Parade College welcomes female students for the first time in 154 years

One of Victoria’s oldest Catholic boys’ schools has welcomed female students at its Preston campus for the first time in 154 years, with a landmark program receiving rave reviews.

Scarlett, 16, Charlotte, 16 and Orlu, 16 are part of Parade College’s new VET program. Picture: Jason Edwards

A landmark program that invites female students to enrol into classes at one of Victoria’s oldest Catholic boys’ school has had a promising start, with it already receiving raving reviews in its first few weeks.

Parade College has welcomed nine full-time female students to its Preston campus for the first time this year as part of its VCE Vocational Major program, in addition to a number of part-time female students from other schools.

It’s the first time in 154 years the all-boys school has welcomed a female student to study at its school full-time, after opening in 1871.

The decision to have female pupils on campus coincided with the launch of a new Tertiary Pathways Program which allows both boys and girls to enrol in either a two-year Business Academy or Sport Academy program.

Orlu, Charlotte, and Scarlett are loving the program. Picture: Jason Edwards

Following successful completion of the program, students gain direct entry into a range of undergraduate courses within La Trobe University’s health sciences, humanities and business schools without an ATAR.

Parade College principal Mark Aiello said all students were “flourishing” both academically and socially in the first few weeks of the school term, with the feedback from both pupils and families being “overwhelmingly positive”.

“The male students in the classes have been respectful, inclusive and welcoming in the approach to having female students in the classes,” he said.

“We have witnessed the male students helping to create a safe and secure environment in which our female students can maximise their learning and potential, in a bespoke program that is tailored to suit their career interests.

“Both our female and male students are thriving in this environment.”

Charlotte, 16, is undertaking her VCE VM at Parade College this year after taking an interest in electrical and plumbing trades.

“I chose to study this course because the school provides amazing facilities, it takes me to the direction I want and I am able to keep up with all the work,” she said.

The trio encouraged others thinking of joining the program to go for it. Picture: Jason Edwards

Charlotte said she was nervous about attending the school at first after coming from an all-girls campus, but has since made “some good friends” and has settled in well.

“The advice I’d give to anyone starting any course at the Parade is to just go for it and believe in yourself, that’s what I really needed to hear before coming here and it changed my perspective on everything,” she said.

Meanwhile, Scarlett and Orlu, also 16, are part of Parade College’s Sport Academy in addition to studying the VCE VM curriculum.

Both girls encouraged anyone considering enrolling in the Edmund Rice Australia school’s program to “go for it”.

“My advice is even if you have no clue what you want to do after school, go for it because your mind could change and take you on a path you didn’t know was there,” Scarlett said.

Orlu added: “I was and still am unsure of what I want to do when I finish school, but I get to use this opportunity to help my decisions and the VCE VM course at Parade is an amazing opportunity that is not offered elsewhere.”

Mr Aiello said he hoped to see the VCE VM and academy programs further expand in the coming years to provide more students with alternative pathways to tertiary education, apprenticeships, and employment.

Originally published as Parade College welcomes female students for the first time in 154 years