1. Overview
Larmenier Catholic School is a Catholic primary school serving families in St Leonards and the surrounding area. It offers a faith-informed, values-centered education in a small-to-medium school setting that emphasizes community and individual growth. The school fosters a nurturing, inclusive atmosphere where students are known well by teachers and peers.
With a close-knit, family-like culture, students are encouraged to explore learning with support from dedicated staff and strong pastoral care. Class sizes are designed to support personalised attention and strong student–teacher relationships, helping students develop academically and socially within a Catholic context.
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2. Academics & Learning
- Academic strengths: The school focuses on core literacy and numeracy foundations, with emphasis on creative thinking, problem solving, and responsible communication. There is also attention to STEM activities and developing leadership and collaboration skills within a faith-informed framework.
- Special programs: Gifted and talented pathways and targeted learning supports are provided where available, along with initiatives to support diverse learners, including English as an Additional Language (EAL) and special education needs (SEN) support.
- NAPLAN / trends: The school participates in NAPLAN assessments, with trends typically showing steady progress in reading and numeracy and ongoing focus on continuous improvement year to year.
- Student-teacher ratios: Classrooms are small-to-medium in size to enable more direct, differentiated teaching and frequent teacher-student interactions.
- Support for diverse learners: Structured learning support, EAL assistance, and access to learning support staff to help students meet individual learning goals within the classroom setting.
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3. Sports & Extracurricular Strengths
- Sports offered: Common school sports include soccer, netball, basketball, cricket and athletics, with opportunities to participate in interschool events and local competitions.
- Strong teams or achievements: The school participates in regional interschool activities and values sportsmanship, teamwork, and personal bests alongside competitive opportunities appropriate for primary-aged students.
- Music, arts, drama programs: Active music and performing arts programs support choir, instrument learning and timetabled drama or theatre performances.
- Clubs: Robotics, coding, chess, debating and other hands-on clubs are encouraged to spark curiosity and collaborative problem solving.
- Partnerships: Local community partnerships and inter-school collaborations help extend opportunities beyond the classroom, including regional competitions and performances.
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4. Wellbeing & Pastoral Care
- Anti-bullying approach: A proactive, school-wide anti-bullying and positive behaviour framework focuses on respectful relationships, restorative practices and open communication.
- House system: A house-based structure reinforces belonging, teamwork and healthy competition across year levels.
- Counsellors / wellbeing officers: Access to school wellbeing staff or counsellors supports students’ emotional and social development and timely intervention when needed.
- Transition support for new students: Welcome programs, buddy systems, and targeted orientation help new students adjust smoothly to school routines and peers.
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5. Facilities
- Sports grounds: Access to adjacent or on-site outdoor spaces for physical education and sport.
- Libraries: A library that supports reading for pleasure and information literacy.
- Science labs: Dedicated spaces for hands-on science learning and experiments.
- Music/performing arts centers: Facilities or dedicated rooms for music practice, performances and drama activities.
- Tech/innovation labs: Computing or digital learning spaces to support coding and ICT literacy.
- Cafeteria: On-site canteen or food service supporting healthy eating options.
- Updated playgrounds: Safe, well-maintained play areas for break times and outdoor learning.
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6. School Values & Community Culture
- School values / mission: A Catholic ethos underpins daily learning, with emphasis on faith, respect, responsibility, compassion and service to others.
- Leadership style: Student leadership opportunities and teacher mentorship support student growth and responsible decision-making.
- Behaviour expectations: Clear, consistently applied behaviour expectations aligned with positive reinforcement and restorative approaches.
- Community reputation: The school is known for its welcoming Catholic community, inclusive culture and strong family partnerships.
- Diversity & inclusion: Emphasis on welcoming families from diverse backgrounds and ensuring equitable opportunities for all students.
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7. School Logistics & Daily Operations
- School hours: Typical primary-school hours with a morning start and mid-afternoon finish; exact times provided by the school at enrolment.
- Before/after school care: Wrap-around or after-school care options are often available to support families.
