This year the Diocese has received unprecedented demand for Year 7 secondary school entry across our three Lower Hunter schools: All Saints’ College Maitland; St Bede’s Catholic College Chisholm; and St Joseph’s College Lochinvar.
This demand, combined with the already planned changes for All Saints’ College Maitland, has led to the Diocese adjusting the Enrolment Policy in the Lower Hunter region for 2024.
For 2024, the changes to the enrolment criteria for the Lower Hunter secondary schools will be per the following priority order:
- All students in Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle Catholic pathway schools
- All students with a sibling currently in the Catholic secondary school
- Catholic students from public schools with no siblings in the Catholic secondary school
- Students from other Catholic schools in the Diocese or State
The changes are a temporary measure to accommodate Year 7 enrolments in this region as best possible, with current Diocesan school students receiving priority at our secondary schools.
In some instances, this may result in students achieving a place at a Catholic secondary school based on their residential address rather than preferred school location.
With the excess demand for places, students will be placed on a waiting list for each secondary school on the basis of the above priority criteria.
The updated enrolment policy is for Year 7, 2024 in the Lower Hunter region only. A new Diocese-wide revised enrolment policy will be implemented for enrolments for 2025 onwards.
Lower Hunter Catholic secondary schools are currently working together based on the updated criteria to finalise letters of offer for Year 7 2024. These letters will be distributed by each secondary school soon.
FAQs
Why the change to the enrolment policy?
Applications for Year 7, 2024 enrolments across the Lower Hunter region far outweigh the available capacity at the school sites. The enrolment policy has been updated so our Catholic pathway school students receive priority at our Catholic secondary schools.
The updated enrolment policy is for Year 7, 2024 in the Lower Hunter region only. A new Diocese-wide revised enrolment policy will be implemented for enrolments for 2025 onwards.
Which schools are included in the Lower Hunter region?
Catholic Primary Schools
- ABERMAIN: Holy Spirit Infants School
- BRANXTON: Rosary Park Catholic School
- CESSNOCK: St Patrick's Primary School
- CHISHOLM: St Aloysius Catholic Primary School
- DUNGOG: St Joseph's Primary School
- EAST MAITLAND: St Joseph's Primary School
- KURRI KURRI: Holy Spirit Primary School
- LOCHINVAR: St Patrick's Primary School
- MAITLAND: St John the Baptist Primary School
- RUTHERFORD: St Paul's Primary School
- TARRO: Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School
Catholic Secondary Schools
- CHISHOLM: St Bede's Catholic College
- LOCHINVAR: St Joseph's College
- MAITLAND: All Saints' College
What if families haven’t applied for enrolment into Year 7, 2024 yet?
Applications for All Saints’ College Maitland, St Joseph’s Lochinvar and/ or St Bede’s Chisholm have closed. If families have special circumstances, please contact the school principal.
What if students are on the waiting list?
Some students will be placed on a waiting list. The waiting list will be worked through with each of the Catholic secondary schools collectively based on confirmation of the acceptance of the letters of offer for each school.
Who should families speak to if they have further concerns?
Families should speak to the relevant school principal in the first instance. If families feel they need to express further concern, they can register a complaint by accessing the ‘complaints’ section on each school website or by emailing the Diocesan Complaints Management Service on feedback@mn.catholic.org.au.