Media Release 9 December 2022

Broken Bay Continues to transform Catholic Education

We are excited to announce Catholic Schools Broken Bay (CSBB) has revealed an exciting new educational pathway for 2023 which will continue to transform Catholic education.

This follows a strategic review of the way CSBB delivers Catholic education on the Northern Beaches.

Families, schools, students and the wider community provided extensive feedback for the review which analysed current and emerging community needs, assessed how well these are currently met by Systemic Catholic schools and identified future plans and opportunities for growth.

As a result, a series of recommendations were put to Most Rev Anthony Randazzo DD JCL, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay which he has fully endorsed.

At an end of year Leadership event for Catholic Schools Broken Bay, the Most Rev Bishop Anthony Randazzo reflected on the progress to date and announced plans to strengthen and shape the future of Catholic Schools on the Northern Beaches.

This includes progressing a detailed education and business plan for the Northern Beaches, enhancing opportunities for collaboration and learning across our system of schools while providing a clear pathway from Preschool to Year 12 with a K-12 co-educational precinct in Manly.

This precinct will include a junior campus located at the current St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Manly site and a secondary co-educational campus at the current St Paul’s Catholic College Manly site, enrolling for 2025, beginning with years 7 and 11.

Planning is also in progress for a Stage 3 (year 5 and 6) Learning Hub for Manly giving students in the area greater access to specialist teachers and resources in preparation for high school.

In 2020 the Bishop Anthony Randazzo set a new direction for Catholic Schools Broken Bay (CSBB) and committed all to a journey of transformation and continuous improvement under a reform plan known as Towards 2025.

“We have made extraordinary progress in the delivery of authentic professional Catholic education and continue to reimagine the way we serve the needs of the community today and into the future”, he said.

“We have embedded a culture of continuous improvement and a relentless focus on Learning Improvement – supporting our staff to ensure each child entrusted to our system can be the best they can be.

“Multiple initiatives to strengthen the Catholic culture, ensure systematic delivery of curriculum as well as building leadership and teacher expertise have been successfully implemented and are already having an impact on student learning.”

Danny Casey, Director of Schools said, “The community has spoken, and we have listened. Insights and feedback from wide community consultation over the past 8 months has informed our recommendations and I am delighted that these have been strongly endorsed by Bishop Anthony.”

“We will also commit significant investment in our schools and facilities to provide contemporary and innovative indoor and outdoor spaces for learning and sport”, said Mr Casey.

Bishop Anthony said, “I am encouraged by the progress to date on our Towards 2025 journey and excited by the future plans for CSBB in the Northern Beaches and across the Diocese.

“However, the great progress would not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of all CSBB staff, those in each classroom and those who support them.

“I am enormously grateful for the continued support of our staff, the, partnership with parents and carers and the strong encouragement we are receiving from the community.”

Danny Casey

Director of Schools

For further enquiries on the Southern Peninsula of the Northern Beaches School Review announcements