A private boys’ school in Sydney and three Catholic primary schools in Melbourne will close at the end of the year, leaving some parents scrambling to find alternatives.
asserted
parents → close → alternatives
Sydney's Hartford College announced its closure last week, while Melbourne's St Philip's School in Blackburn North, Ss Peter and Paul's School in Doncaster East and St Pius X School in Heidelberg West revealed similar plans in early September.
asserted
School → announce → September
The decisions could affect up to 159 students, with 35 enrolled at the Sydney school and a further 124 across the three Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS).
uncertain
decisions → affect → Schools
The announcements left parents frustrated and devastated, with some claiming they were given little time to find alternative schools for their children.
asserted
they → leave → children
Petitions were launched at Hartford and Ss Peter and Paul’s in an effort to reverse or delay the closures.
asserted
Petitions → launch → closures
The Hartford campaign attracted more than 200 signatures, far exceeding the school’s enrolment of 35 students.
asserted
campaign → attract → students
'Children and teachers are about to lose a school they love, with only weeks' notice,' the Hartford petition states.
'
asserted
petition → lose → notice
For these children, Hartford can't simply be swapped for another school without consequence.
asserted
Hartford → swap → consequence
A private boys’ school in Sydney and three Catholic primary schools in Melbourne will close at the end of the year, leaving parents scrambling to find alternatives
The petition organiser said the short notice had placed a massive question mark over their children's education in 2027.
asserted
notice → close → 2027
'Parents were never given clear information about how serious things were, or any real chance to help fix them, before the decision to close was made,' he said.
'
asserted
he → give → them
The timing also leaves families in an impossible position as most schools have already filled their 2027 places.
asserted
schools → leave → places
Parents are being asked to make rushed, irreversible decisions about their children's education, siblings and friendships before every reasonable option has been tried.
asserted
option → ask → education
The parent-led petition at Ss Peter and Paul's School has also gained traction, racking up over 80 signatures.
asserted
petition → lead → signatures
'The recent announcement to close the school has left our community devastated,' they wrote.
asserted
they → close → community
'My kids have been attending [the school] and it breaks my heart to think that they might have to switch schools.
uncertain
they → attend → schools
'Having to find another school for them would uproot their lives and that's a decision no parent wants to face.
asserted
parent → have → lives
With the future of many students now uncertain, parents have been left frustrated and devastated by the announcements, with many complaining about the lack of notice received
The closures have sparked an emotional response from the community who voiced their disappointment.
asserted
who → leave → disappointment
'So sorry that this has happened to a great school,' one said.
asserted
one → happen → school
'I am so sad to hear what is happening, to do this half way in the first year is unbelievable,' a second said.
asserted
second → hear → year
Former St Pius X staff and students also shared similar sentiments about the school.
asserted
staff → share → school
When I taught there, it was a school of a thousand children and very committed staff and my time there was the joy of my life,' one said.
asserted
one → teach → life
Being there from the beginning, it shaped the person I am,' a second said.
asserted
second → shape → person
Despite backlash over the closures, MACS defended the moves, arguing changing demographics and falling student numbers had made the schools unsustainable.
asserted
schools → defend → moves
The organisation pointed to St Philip's School, which has just 33 students, as an example of the low enrolment numbers facing some schools.
asserted
which → point → schools
The decisions could affect up to 159 students, with 35 enrolled at the Sydney school and a further 124 across the three Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools
'
uncertain
decisions → affect → Schools
Demographic trends in Melbourne's eastern and southern suburbs continue to evolve,' a MACS spokesman told Daily Mail.
asserted
spokesman → continue → Mail
'Falling birth rates, changing population patterns and declining enrolments in some established communities have resulted in fewer-school-aged children in a number of areas.
asserted
rates → fall → areas
Following an extensive review and careful consideration of enrolment patterns, demographic trends and the long-term sustainability of local Catholic education provision, MACS has announced that St Philip's, Blackburn North, will cease operations at the conclusion of the 2026 school year.
asserted
Philip → follow → year
However, the spokesman said that it wasn't an easy decision.
asserted
it → say → ?
'MACS is committed to ensuring Catholic education remains strong, sustainable and responsive to the needs of communities across Melbourne,' he said.
asserted
he → commit → Melbourne
'Transition planning is already underway, with families being offered enrolment pathways to nearby MACS schools.
asserted
families → offer → schools
'Dedicated support is also being provided to students, families and staff throughout the transition process.
asserted
support → provide → process
These decisions are never made lightly, but reflect MACS' commitment to responsible stewardship, ensuring resources are directed where they can best support students, families and communities both now and into the future.'
Professor of Social Impact at UTS Business School Rachel Wilson (pictured) said the disruption would affect their academic performance and future opportunities
Hartford College has not publicly provided a detailed explanation for its closure less than four years after opening.
asserted
College → make → opening
However, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the school had failed to attract enough students.
asserted
school → report → students
School chair Peter Foley informed parents of the 'difficult decision to conclude operations' and assured them students would be offered places within the Sydney Catholic Schools network.
asserted
students → inform → network
'We recognise that you have entrusted your sons to Hartford College and the unique education in the Catholic liberal arts tradition …
asserted
you → recognise → tradition
This was not a decision reached quickly or lightly,' he said in a letter.
asserted
he → reach → letter
Daily Mail has approached Hartford College for comment.
asserted
Mail → approach → comment
Rachel Wilson, a professor of social impact at UTS Business School, said changing schools could disrupt students’ education and social development.
uncertain
changing → say → education
'Closures have significant impacts upon students’ academic outcomes and even long term post-school education and employment,' she told Daily Mail.
asserted
she → have → Mail
…and 12 more, not listed.
The Aporia
