28 July 2020

Dear Friends and Colleagues

I am pleased to announce an exciting development for St Paul’s College, Gilles Plains in South Australia.

From the beginning of 2022 St Paul’s College will move to being a co-educational college and continue 62 years of quality and liberating education that has been offered to young people in the inner north-east of Adelaide.

This decision has been made following extensive research and consultation and has the overwhelming support of the St Paul’s community, Edmund Rice Education Australia, the South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools, Catholic Education South Australia and the Archdiocese of Adelaide. It also responds to the changing needs of both the current and future community of this part of Adelaide.

From January 2022, St Paul’s will become co-educational from Reception to Yr 8 and grow to a full co-educational school by 2026.
A wide diversity of Catholic schooling in the Edmund Rice tradition is offered in Australia and around the world. St Paul’s is part of an international network of over 280 schools that are both co-educational and single sex. This diversity is a real strength of our network.

I am sure you will join me in congratulating the Principal, Mr Paul Belton, the Board Chair, Mr Chris Edge, and the entire St Paul’s community on this exciting new endeavour. I am very proud of how hard the St Paul’s community has worked to reach this outcome and can guarantee that the College is committed to continue this work to ensure the safe, prosperous and successful transition to co-education.

We offer our prayers and full support over the coming years as St Paul’s builds upon our aspiration to offer a liberating education, based on a Gospel spirituality, within an inclusive community committed to justice and solidarity.

With every best wish

Wayne Tinsey

Executive Director

Edmund Rice Education Australia