Girls at St Paul's
Growth through Socialisation
A co-educational senior school leads to a natural socialisation of the sexes in preparation for the real world beyond school.
When girls join the St Paul’s community in Years 11, 12 and 13, they step into their St Paul’s experience faced with having to make adjustments, both in expectation and workload. We encourage a culture where boys and girls work naturally and collaboratively together in their academic studies and cultural pursuits, as well as in social settings.
St Paul’s girls have the opportunity to work and achieve across the various school disciplines, both within their House environment and within the predominantly male student community. The three years girls spend at St Paul’s are designed to give them confidence and life skills to make an effective transition from school to tertiary education or work and beyond.
As students progress through the School, they are expected to carry more responsibility for their own activities and for those of the School community. Both the Tihoi experience and the House system prepare our seniors well for developing responsibility, initiative and leadership. Senior students are expected to help younger students and to take on responsibilities in the House and in the School.
A tailored leadership training course is offered in Year 12 to prepare students for their last year at School, where they are expected to contribute to the leadership of the School. The leadership programme is built on the foundation of virtues.
St Paul’s students recognise the opportunities they have been given in an environment in which access to tertiary education can no longer be regarded as a right. Students understand the responsibility they have to make the most of these opportunities.
The girls at St Paul’s Collegiate School say there is something special that boys can offer them in terms of friendship. It is different to what girls find with each other – it can add perspective and balance and the girls really appreciate this. And it is entirely platonic and should not be misread.
Our girls appreciate the experiences they are offered ……
“The expectation to achieve is always high.”
“Teachers offer heaps of support – if you don’t understand something they will suggest you come in and see them before school.”
“We do activities I have never done before.”
“The smaller classes help … the teachers can talk and help you.”
“The teachers make me try harder and achieve more.”
Our girls embrace the ethic of hard work, excellence and quality education ……
“I get more opportunities to have a go and achieve at St Paul’s”
“I study and pay attention and it’s okay to ask questions”
“My marks have gone way up”
“The workload and homework expectation is higher here”
“The Year 13 girls give me ideas about what kind of Year 13 I want to be”