Xavier College announces part of Kostka Hall will close at end of 2020, sparking student exit
Xavier College will close part of its Brighton campus, Kostka Hall, earlier than anticipated, prompting many parents to pull their kids out of the school.
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Parents have started pulling children out of Xavier College as the school moves forward the partial closure of its Brighton campus to the end of 2020.
The elite institution had announced its junior campus, Kostka Hall, would close at the end of 2021, but a letter to affected parents from principal William Doherty said kinder to year 4 classes would now end at the conclusion of 2020.
The letter, sent last Friday, followed one-on-one conversations with all families with the early years which made it clear half do not intend to proceed with their enrolments at the campus for 2021 and a number will take places at other schools.
As a result, the school says the remaining students will be accommodated at the school’s Kew campus at Burke Hall. All students have been guaranteed a place at the school by year 5 or year 7 and their enrolments will be kept open.
“It is not viable, on education, socialisation or resourcing grounds to conduct an Early Years program in 2021 at Kostka Hall,” the letter says.
“Therefore, regrettably, Kindergarten to Year 4 classes will cease at the conclusion of this year.”
The letter notes there would be four year levels with four students or less in a class, which was “untenably small”.
Years five to eight will continue operating as normal at the campus until the end of 2021.
The letter notes that “we realise the difficulty this may cause you and other Early Years families”.
One family who contacted the Herald Sun said the school had a place for one son but not the other so were moving schools.
“Families have to apply for a place at Burke Hall and they will try to accommodate the students, other families are stranded with no school for their child for next year,” the parent said.
On August 11, Mr Doherty called for expressions of interest for parents to take up positions at Burke Hall. He said efforts would be made to accommodate families, but did not offer any guarantee.
Families upset by the closure of the kinder to Year 4 Kostka campus have been casting around bayside schools for alternatives.
The coed Firbank Grammar Sandringham campus has been inundated with requests since last Friday for early learning to Year 4 for boys and girls.
“The Sandringham Campus has already enrolled some families and is working to accommodate ongoing enquiries and even looking to put on additional classes to do this,” the school said.
The school is only offering virtual tours and families have enrolled without stepping foot on the campus.
Xavier’s top cleric has admitted to frustration at the closure of the elite school’s Brighton campus and the failure to find a way to keep it open.
In a frank letter to Old Xaverians, college rector Fr Chris Middleton lamented the decision to offload Kostka Hall, the boutique 80-year-old campus.
“Naturally enough, there will be a real sense of loss and grief around the decision, and even some confusion and anger,” he wrote.
“Personally, I must confess to a sense of frustration about the closure of Kostka, and our inability to find ways to keep it open.”
But Fr Middleton said the bayside campus had been under a cloud a number of times previously.
The school has been contacted for comment.
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