Callan Date
ST FRANCIS Xavier College principal Paul Desmond has distanced his school from other colleges offering lucrative scholarships to highachieving local students.
Mr Desmond said St Francis Xavier would never market itself as a school that wishes to attract only those students who achieve high academic scores.
The principal of both the Berwick and Beaconsfield campuses of the college said in a school newsletter that he valued loyalty highly in a school community and thanked students, families and staff for their faithfulness to St Francis Xavier.
“I would much prefer to work with those students who are with us because they and their parents see this college as a place which meets their needs – academically, spiritually, physically, culturally and socially,” Mr Desmond said.
Mr Desmond’s message comes after several local schools, including Eumemmerring College and St Margaret’s School, reported talented students had been offered scholarships to Haileybury in higher than normal numbers this year.
Eumemmerring College officials said seven members of its school’s year 10 volleyball squad had taken up scholarships offered by Haileybury College.
“I will always value more greatly in our young people the achievements which are born of a dedication to pursue excellence,” Mr Desmond said.
He added staff at the college were mindful of the loyalty shown by St Francis Xavier students and they would work to make sure these students are offered every opportunity to reach their personal best.
Haileybury College principal Robert Pargetter issued a statement on the school’s website saying students from more than 50 schools had transferred to its girls college and all were asked to consider the implications of moving schools at senior level.
“The students admitted were outstanding young women chosen on merit,” Mr Pargetter said.
He said the scholarship program was being conducted as a oneoff and the school didn’t believe its actions would affect the viability of other local schools.
Mr Pargetter added that no students were approached directly in regards to the scholarship offering and would have heard about the scholarships through the extensive advertising the school conducted.