Catholic schools set back years 11 and 12 extension plans

Three large Southern Tasmanian Catholic schools have pushed back their plans to extend to years 11 and 12.

CATHOLIC schools in Greater Hobart have pushed back plans to extend to years 11 and 12. Picture: SUPPLIED

CATHOLIC schools in Greater Hobart have pushed back plans to extend to years 11 and 12 to ensure curriculum and infrastructure are ready for the first intake of students.

Three large Southern Tasmanian Catholic schools had planned to have senior secondary offerings in place by 2022.

But the timeline has been set back to 2023, following initial planning which showed the original “aspirational goal” was too ambitious.

The change of plans was sent via an internal communique to Catholic school and college principals on Friday by Catholic Education Tasmania.

It means St Aloysius Catholic College (Kingston), MacKillop Catholic College (Mornington) and St Virgil’s College (Austins Ferry Campus) will provide years 11 and 12 in 2023.

Guilford Young College’s Hobart and Glenorchy campuses will also continue to provide Years 11 and 12.

Catholic Archbishop of Hobart, the Most Reverend Julian Porteous. Picture: ARCHDIOCESE OF HOBART

In the communication sent to principals, Archbishop of Hobart Julian Porteous says the extra year is needed to allow for “detailed and comprehensive planning to undertake the necessary financial and facilities modelling to ensure the sustainability of our system into the future”.

“The development of contemporary facilities to deliver an approved curriculum will support these efforts.”

In an earlier communique disseminated in September this year, delivery of years 11 and 12 at St Virgil’s, MacKillop and St Aloysius Catholic Colleges was “likely [to] commence from 2022”.

“This is an aspirational goal guided by the educational implementation plan currently being developed by Catholic Education Tasmania.”

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In the latest communique, Archbishop Porteous says the timeline has been set back because of the need to carefully develop appropriate curriculum and facilities.

“I am mindful that we are setting up Catholic secondary education in the Greater Hobart region for the next 20 years,” he says.

He says the additional year of lead-in time also takes into account compliance measures with federal and state senior secondary registration requirements.

Catholic Education Tasmania has signed a conditional contract for the former Vodafone site at Huntingfield for the proposed extension to St Aloysius Catholic College.

ST VIRGIL’S COLLEGE IN YEAR 12 RETHINK

The plan to extend the Catholic Schools to years 11 and 12 follows a Greater Hobart Region Catholic Education Review Report from KPMG.

The Catholic education sector is following the lead of State Government schools, which commenced extending high schools in 2015.

A total of 43 state high schools have been extended so far, with five more due to extend to years 11 and 12 next year.

Schools beginning to extend next year include: New Town High School, Ogilvie High School, Kingston High School, Dover District High School and King Island District High School.

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