Enrolment Information
Why Catholic education?
Catholic schools offer a unique educational experience which forms the student as a person of integrity compassion, faith, and wisdom. Catholics schools work closely with their local parish to enhance in students a capacity to make sense of their world, to make judgements and to recognise the uniqueness of others within a faith community.
St Francis Xavier’s College has a supportive community of teachers, parents, carers, clergy, parishioners, and support staff who work together to focus on students, encouraging success, promoting discipline, supporting creativity, and instilling compassion. The College seeks to develop spirit, mind, body, and character and cultivate Gospel values that support lives filled with joy, endeavour and hope in the future.
Does my child need to be Catholic to attend St Francis Xavier's?
No. St Francis Xavier's College is open to all who want to share its educational goal, inspired by Christian principles. In accordance with enrolment vacancies, preference is given to students who are baptised Catholic and who live in the local parish, and then to children of Catholic families from other parishes who wish to enrol. However, schools are open to all who wish to be guided in their education by the principles and teachings of Christ.
All families and their children, Catholic or non-Catholic, are invited to have a Catholic education but must be willing to participate in the religious life of the school.
When is the enrolment period?
St Francis Xavier’s College accepts enrolments at any time of the school year; however, the official enrolment period begins in March for the year ahead.
What is the enrolment process?
Enrolment is obtained by requesting an enrolment pack or contacting the Registrar at the College. Documents required with submission of the enrolment application include:
- the completed enrolment form
- birth certificate
- proof of residence
- AIR Immunisation history statement
- any relevant medical records or health assessments
- passport if you are newly arrived in Australia
- current school report from student’s previous school.
Before an enrolment is finalised, there are several key events that are held to facilitate a smooth transition into St Francis Xavier’s College Hamilton:
- information evening for parents, guardians, and students
- transition Interview for parents, guardians, and students
- orientation day at the College (students only).
Positions are determined against the enrolment criteria, not the length of time on the waiting list.
Overseas students
A small number of places in schools in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle may be available to students on visas who share our Catholic faith and ethos. At the present time, no students with a visa subclass 500 are able to be enrolled into diocesan Catholic schools.
For more information, please see the Enrolment of Students on Visas Policy.
You can can contact the CSO regarding overseas students info@mn.catholic.edu.au
Enrolment Policy
St Francis Xavier's College follows the guidelines provided by the Catholic Schools Office Enrolment Policy. This Enrolment Policy has been devised to accommodate the needs of families seeking a Catholic education. It aims to set direction for school procedures and practices for enrolling students into Catholic primary and secondary schools within the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. This includes establishing a common, consistent approach in enrolment practices. It assists the system of Catholic schools to provide schooling, where possible, for all Catholic children who seek enrolment. It caters for the individual needs of each child equitably within the constraints of the available teaching and material resources and encourages parents enrolling their children in Catholic schools to give support to parish and school life, especially in education in faith.
Newcastle Catholic Secondary Schools
Over the next five years, the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is renewing its approach to secondary schooling in Newcastle to ensure it best supports the educational needs and outcomes for its students now, and as we look to the future.
The Trustees of the Diocese have made the decision to transition all secondary schools in Newcastle to Years 7 to 12. The transition will occur in a staged and planned way.
From 2024, Catholic secondary schools in Newcastle will be commencing a staged transition to Year 7 to Year 12 schools, this includes:
- San Clemente High School, Mayfield – with the inclusion of Years 11 and 12
- St Francis Xavier’s College, Hamilton – with the inclusion of Years 7, 8, 9 and 10
- St Pius X High School, Adamstown – with the inclusion of Years 11 and 12