Transgender student at Xavier College to stay at elite Melbourne boys’ school

A transgender student at one of Melbourne’s elite boys’ schools will remain a pupil after announcing her transitioning identity.

Xavier College in Kew is one of Melbourne’s top Catholic boys’ schools.

A transgender student will remain at one of Melbourne’s oldest Catholic boys’ colleges with the support of the school and religious leaders.

Xavier College principal William Doherty has written to parents telling them a year 12 student, who was assigned male at birth, is undergoing a “significant and courageous personal journey”.

“After an extensive period of personal discernment, specialist advice and counselling, we note that a year 12 student has today announced to the Xavier community her identity as female,” the letter said.

“We affirm her in her decision. We welcome the opportunity of companioning her through this challenging and emotional time in her life, through her remaining time at the College and into her life beyond Xavier.”

The students were notified by school leaders on Tuesday morning and the letter went out to parents on Tuesday afternoon.

The letter notes that “gender dysphoria and matters of human sexuality and gender identity and fluidity are complex and challenging topics, where aspects of science, gender, psychology, religion and faith overlap”. It was also signed by school rector Father Chris Middleton.

Xavier principal William Doherty wrote to parents telling them the year 12 student is undergoing a “significant and courageous personal journey”.

The letter acknowledged the topic “can elicit a range of opinions and thoughts” but noted that the college strived to “respect the dignity of each and every unique person”.

“We will continue to welcome, care for and educate our female student in all ways, as is our commitment to every Xaverian through their journey through the College to the fullness of life beyond,” it said.

It noted that it embraces inclusivity and diversity as a moral and legal responsibility.

Other single-sex schools have allowed students to take on another gender identity and remain at the college.

Canterbury Girls’ Secondary College, for instance, has had a number of students who identified as male. It is more common for those with a male gender identity to stay at a girls’ school than the other way around.

The Herald Sun has contacted Xavier College for comment but the principal declined to add to what was in the letter.

Xavier College is one of Melbourne’s oldest schools, founded in 1878 by the Society of Jesuits. Its enrolment policy notes that it is a Catholic Jesuit school for boys to year 12 and girls and boys from 3-year-old to year 4. The school’s website notes that from year five it offers a single-sex boys’ education “at a time of the greatest growth intellectually, socially, physically and spiritually”.

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