Christ to our students, to bring our students to Christ and, in doing so, to bring Christ to the world. The opportunity to expose increasing numbers of our senior secondary students to this mission is truly a grace.”