Balgowlah News

St Paul’s Junior Campus Opens In Balgowlah For Years 5 And 6

Photo Credit: Catholic Diocese Broken Bay/Facebook

St Paul’s Catholic College has opened its Junior Campus in Balgowlah, welcoming its first cohort of Years 5 and 6 students to the new site.

First Day At Balgowlah Junior Campus

The launch of the Balgowlah Junior Campus marks the beginning of learning for its inaugural Years 5 and 6 students. The campus has been established as a dedicated Stage 3 learning hub within St Paul’s Catholic College.

The Junior Campus is designed to support students at a key transition point between primary and secondary schooling. Its structure links Stage 3 learning with the broader Years 5 to 12 pathway offered by the College.

St Paul’s Catholic College — *Photo Credit: Catholic Diocese Broken Bay*

Teaching Team And Learning Environment

The campus brings together Stage 3 teachers, specialist staff and tailored learning spaces to support students during the middle years of schooling.

St Paul’s Catholic College operates as a multi-campus, coeducational Catholic school spanning Years 5 to 12. The Balgowlah Junior Campus forms part of this structure, with a focus on continuity and connection for families on the Northern Beaches.

The College has indicated the Junior Campus aims to foster independence and a sense of belonging as students move into secondary education.

Program And Facilities

St Paul’s describes the Balgowlah Junior Campus as providing a holistic approach to education, combining literacy and numeracy development with an emphasis on ethical responsibility and service.

Students at the Junior Campus are also linked to the Years 7 to 12 campus through access to specialist facilities and programs. These include purpose-built Visual Arts, Science, Music and Design Technology spaces.

The integrated model is intended to provide continuity across year levels and support students as they progress into secondary schooling.

Enrolment Details

The College has advised there is limited availability for Years 5 and 6 in 2026.

Enrolments are open for Years 5 and 6 for 2027 and beyond, with further year-level availability outlined for 2027 and 2028, subject to places.

Published 2-Feb-2026

Strong HSC Maths Results at Balgowlah Boys

Photo Credit: Pexels

Balgowlah Boys has recorded some of the state’s strongest HSC mathematics results, achieving the highest average score among comprehensive public schools.

Background and Context

Balgowlah Boys, a government-funded single-sex comprehensive secondary school in Balgowlah, has established itself as one of New South Wales’ strongest performing public schools. The school has reported sustained academic progress across multiple areas alongside its HSC outcomes.

HSC maths — *Photo Credit: Balgowlah Boys Campus/Facebook*

HSC Mathematics Achievement

An analysis of New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) data published in August 2025 showed that Balgowlah Boys achieved an average HSC mathematics score of 88.4 across all courses between 2022 and 2024. This positioned the school as the highest-performing comprehensive public school in mathematics.

Selective schools such as North Sydney Boys, James Ruse, and Baulkham Hills recorded higher averages overall. Among comprehensive schools, however, Balgowlah Boys outperformed Epping Boys (84.9) and Killara High (84.5).

Teaching Approach and Student Development

According to the school’s head of mathematics, success in senior mathematics is linked to explicit teaching, high expectations from Year 7, and tasks that challenge students to reach advanced levels of study. New teachers at Balgowlah undertake observational rounds to strengthen classroom consistency and maintain teaching standards.

Former leadership also noted that the school’s focus on reading and literacy contributed to stronger mathematics results, as improved comprehension skills assist students in interpreting complex exam questions.

Wider Academic Performance

School-provided data highlights broader academic outcomes. In 2024, Balgowlah Boys reported a 42 per cent Band 6 rate in Advanced and Extension English, placing it among the state’s top 20 comprehensive schools for that subject. The school also recorded 169 students listed as High Achievers across mathematics, sciences, English, legal studies, and creative subjects.

In 2021, school figures showed that 53 per cent of Years 7 and 9 students achieved results in the top two NAPLAN bands for reading and numeracy, compared to 32 per cent in 2011.

Student Support and Inclusion

Balgowlah Boys also reports a strong focus on student wellbeing and inclusion. The school provides individualised learning plans, specialist tuition, support for English language learners, adjustments for disability, and access to both a school counsellor and student support officer.

Outlook

Balgowlah Boys’ mathematics performance reflects targeted teaching practices and consistent standards, supported by literacy development and broader academic programs. Its results highlight the role of structured teaching and student support in preparing learners for senior studies.

Published 3-Sep-2025

Balgowlah School to Close Under Diocese Education Plan

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Parents and students in Balgowlah have expressed strong opposition after Catholic Schools Broken Bay confirmed the closure of St Cecilia’s Catholic Primary School at the end of 2025.

Balgowlah School Closure Announced

St Cecilia’s Catholic Primary School in Balgowlah will close permanently at the end of the 2025 school year. The site will be repurposed as a new Year 5 and 6 Learning Hub for St Paul’s Catholic College, which recently transitioned from an all-boys school to a co-educational model.

Students currently enrolled at St Cecilia’s have been offered places at St Kieran’s Catholic Primary School in Manly Vale. Catholic Schools Broken Bay (CSBB) has given families two weeks to complete enrolment transfers to secure placements.

Balgowlah school closure — *Photo Credit: Google Maps*

Wider Education Strategy

The closure forms part of CSBB’s five-year strategy, Shaping Tomorrow, Together in Faith, launched in July 2025. The plan outlines major changes across six precincts within the Diocese, including Northern Beaches, North Shore, and the Central Coast.

In the Southern Beaches precinct, the strategy merges St Cecilia’s and St Kieran’s into one school community based at Manly Vale, while Balgowlah is repurposed for St Paul’s College. The plan also includes new K–12 pathways, specialist schools for additional needs, and more than $300 million in upgrades across the Central Coast.

St Cecilia’s Catholic Primary School — *Photo Credit: Google Maps*

Consultation Process

According to CSBB, consultations had been underway for more than three years. These included community forums, surveys, and meetings. A briefing was held on 12 August 2025 at St Cecilia’s, where the closure was confirmed.

CSBB stated that only a small number of families from St Cecilia’s had engaged in earlier consultation, with fewer than ten survey responses submitted out of more than 200 families.

Community Sentiment in Balgowlah

Many parents said they were caught off guard by the announcement, describing the process as lacking transparency. Families reported learning of the closure during the 12 August evening meeting, with some parents saying they only attended after being alerted through social media groups.

Concerns raised include the limited time for enrolment decisions, the future of funds raised for school facilities, and the disruption to children’s education and social connections. Some families have begun petitions calling for the closure to be delayed until 2027.

Students have also expressed sadness, particularly younger pupils who fear separation from friends, and older students concerned about missing out on leadership roles in their final year.

Next Steps

St Cecilia’s staff have been assured that all permanent teaching positions will be retained, with teachers expected to move with students as part of the transition.

CSBB has emphasised that the strategy aims to expand pathways, modernise facilities, and strengthen Catholic education across the Diocese. Parents, however, continue to call for more time and clearer communication about the changes affecting Balgowlah.

Published 18-Aug-2025