Catholic Education South Australia has completed the first phase of the Regional Schools Pathway Project. The project reviewed access to Catholic education pathways in areas where Reception to Year 7 schools currently exist in regional SA.
“This project is about providing choice of education for families in regional South Australia. We have been listening to communities who have expressed their strong desire for their children to remain within their familiar Catholic school communities as they prepare for senior secondary education. This has been sought for a long time in these communities and was particularly highlighted as families in South Australia prepare for Year 7s transitioning to secondary settings from 2022”, said Nichii Mardon, Director, Catholic Education Diocese of Port Pirie.
“It is about a renewed focus on Catholic education throughout regional South Australia and building an even stronger focus on student learning and quality teaching for all students”.
“The outcome of this extensive research and community consultation is the establishment of a new Catholic secondary college in the Riverland – the first new Catholic School in regional SA in 20 years – and four school expansions.”
The new secondary college for the Riverland region will be located in Renmark. Set to open in 2022, the college will cater for up to 360 students from Year 7 to 12 and provide a high quality Catholic secondary pathway for students currently attending the four Catholic primary schools in the Riverland and all families within the region seeking a Catholic secondary education for their children.
In addition to the new college, the South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools (SACCS) endorsed that the following regional schools expand to become Reception to Year 9 schools:
Each school will offer Year 7 and 8 from 2022 and Year 9 from 2023.
This will take the total number of Reception to Year 9 schools in regional SA to five including St Barbara’s Parish School in Roxby Downs which already offers a R to 9 education.
“This model enables schools to provide personalised learning and care for children aged 5 to 15”, said Nichii.
“Adolescence is a time of significant developmental change and students in Year 7 to 9 are ready for more independence and increased responsibility. They require personalised schooling, where academic and personal growth is nurtured in ways that are relevant to stages of development.
“This approach enables strong spiritual, learning and wellbeing support and a smooth transition to senior secondary years, through specialist teachers, tailored curriculum and custom-built facilities.
“Parents tell us they desire their children to stay at their school for Year 7 to 9 because of the overall focus on the kids, not just on the academic but on their wellbeing. They still have their friends and all the wonderful values continued into their secondary education”.
Each new school expansion will see dedicated multi-use facilities developed on the existing school sites during 2021.
From 2023, of the 19 regional Catholic schools throughout SA:
Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) has today announced plans to expand St Joseph’s School in Peterborough into a Reception to Year 9 school.
St Joseph’s will commence offering secondary education with Year 7 and 8 in 2022 and Year 9 from 2023.
