Independent Schools Guide 2024: Co-education sparks new era at St Aloysius College

After many years of careful planning and preparation, at the start of 2023, St Aloysius College welcomed its first intake of Year 7 boys.

This year, another group of boys joined the 137-year-old school. College Principal Mary Farah says the move to co-education reflects the values of a society centred upon equity and equality.

“There is so much energy around the school,” she says.

“When I walk through the years 7 and 8 corridors there is noise and vibrancy and we welcome that.

“Becoming co-educational has certainly brought about some dynamic shifts and, as we have always done, we adapt and differentiate our teaching methods to ensure they meet the learning styles of all students.

“There have also been wonderful opportunities for growth and greater insights into the ways resilience impacts learning.

“We’ve had enormous support and the feedback we have received from parents has been overwhelmingly positive.

“As we enter the second year as a co-educational school, we are committed to building upon these experiences to further enrich the educational journey for every student.”

In 2019, Mercy Education completed a two-year project with Catholic Education Melbourne to reimagine Catholic education in the inner-city suburbs of Melbourne.

The research found that a significant number of families who wanted their children to have a Catholic co-education were unable to access a suitable school in the city.

As a Mercy Education school, St Aloysius College was an ideal candidate to meet this demand and to serve the growing population of the North Melbourne area.

In 2028, the school will become fully co-educational.

Farah says having a clear vision and communicating it openly and honestly with students, families and staff enabled the move to a co-educational school to happen seamlessly.

Many staff had previously taught in co-educational schools and a two-year program of professional development and mentoring for teachers in the lead-up to the first intake of boys included information on effective classroom management strategies and sharing experiences with staff from other Mercy co-educational schools.

“The transition has emphasised our strengths as a school in providing a holistic education that is focused on learning, wellbeing, faith, social justice and creating a thriving co-curricular program and House system,” Farah says.

“The growing demand to become part of St Aloysius College speaks volumes to the education experience provided by the school to our community.”

To accommodate student numbers, in 2026, the school will introduce a new seven-storey, purpose-built VCE campus for years 11 and 12 students.

It will be located on the site of the current school gym and will include the latest science, STEM and visual arts facilities.

Up to 360 students and 30 staff will use the modern building, while the Curran Street site will provide more space for years 7 to 10.

A program of refurbishment has also been carried out during the past 12 months, with spaces being converted and created to provide a textiles classroom and a multipurpose space for presentations or drama and music performances. Facilities for staff have also been upgraded.

While St Aloysius College evolves and looks to the future, core elements of the school have remained unchanged since the first students stepped through the school gates in 1887.

“We remain integral to our identity, irrespective of changes in student composition,” Farah says. “Our Mercy education values are unwavering and our commitment to academic excellence and to nurturing well-rounded individuals remains.

“Our community spirit has been preserved and strengthened and we maintain our commitment for each student to belong. We will always provide a nurturing environment that fosters personal growth and learning, regardless of gender.”

St Aloysius College

31 Curran Street, North Melbourne, VIC 3051

aloysius.vic.edu.au

Enquiries: 9325 9200

enquiry@aloysius.vic.edu.au

Years: 7–12

Denomination: Catholic

Gender: Co-educational

Fees: $7600

Boarding: No

Scholarships: Yes