St Bede’s Catholic College
Set within the new and growing suburb of Chisholm, St Bede’s Catholic College opened with approximately 110 Year 7 co-educational students in 2018. Since that time, we have expanded by a further five-year groups and are now a full Year 7 – 12 coeducational school of more than 900 students.
Welcome from
John Murphy, College Principal
Welcome to the St Bede’s Catholic College Chisholm website. St Bede’s is a Year 7 – 12 Co-educational Catholic High School in the Maitland Newcastle Diocese that offers outstanding facilities and high-quality learning within a Catholic framework. We welcome enrolments from families of all backgrounds and religious denominations that are supportive of our high standards and Catholic values.
St Bede’s opened in 2018 with 106 Year 7 students, who graduated in 2023. In growing by a year group cohort per year to 2023, when we became a full Year 7 – 12 school, enrolment numbers have consistently increased each year to their current level of 900+ students. It is anticipated that enrolment numbers will continue to increase to over 1,000 students in the next couple of years.
St Bede’s is proudly recognised as a faith-based Catholic school; representing the story and traditions of Catholicism; and inter-personally reflecting the core Catholic values of love, justice, truth, and compassion. In offering a quality Catholic education, St Bede’s provides the opportunity for staff and students to explore and further deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ. St Bede’s provides students with a unique opportunity to be part of a faith-filled Catholic community committed to high standards, personal best, and service to others.
The College Motto is ‘Shine With Christ Glory,’ with all students having their own unique gifts which can shine at St Bede’s in a safe and supportive environment. The four pillars that drive the development of the school in enabling the College Motto to be a lived reality are Faith, Knowledge, Courage, and Community. The College motto and four pillars are embedded into our strategic planning processes, the Annual School Improvement Plan, and are reported on each year in the Annual School Report.
As an inclusive community open to students of all Christian denominations and other religions, there is a clear expectation that all students will engage in all aspects of the College life, including timetabled Religious Education classes, Masses, prayer, and retreats. Whilst respecting the diverse religious and cultural composition of the College student body, a positive engagement in and support of the Catholic faith tradition and values is an enrolment requirement.
St Bede’s is one of the most modern and well-equipped schools in Australia. The design of the school is based around the provision of contemporary and flexible learning spaces in a mix of open and closed learning spaces. All the learning spaces have excellent facilities that enhance student learning, wellbeing, and engagement. The wide subject offerings effectively cater for the wide diversity of student interests, aptitudes, abilities, and career pathways. The Bring Your Own Specified Device (BYOSD) program, with all students having the same device, is outsourced to an external provider. The BYOSD program has been hugely successful since the College opened in 2018. The high-level of digital literacy is a key driver of the quality learning opportunities offered at St Bede’s.
St Bede’s has a strong and diverse co-curricular program with outstanding facilities, including in the areas of sport, music, art, drama, dance, STEM, public speaking, and gifted education. There is a high student participation rate within the co-curricular program, with excellent results achieved in external competitions which have included selection in national teams. Student learning is focused on every student achieving to their potential, within a data informed and improvement driven framework. Teachers at St Bede’s are highly qualified, committed, and caring of the students. In striving for all students to reach their full potential, there are specialised staff and programs that support students with learning needs and extend gifted and talented students.
St Bede’s two feeder schools are St Aloysius Catholic Primary School, located next door, and Our Lady of Lourdes, Tarro. Other students come from a wide range of other primary and secondary schools.
To know more about St Bede’s and to keep updated on the many exciting developments and news, I encourage you to explore our website and to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Enquiries can also be made by phoning our friendly Office staff during school hours on (02) 40888222.
John Murphy
Principal