- Uniform requirements: A school uniform is worn daily, with details provided by the school and uniform shops.
- Transport: Local transport options and school transport arrangements are available; families should check specific bus/train routes and timetables.
- Canteen availability: On-site canteen or snack facilities offered on certain days.
- Fees: Fees are in the mid-range for Catholic primary schools, with a clear schedule provided at enrolment and opportunities for family support or concessions where applicable.
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8. Enrolment & Admissions
11. What is the enrolment process and timeline?
- Submit an enrolment application by the school’s specified deadline.
- Provide required documents (birth certificate, immunisation records, recent school reports, and any Catholic parish information if requested).
- Complete any school-specific steps (interviews, information sessions, family references) as advised by the school.
- Receive notification of enrolment decision and next steps if offered a place, including orientation timing.
12. Is there a waiting list, and how does it work?
- There may be a waiting list when enrolment capacity is reached. The school will advise on current wait times, how the list is managed, and expected timelines for possible offers.
13. Are there any entry requirements, tests, or interviews?
- Entry may involve an interview or information session for families and students, and the school may request documentation to confirm readiness and fit with the school ethos. Tests are not always used; procedures vary by year level and intake.
14. Does the school accept mid-year transfers?
- Mid-year transfers are considered based on space availability and timing. Families should contact the enrolments team to discuss options and required steps.
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9. Frequently Asked Questions
- Why Parents Choose This School?
Parents cite the Catholic values, close-knit community, supportive pastoral care, smaller class sizes and strong partnerships with families as key reasons for choosing Larmenier.
- What type of student thrives at this school?
Students who benefit from a values-based environment, collaborative learning, strong teacher-student relationships and opportunities to participate in a broad range of activities typically thrive here.
- What opportunities are available for students to extend their skills (academics, sports, arts)?
The school offers additional challenges in literacy and numeracy, leadership opportunities, sports programs, music and performing arts, and clubs such as robotics, coding, chess and debating.
- How does the school communicate with parents?
Communication is through newsletters, emails, the school website, notices, and parent-teacher meetings, with updates on events and student progress.
- What is the school’s approach to teaching and learning?
Instruction focuses on student-centered learning, differentiation to meet individual needs, integrated Catholic values, and ongoing assessment to track progress.
- How does the school support students who need extra academic help?
A dedicated learning support framework, EAL assistance, and access to SEN support staff work with families to set goals and provide targeted interventions.
- What support is available for academic challenges?
Early identification, targeted intervention plans, regular progress reviews, and collaboration with teachers and families help students meet academic goals.
- How does the school communicate with parents? (Repeated)
See above: newsletters, emails, and meetings are used to keep families informed.
- What are the class sizes and how much individual attention do students receive?
Class sizes are small-to-medium, enabling more individualized attention, regular feedback, and differentiated instruction.
- What extracurricular and sports opportunities are available?
A range of sports (soccer, netball, basketball, cricket, athletics), music and drama, plus clubs such as robotics, coding, chess and debating are available.
- What facilities does the school offer (sports, science, arts)?
Facilities include sports grounds, library, science labs, music/performing arts spaces, tech/innovation labs, a canteen, and updated playgrounds.
- What is the school’s approach to technology and digital learning?
Digital learning is integrated across the curriculum with age-appropriate devices and ICT support, along with online-safety education.
- What transport and accessibility options are available?
Local transport options are available; families should check specific routes and accessibility details with the school.
- What are typical school fees or additional costs?
Fees are mid-range for Catholic primary schools, with a clear breakdown provided by the school and information on concessions or assistance where applicable.
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10. Short Pros & Cons list
Pros
- Strong Catholic values and community feel
- Small-to-medium class sizes with personalised attention
- Comprehensive pastoral care and wellbeing support
- Broad extracurricular program (sports, arts, clubs)
- Inclusive environment with support for diverse learners
Cons
- Smaller school may have fewer specialist facilities than larger schools
- Transport options may be more limited depending on location
- High-demand enrolments can result in waiting lists
- Mid-year transfers depend on space availability
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