Walk Your Own Path at St Catherine’s, The Country News

For Charlotte Rowe, from Hamilton, Victoria, what surprised her the most about boarding at St Catherine’s Girls’ School in inner-city Melbourne was the sense of freedom and space she experienced.  

“One thing I wasn’t expecting was the sense of freedom, which is a tribute to the size of the school’s boarding house, which is smaller than most boarding schools. This was important to me, having enjoyed space growing up on a farm; I came to realise that the city is just a different kind of space from which I could explore,” shares Charlotte. 

Commencing boarding in Year 8, Charlotte felt a sense of uncertainty when first considering boarding away from her family, “It would have been very easy to follow in the footsteps of my two older siblings as they navigated their way through my old high school. This made the prospect of being a ‘new’ student very daunting, not to mention the realisation of taking a new path, different to my siblings.” 

“However, I soon realised that it is completely normal to feel uncomfortable and unsettled at times, but you shouldn’t let that shroud the positive aspects of a new opportunity, such as meeting inspiring people and gaining new experiences.” 

Charlotte graduated from St Catherine’s School in 2023 after enjoying her final year in the Boarding House as Boarding Captain. Reflecting on her life at St Catherine’s, Charlotte believes one of the greatest benefits of boarding was the unexpected and diverse opportunities living on campus provided. 

“Being so close to school means you can get involved in the co-curricular programs that may require outside school hours commitments. I participated in sport every term, so boarding made my life easier, not having to compete with early morning traffic, instead only on the hockey pitch! It also encouraged me to explore niche areas of interest including music, performing arts, debating, and public speaking, and the wide range of student-led clubs that are available.” 

After five years of boarding, Charlotte offers the following advice to any regional students considering boarding, “If you have a slight inkling of curiosity towards boarding, then don’t be afraid to explore it. Boarding is unique. I wrote countless pros and cons lists to help me decide, and the pros outweighed the cons. I was in no doubt daunted by the idea at first, but I knew I needed to push myself, and I’m glad that I did.” 

She Who Dares Achieves 

Along with the independence provided through its boarding program, St Catherine’s has also adapted its educational model to hand greater responsibility to students for their learning, which has seen the School continually rank as one of the top performing girls’ schools in Australia. 

In 2023, the School’s Year 12 Cohort achieved outstanding academic results across a broad range of subjects. The Median ATAR for the School was an exemplary 93.40; the highest Median ATAR on the School’s records. The Median Study Score of 36 was also impressive, noting 29% of all Study Scores were above 40, placing the School, once again, among the best in the State. Twelve students also received an ATAR above 99, placing them in the top 1% of the state. 

These outstanding VCE results are a testament to the dedication, passion, and expertise of the School’s teaching staff, particularly its VCE teachers. Through the implementation of the School’s Strategic Plan, Towards 2025, St Catherine’s has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to cultivating the ‘thinking classroom.’ 

The School has established several new academic and wellbeing programs in recognition of the importance of student wellbeing for academic success. One such Program is the School’s innovative Senior Years Learning Model for Years 10 to 12, which empowers students in their learning through a hybrid learning model involving face-to-face classes as well as the online delivery of Masterclass lectures and tutorials.    

She Who Dares Competes 

The School’s outstanding academic reputation is complemented by an impressive record of accomplishments in sport. In 2023, the School achieved its most successful year in its 22-year history of Girls Sport Victoria Weekly Sport. The School achieved a record 15 teams progressing to the finals and five premierships won across a range of competitive sports.  

The School also once again achieved state and national podium success in both Rowing and Snowsports, with the School’s Senior Coxed Eight the third-best rowing crew in Australia, and both the junior and senior Snowsports Teams placing second in the Victorian Championships.  

In 2023, the School also had more than 20 students compete in State or National level competitions in a range of sports from Sailing, Netball, AFL, and Swimming, to Hockey, Snowsports, Rowing, Equestrian and Athletics. 

The School’s recently refurbished Sports Centre, complete with a Strength and Conditioning Studio, along with its Athlete Development Academy further strengthens St Catherine’s long-standing reputation for sporting excellence. 

The school’s diversity of choice within its academic and co-curricular programs are also reflected in its broad range of scholarship opportunities for rural and regional students. Applications for 2025 Scholarships close on 29 January 2024. To learn more please contact admissions@stcatherines.net.au, visit www.stcatherines.net.au/admissions/scholarships/ or call (03) 9828 3917.