Xavier College to close Kostka Hall campus in Brighton
Families linked to Xavier College’s Brighton campus have voiced their sadness and anger over news it will be closing after 83 years. The private boys’ school has announced a “once-in-a-generation” facelift to its remaining campuses in Kew. SEE THE PLANS
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Xavier College’s decision to turn its back on Brighton has sparked an outpouring of sadness and some anger from families linked to Kostka Hall.
The Kew-based Catholic school announced late Thursday it would close the South Rd site at the end of 2021 and consolidate the 2000-strong school on its Barkers Rd and Studley Park Burke Hall sites.
The decision has also raised questions over the future of the enrolment of girls from kinder to Year 4.
Female students make up a small part of the enrolment.
A new junior school in Burke Hall will not launch until 2024 and the matter is likely to be addressed in the interim.
Dwindling enrolments at Kostka Hall were seen as a contributing factor but some critics say the school had stopped marketing itself and checked out of the bayside.
Of the nearly 2000 students enrolled at Xavier only 220 were at Kostka.
While the bottom end of Kostka has struggled as people have opted for Brighton Grammar and Haileybury, the Kew campuses have high enrolment demand. Insiders say as people become more secular they prefer not to enrol their children at Kostka, which requires a shift to Kew in Year 9.
However, Xavier expects that parents may send their children to local bayside Catholic schools and commence at Kew for Year 5 or 7.
The school has guaranteed any current or enrolled students at Kostka will have a place when they need it.
Current and past families took to the school’s social media accounts to voice their disquiet about the loss of Catholic schooling in the area and the closure of Kostka Hall, which has been in the school’s ownership since 1937.
Anne Holland said Kostka Hall was a wonderful educational and nurturing experience for her son, Damien.
“We made lifelong friends. Heartbreaking news. End of Bayside connection with Xavier College,” she wrote.
Mary Hennessy Storey said her family had been connected with the school for 64 years.
“Kostka was a nurturing unique environment in the bayside.
“My five brothers, my four sons and many nephews fostered wonderful friendships and memories here, as we did as parents, and for me, later as a three campus’ staff member,” she said.
Paul Whelan described it as a “very poor decision”.
“In my mind the board has become so Kew-focused that they have failed to see their failures. Competing schools like Haileybury are expanding locations (city campus, Darwin) while Xavier contracts. Bravo, create a lovely video with uplifting music. Very disappointed.”
Others complained the school has missed opportunities in growth corridors, which other schools had pursued.
Judy Reid said she was sad to hear the news.
“My Poynton uncles were among the first students at Kostka. My five Quin brothers went there, as did my two sons and many nephews,” she said.
A group of supporters of the retention launched a Save Kostka Hall Facebook page.
“After the devastating news than the iconic Kostka Hall will be closing it doors at the end of 2021, we must stand up and fight. Like this page if you don’t care about the ‘master plan’ but care about this incredible, tightknit community.”
The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and Catholic Education Melbourne commended Jesuit
Education Australia and the Xavier College board for its forward-looking approach in announcing significant building programs and changes to the college footprint.
“The college’s Building the Future initiative is a visionary development for Catholic education in Melbourne,” Archbishop Peter Comensoli said.
“The announcement will allow Xavier College to further develop its world-class facilities and
programs in a way that also looks to a more sustainable provision of the rich tradition of Jesuit education in the Archdiocese, and indeed Victoria, over the past 142 years.”
Catholic Education Melbourne executive director Jim Miles also welcomed the announcement.
“We recognise that this major change will also bring disappointment and challenge for many families as a result of the decision to cease learning activities at Xavier’s Kostka Hall, Brighton campus at the end of 2021,” he said.
“We are pleased that Xavier College has committed to working closely with the families affected by the news to support their transition to the Kew campuses, and we look forward to these students continuing their journey with Catholic education into the future.”
The closure of Kostka Hall, developed in 1937 after the Jesuits bought two Brighton properties, ends an 80-year association with the area.
The consolidation in Kew at its senior Barkers Road campus and Burke Hall, in Studley Park, will be accompanied by the largest capital works program undertaken in the school’s 142 years.
An initial budget of $35 million has been earmarked for the project.
The school says 85 per cent of the proceeds of the sale of Kostka Hall will go to capital works and bursaries for students who may not be able to afford to attend the school.
The Xavier College board, with the support of the Jesuit Education Australia and Australian Provincial, described it as a “once in a generation renewal”.
“This major change carries with it the very difficult, but necessary, decision to cease learning activities at Xavier’s Kostka Hall, Brighton campus at the end of 2021, and immediately commence an engagement process with Kostka Hall families and students to transition them to Kew,” the school said.
The school plans to build a state-of-the-art precinct for Year 7 and 8 students at its senior campus in Barkers Road, and refurbish and renovate existing classrooms and other sporting, musical, technological and co-curricular learning assets at the college’s Burke Hall and senior campus.
The Jesuit school offers boys’ only education from kindergarten to Year 8 at the Brighton campus.
The school has nearly 2000 students but the majority are located in Kew.
It currently offers kindergarten to Year 8 at Burke Hall, donated to the school by Archbishop Daniel Mannix.
Around 60 students from Year 9 to 12 board at its main campus.
While the building program is undertaken the Year 7 and Year 8 boys will be located at Burke Hall.
“The Board and the College Leadership fully appreciates the impact of this decision and has committed to work with Kostka Hall families to accompany them on this new journey,” the school said.
Board chair Tony Nunan said it was with sadness that they announced the close of Kostka Hall at the end of 2021.
“Previous boards have considered transitioning learning to our Kew campuses, however our recent XC150 review presented stark information about changing demographics and confirmed a decline in enrolments, which forced our hand with respect to the long-term viability of the Brighton campus,” he said.
“We will work closely with every Kostka Hall family to ensure no student is left behind, and that they are able to make a seamless transition to Kew or to other schools as required.”
Xavier College principal William Doherty it was an evolution in the life and rich history of Xavier.
“Over the coming 18 months we will support every Kostka Hall student, family and teacher as we transition to a new footprint for our Early Years-Year 8 students at Kew, and set to work building new facilities and infrastructure that will accommodate our new Junior and Senior Schools from 2024.”
Current principal Mr Doherty was appointed in 2018, having been deputy headmaster at St Kevin’s College, Toorak, since 2014.
The balance of the money of the Kostka Hall sale will go towards the aged care needs of Australian Jesuits and to Father General’s Fund for Charitable and Social Needs.