City primary school’s upgrades signal ‘seismic shift’ for Catholic schools

A Toowoomba primary school is preparing to debut a series of changes made to their facilities, saying the changes would be monumental for schools everywhere.

St Thomas More's Primary School's new building and facilities will be officially opened and blessed by the Reverend Bishop Robert McGuckin, Bishop of Toowoomba as the school also celebrates its 60th anniversary.

A “seismic” shift is on the way for Catholic schools, according to Catholic Schools executive director Pat Coghlan, spearheaded by the opening of new facilities at St Thomas More’s Primary School in Toowoomba.

The facilities will be officially opened this week as the school celebrates its 60th anniversary.

Dr Coghlan said Catholic schools were not being operated in the way they used to be, but that was a positive thing.

He said the revamps at St Thomas More’s epitomised those changes.

“Firstly, Catholic schools are open to all families seeking a faith-based education for their children, not exclusively to Catholic families as has been the case in the past,” he said.

“Many parents now realise it is the ideal foundation for life in a fast-paced, rapidly changing and unpredictable world.

“This openness to all is further enhanced by our affordable fees making Catholic education available and accessible to all families.

“The second significant change is academic performance.

“Toowoomba Catholic schools are some of the highest performing schools in the country when compared to like schools.”

As part of the revamp, St Thomas More’s recently added a new two storey building with four new general learning areas and amenities including an elevator.

A covered walkway connecting the new building to existing buildings completed the extensions.

The classrooms are set up to be shared learning spaces, with the internal “walls” able to be folded back between the rooms when required to create a large indoor workspace.

There is also a generous outside area in front of the classrooms which is used for extra learning space when needed and a covered eating area for the older students.

The new facilities will be opened officially on June 24.