Who can Enrol?

Historically, Catholic schools existed predominantly to educate children from Catholic families. In more recent years though, Church documents including ‘The Catholic School on the Threshold of the Third Millennium’ (1998) have advocated a more inclusive approach to Catholic education, specifically, a more welcoming attitude toward those with special educational needs, those who are socio-economically disadvantaged, those from First Nations or multicultural backgrounds and those who have faiths backgrounds other than Catholic. This growing ecumenical and inclusive outlook means that today’s Catholic schools welcome students of all backgrounds and abilities and this is reflected in our enrolment policies and practices.

Contemporary Catholic schools welcome all who genuinely seek to be part of the life of the school and wish to share in a vibrant, well-resourced learning environment, based on Catholic Christian faith and values.

In Far North Queensland, around one-third of all students are educated in a Catholic school. Half of those are Catholic and three- quarters are of a Christian religion. Some are from other faith backgrounds and others don’t identify with any religion.

Research shows that families choosing Catholic schools place importance on the broad range of values we espouse – social and emotional development, values framework, safety and respectful relationships, partnerships, and a sense of belonging. Parents and guardians choose to entrust their children’s future to Catholic schools because of their values, explicit goals and acknowledged educational quality.

Enrolment policy strives to ensure schools engage in the essence of what it is to be Catholic, whilst, at the same time, are inclusive in nature and develop an evangelising role in addition to the catechetical role they have traditionally played as educators of Catholic children.

Consideration in enrolment priority is given, in order, to:

1. Siblings of existing students and former graduates of the school community.
2. Students in Catholic primary schools wishing to transition to Catholic secondary colleges. Preference to students transitioning from Catholic primary schools will be provided in the following order:
   • Catholics who participate regularly in the celebration of the Eucharist
   • Catholics
   • Non-Catholics
   • *Similar consideration will be given to Catholic students transitioning from rural and remote areas not serviced by a Catholic school.
3. Catholics who participate regularly in the celebration of the Eucharist;
4. Catholics who commit to the values of the Catholic Church;
5. Participating members of other faith traditions who commit to the values of the Catholic church.
6. Students who have parents/carers/grandparents who are alumni of the school.
7. Those persons not affiliated with any faith tradition, who commit to the values of the Catholic Church.

While at all times having regard for:

• Encouraging the engagement of First Nations families in the life of the school
• Ensuring Catholic school options are available for students with disability
• Ensuring families in genuine financial hardship are not denied access to a Catholic Education
• Opportunities for inter-faith understanding and dialogue within school communities;
• Having some flexibility for new enrolments during the course of the year (for example for new families moving into a school’s catchment area).

(Note: none of the categories for consideration in the above lists should be seen as mutually exclusive. It is highly likely that many applicants for enrolment will satisfy a number of criteria.)

Boarding:  Given the unique nature of the boarding environment, the allocation of boarding places will prioritise applicants who demonstrate ‘readiness for boarding.’ The Principal or their delegate retains the discretion to determine whether an applicant is reasonably expected to meet the demands of boarding and school life, including attendance, behaviour, and independence requirements.

Enrolment policy is set against a background where many of our schools and colleges have waiting lists as a result of high demand for limited places. While every effort is made to accommodate enrolments that fulfil the policy criteria, there will be occasions where students who otherwise meet the criteria for enrolment may not be offered a place. This outcome is regretted but will continue to be a factor in determining enrolments until additional capacity can be achieved.

Our schools have a strong commitment to providing for the needs of all students in an inclusive, life-giving and supportive school community environment.

Further information is contained in the enrolment policy below.