St Anne's Primary School - Sunbury

### 1. Overview St Anne's Primary School, Sunbury is a Catholic co-educational primary school that emphasises faith-based learning within a nurturing, inclusive community. The school serves families in Sunbury and surrounding areas, focusing on developing the whole child across academic, spiritual and social dimensions. The school is small-to-medium in size with class sizes typically in the mid-teens to mid-twenties, depending on year level. The atmosphere is supportive and welcoming, with an emphasis on respect, community involvement and opportunities for every child to thrive. ⸻ ### 2. Academics & Learning - Academic strengths: Strong foundations in literacy and numeracy, with a clear focus on essential skills across all year levels. Religious education is integrated into the curriculum to support values-based learning, alongside opportunities to develop digital literacy and critical thinking. - Special programs: School-based enrichment and extension opportunities, with emphasis on differentiated learning and student leadership across the campus. - NAPLAN trends: Publicly available trend data indicates steady performance over recent years, with ongoing focus on improving literacy and numeracy outcomes. (Specific scores are published by state reporting sources.) - Student-teacher ratios: Generally in the range of 1:18 to 1:23, depending on year level and class configuration. - Support for diverse learners: Strong support for EAL and SEN learners through targeted interventions, inclusive practices, and individualized learning supports where needed. ⸻ ### 3. Sports & Extracurricular Strengths - Sports offered: Typical primary offerings such as football, soccer, cricket, netball and athletics, with opportunities for inter-school events and local competitions. - Strong teams or achievements: Participation in local inter-school sports events and annual carnivals, with a focus on teamwork, fair play and skill development. - Music, arts, drama programs: Access to school music and performing arts activities, choir or ensemble opportunities, and regular school celebrations and performances. - Clubs: Robotics, coding, chess and debating programs are available or actively developed to engage students beyond the classroom. - Partnerships: Collaborations with local clubs and regional competitions to provide broader opportunities in sport, coding and tournaments. ⸻ ### 4. Wellbeing & Pastoral Care - Anti-bullying approach: Proactive anti-bullying strategies, positive behaviour supports and messages of respect, kindness and inclusion integrated into everyday routines. - House system: A house structure supports mentoring, teamwork and school-wide events, fostering belonging and healthy competition. - Counsellors / wellbeing officers: Access to school wellbeing staff and a counsellor to support students’ emotional and social needs. - Transition support for new students: Buddy programs, orientation sessions and dedicated transition activities to help new students settle in smoothly. ⸻ ### 5. Facilities - Sports grounds: On-site sports fields and outdoor play areas. - Libraries: A well-equipped library supporting reading for pleasure and research skills. - Science labs: Dedicated spaces for hands-on science experiences. - Music/performing arts centers: Areas for music practice, rehearsals and performances. - Tech/innovation labs: Access to technology and digital learning spaces. - Cafeteria: On-site canteen facilities supporting healthy meal options. - Updated playgrounds: Modern, safe playgrounds and outdoor learning spaces. ⸻ ### 6. School Values & Community Culture - School values / mission: Faith-based education grounded in Catholic values such as compassion, respect, responsibility and service. - Leadership style: Student leadership opportunities alongside supportive teacher leadership; emphasis on respectful interactions and collaborative decision-making. - Behaviour expectations: Clear behavioural expectations built on a respectful, inclusive culture and positive reinforcement. - Community reputation: A welcoming, close-knit school community with active parent involvement and a focus on faith-based service. - Diversity & inclusion: Supportive environment for students from diverse backgrounds, including EAL learners and families from varied cultural backgrounds. ⸻ ### 7. School Logistics & Daily Operations - School hours: Typically aligns with state primary schedules; day starts in the morning and finishes in the afternoon, with occasional variation by year level. - Before/after school care: Available or arranged through approved programs to support families. - Uniform requirements: Clear uniform policy with defined daily wear for different year levels. - Transport (train/bus routes): Accessible via local bus routes and nearby rail services; specific routes provided by the school or local transport authorities. - Canteen availability: Canteen services or routine lunch options available on most days. - Fees (low/medium/high ranges): Catholic primary schools generally fall into a moderate-fee category; exact fees vary by year and program and should be confirmed with the school. ⸻ ### 8. Enrolment & Admissions 11. What is the enrolment process and timeline? - Online or in-person enrolment application, with required documentation (birth certificate, immunisation record, etc.). After submission, families are advised of next steps and timing for interviews or information sessions. 12. Is there a waiting list, and how does it work? - Waiting lists may apply if the school reaches capacity. Placement is typically determined by enrolment policy, prioritising Catholic families and then considering availability, then other factors such as sibling precedence or proximity. 13. Are there any entry requirements, tests, or interviews? - Common components include a family interview, student readiness considerations and confirmation of immunisation requirements. Some schools may request a brief discussion about prior learning and well-being. 14. Does the school accept mid-year transfers? - Mid-year transfers are possible when space permits; timing and placement depend on current enrolment capacity and readiness of the student to integrate into the class and curriculum. ⸻ ### 9. Frequently Asked Questions - Why Parents Choose This School? - A values-based Catholic education within a supportive, close-knit community that emphasises faith, academic growth and well-being. - What type of student thrives at this school? - Students who respond well to a nurturing environment, collaborative learning, and opportunities to participate in faith-based activities, sports and clubs. - What opportunities are available for students to extend their skills (academics, sports, arts)? - Access to enrichment programs, leadership opportunities, sports teams, music and performing arts, and clubs such as robotics, coding, chess and debating. - How does the school communicate with parents? - Regular updates through newsletters, emails, notices and parent-teacher meetings; opportunities for parent involvement through the P&F and school events. - What is the school’s approach to teaching and learning? - A student-centered, faith-informed approach with a focus on core competencies in literacy and numeracy, hands-on learning, and differentiated instruction to meet diverse needs. - How does the school support students who need extra academic help? - Targeted interventions, personalised learning supports and access to wellbeing staff and learning support services. - What support is available for academic challenges? - Additional tutoring or in-class adjustments, along with collaboration between teachers, families and support staff. - What are the class sizes and how much individual attention do students receive? - Class sizes are designed to be manageable for personalised attention, typically in the mid-teens to mid-twenties per class, depending on year level. - What extracurricular and sports opportunities are available? - A range of sports and clubs (e.g., robotics, coding, chess, debating) plus music and performing arts activities and inter-school events. - What facilities does the school offer (sports, science, arts)? - Sports grounds, library, science labs, music/performing arts spaces, technology/innovation labs, canteen and updated playgrounds. - What is the school’s approach to technology and digital learning? - Integration of digital literacy into the curriculum, use of technology in learning, with age-appropriate tools and online resources. - What transport and accessibility options are available? - Access to local bus routes and nearby rail services; school can provide guidance on arrangements for families near transport hubs. - What are the typical school fees or additional costs? - Fees are in the moderate range for primary Catholic schools; exact amounts vary by year and program and should be confirmed with the school. ⸻ ### 10. Short Pros & Cons list Pros - Strong faith-based, values-driven education in a supportive, family-friendly environment - Small-to-medium class sizes with opportunities for individualized attention - Active wellbeing and pastoral care with a clear anti-bullying approach - Broad extracurricular offerings (sports, music, arts, clubs like robotics and coding) - Positive sense of community and parent involvement through the P&F Cons - As a Catholic school, enrolment is prioritised for Catholic families and may involve waiting lists - Fees are applicable (as with most independent Catholic schools) and can vary by year - Location may require travel for families outside the immediate Sunbury area - Availability of specialist programs may be more limited than larger independent schools - Mid-year transfers depend on space and alignment with current cohorts ⸻