Enrolment

Everyone is welcome at our Catholic schools. While we are a Catholic community, our students come from many different faiths and cultural backgrounds. Families can be assured that no child will ever feel out of place if they do not share the Catholic faith, we warmly welcome all students to learn, grow and belong with us.

Starting school

Children who turn five on or before 31 July are eligible to start Kindergarten that year. By law, all children must be enrolled in school by their sixth birthday.

Choosing a school

The Enrolment Policy for Parramatta Diocesan Catholic schools offers Catholic families greater choice by allowing them to apply for enrolment at a Catholic school anywhere in the Diocese. Where places are limited, offers of enrolment are made in accordance with our enrolment policy and procedures.

Siblings

Siblings of currently enrolled students are given preference for enrolment, and families can also benefit from generous sibling discounts.

What if my child already attends a Catholic primary school in the Diocese?

A child who has completed primary education in a CSPD primary school will usually be offered continuity of enrolment in a CSPD secondary school. If no places exist at the chosen school, we will assist families to enrol in another CSPD secondary school.

You are welcome to submit your Enrolment Application up to two years before your child starts school (Kindergarten or Year 7). Please note that first offers are made at the end of May in the year prior to starting. While applying early doesn’t guarantee a place, including up to three school preferences in your application will help give your child the best chance of securing a spot.

To enrol in one of our Catholic primary or secondary schools, simply complete an Enrolment Application Form. You can request a form by selecting the Enrol Now button on your chosen school’s website. Once completed, please email it back to the school. After your application is received, the school will be in touch to guide you through the next steps of the enrolment process.

If English is not your first language, a free interpreter service is available. More details can be found here.

The following documents may be required as part of the enrolment process. Most schools will schedule an enrolment interview. A formal identification will be conducted for all parents.

• Pre-school report - for Kindergarten applications only (if applicable)
• Latest school report from previous school (except for Kindergarten applications)
• NAPLAN results (Years 3, 5, 7, 9) (if applicable)
• Completed and signed Overseas and Exchange Students Form (if applicable)
• Student’s Sacrament certificates (Baptism and Confirmation (if applicable)
• Student’s Birth Certificate
• Both parents to present at least one of the following:
  
  • Australian Driver Licence/Learner’s Permit
  • Australian Passport (current or expired within last 2 years but not cancelled)
  • Foreign Passport (current)
  • Australian Citizenship Certificate
  • Full Birth Certificate (not birth certificate extract)
  • Certificate of Identity issued by the Australian Government to refugees and
  • non Australian citizens for entry to Australia
  • Current (Australian) Tertiary Student Identification Card
  • Photo identification card issued for Australian regulatory purposes (e.g. Aviation/Maritime Security identification, security industry etc.)
  • Government employee ID (Australian Federal/State/Territory)Defence Force Identity Card (with photo or signature)
• All assessment reports and previous personal plans for the student (if applicable). This includes medical, special needs and assessment reports, including from a psychologist, speech pathologist, audiologist, occupational therapist, paediatrician or other professional.
• Court orders (if applicable), including Family Court Orders, Parenting Plans, Apprehended Violence Orders, Children’s Court Orders or other Orders relevant to the student.

Catholic schools welcome students with diverse needs and are committed to providing meaningful educational opportunities and support. When a family applies to enrol, the school will first consider the enrolment criteria and then work closely with families to understand the student’s individual needs and the school’s ability to support them well.

Additional needs are varied and sometimes complex to identify and evaluate. We value open partnership with families to ensure we make decisions that are in the best interests of each student. In some cases, the desired school may not be the most suitable environment or may not have a place available. If this occurs, the Principal and CSPD’s Inclusive Learning Team will support families to explore the best pathway forward, if families would like assistance.

We encourage parents of children with additional needs to contact their preferred school more than a year in advance to allow plenty of time for planning and collaboration.

Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese welcomes enrolment applications from students from overseas or whose families may be seeking asylum. These applications will be considered in accordance with the Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese enrolment policy.

Please note that students who are not Australian citizens cannot be enrolled in preference to an eligible local student. Applicants who are not Australian citizens must have a valid visa with the exception of subclass 500 (further details below). Further considerations include:

• capacity exists within the school in the relevant year group
• the student's language and academic needs can be catered for within the existing school structure, or the school can otherwise provide the additional requirements
• preference in enrolment is given to overseas students from practising Catholic families
• non-Catholic students enrolled and their carers make a commitment to respect and agree to support the Catholic mission of the school including the faith education it offers for their children
• The Diocese of Parramatta is registered as a CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students) provider, No 03340M, to enrol overseas senior secondary school students who are on a subclass 500 visa in the following five schools only:
  • Bede Polding College South Windsor
  • Caroline Chisholm College Glenmore Park
  • Cerdon College Merrylands
  • Delany College Granville
  • St John XXIII Catholic College Stanhope Gardens.

The Diocese is not currently registered to enrol overseas primary students or junior secondary students who are on a subclass 500 visa unless they are a dependant of a subclass 500 visa holder.

Families are encouraged to contact the school in which they are seeking enrolment directly to arrange an enrolment interview. Original documentation is also required to validate the student’s current visa status so that the fees payable can be determined.

Please note that the fees payable will depend on the visa subclass that has been issued by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). Students holding a bridging visa who have applied for a non funded visa are required to pay fees at the level of Full Fee Paying Overseas Students. However, the Catholic Church is committed to ensuring that no student is denied an education because of a families’ inability to pay school fees.

Students with visas granting temporary residency can be offered enrolment only until the expiry date of the current visa. Continuing enrolment will be dependent on evidence that a new visa subclass has been issued by DHA. Parents/carers of students who are not Australian citizens must ensure that the school is provided with evidence of any change to the student’s visa status throughout their enrolment period.

Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese does not actively recruit students from overseas and does not enter into any arrangements with education agents or pay any commissions in relation to any prospective student enrolment.

If you are a current family looking to enrol your child in one of our Catholic secondary schools, you will need to complete and submit a new Enrolment Application. You can simply request a form by selecting the Enrol Now button on your chosen school’s website.

Find a school

While enrolment isn’t automatic at your local Catholic secondary school, students who complete their primary education in a CSPD school are generally offered a place in a CSPD secondary school. As some schools are in high demand, including up to three school preferences on your application will help give your child the best chance of securing a place.

If you need any help or have questions about the process, our friendly team is here to assist. Please contact us on (02) 9840 5600 or email communityliaison@parra.catholic.edu.au

Yes. Families are welcome to apply for enrolment at any time. Applications are considered in line with our enrolment criteria and the availability of places at each school. We encourage you to contact your preferred Catholic school, they will be happy to provide guidance and support throughout the enrolment process.