Santa Maria College, Perth

Santa Maria College is an independent Catholic single-sex primary and secondary day and boarding school for girls located in Attadale, a southern suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1938, the school currently caters for over 1,300 students from Year 5 to Year 12, including 150 boarders. The college is affiliated with the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia, the Australian Boarding Schools' Association, the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia, and the Independent Girls Schools Sports Association. Santa Maria's brother school is Aquinas College located in Salter Point. History Santa Maria College was established by the Sisters of Mercy and opened on 6 February 1938 in the riverside suburb of Attadale, Western Australia. The College initially enrolled approximately 60 boarders and 13 day students, staffed by seven Sisters of Mercy. The boarding students were transferred from Victoria Square Ladies’ College (now Mercedes College). The opening ceremony was conducted by Archbishop Prendiville, and the site was chosen for its elevated location with views of the Swan River. The main building, designed in the Spanish Mission style, was the first structure constructed on the property. It was funded through land purchases costing £5,000 and an advance from the bank of £30,000. The College was developed in response to the increasing demand for boarding places from regional families. It played a significant role during the Second World War, when it was reviewed for use as a military hospital and hosted Sunday Mass for soldiers stationed nearby. After the war, as Perth’s suburbs expanded, the College transitioned from a primarily boarding school to one with a growing population of day students. The school’s origins are grounded in the work of Catherine McAuley, who founded the Sisters of Mercy in 1831 in Dublin, Ireland. The first Sisters arrived in Western Australia in 1846, led by Ursula Frayne, and opened their first school in Perth that same year. Their legacy of education, service and compassion continues to shape the College’s mission and values. Governance Santa Maria College operates under the governance of Mercy Education Limited, the delegated authority of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea (ISMAPNG). Through its board of directors, Mercy Education oversees the governance and operation of eleven Mercy Sponsored Colleges owned by ISMAPNG, including Santa Maria College. Associations Santa Maria College is an education provider affiliated with the Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA), the governing body for Catholic schools in the state. The College is also a member of the Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia (AISWA), which supports the development and advocacy of independent education. In addition, Santa Maria College is a proud member of the Independent Girls Schools Sporting Association, which provides students with access to a broad range of interschool sporting competitions and opportunities for personal and team development. Principals Jennifer Oaten, a former student of Santa Maria College and previously a Deputy Principal, has served as Principal since 2018. Since its establishment in 1938, the College has had several Principals. Sister Mary Bertrand was the founding Principal, serving from 1938 to 1960. Facilities Santa Maria College is situated on a campus overlooking the Swan River in Attadale. Facilities include a performing arts centre, science laboratories, 25 metre swimming pool, sports fields, and four boarding houses. Recent developments at the College include the construction of a Cultural Centre, which will feature a 642-seat auditorium, a black box theatre, a dance studio, general learning spaces, and backstage facilities. The Centre is designed to support performing arts and creative learning programs, with the opening anticipated for early 2026. The College's existing theatre will also be transformed into a dedicated orchestra space. Academics Santa Maria College offers a comprehensive academic program for students from Years 5 to 12. The curriculum is designed to support diverse learner needs, with pathways for university entrance, vocational education, and alternative tertiary preparation. In senior secondary education, students can pursue the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) pathway, the ACCESS vocational education and training (VET) pathway, or the UniReady or UniPath university preparation programs. In 2024, 68% of Year 12 students undertook the ATAR pathway, 25% chose the ACCESS pathway, and 8% participated in UniReady or UniPath. The College recorded a median ATAR of 87.8, with 40% of students attaining an ATAR above 90 and 21% above 95. The highest ATAR achieved was 98.95. Students received 65 academic awards, including 5 Certificates of Excellence, 21 Certificates of Distinction, and 39 Certificates of Merit. As part of the VET program, students completed 44 qualifications: 6 at Certificate II level, 2 at Certificate III, and 36 at Certificate IV. The UniReady and UniPath programs provided alternative university entry options, with all students successfully completing the required modules for access to tertiary study. The College’s academic approach emphasises real-world learning through initiatives such as the "Connecting Learning to Life" strategy, the emPOWER program, and industry partnerships. In 2024, students were also introduced to ethical and purposeful use of artificial intelligence, including learning to identify bias in generative AI tools. NAPLAN results in 2024 were consistently above national averages, with particularly strong performance in Year 9. Participation across all tested year levels was 100%. Santa Maria College continues to support a wide range of learner needs, offering extension opportunities for high-achieving students alongside tailored support programs for those requiring additional assistance. Co-curricular activities Santa Maria College offers a broad and inclusive co-curricular program that supports student development across service, sport, the arts, academics, and leadership. Activities are designed to foster teamwork, confidence, creativity, and a sense of belonging. Service and leadership Opportunities such as Mini Vinnies enable younger students to engage in charitable work through fundraising and awareness campaigns, supporting the mission of the St Vincent de Paul Society. Older students can participate in leadership and service groups including Young Vinnies, Social Justice, and Student Council, with structured pathways for House leadership and student voice. Academic and enrichment Students can extend their learning through clubs and competitions in public speaking, robotics, debating, Book Club, STEM, and Study Club. Programs like Mini Mad Scientists and Robotics introduce scientific thinking and coding from an early age, with entry into regional competitions such as Robocup. Performing and visual arts The College’s extensive music program includes choirs, concert bands, string orchestras, guitar ensembles and percussion groups. These cater to beginners through to advanced musicians from Years 5 to 12, many of whom perform in College events and external festivals. Students also participate in dance, drama productions, and visual arts programs such as Santa Stitches, which blends textile art with creative expression. Sport and physical activity Santa Maria College provides interschool sport, specialist training, and recreational activities across all year levels. Options include swimming, running club, cross country, volleyball, pickleball, AFL, and multi-sports programs. Students regularly compete in IGSSA and JIGSSA competitions and may be selected for representative teams. The co-curricular program is reviewed annually to meet student interests and developmental needs, with activities running before school, during recess or lunch, and after school. Strategic Plan and Innovation Santa Maria College's Strategic Plan 2021–2025 outlines a clear and future-focused vision shaped by extensive consultation with students, staff, families, and alumni. The plan builds on the College’s Mercy tradition while responding to the changing needs of learners and the broader community. The Strategic Plan is framed by five key pillars: Faith – Deepening the College’s Catholic identity and Mercy values Learning for Life – Empowering students with flexible, contemporary learning experiences Social Innovation – Encouraging action on local and global challenges through service and enterprise Community Activation – Strengthening connections with parents, alumni, and the wider community Financial Sustainability – Ensuring the long-term viability of the College through partnerships and effective stewardship of resources The College continues to embed innovation across all areas of school life. Initiatives include the development of life skills and enterprise capabilities, flexible learning programs, digital transformation, environmental sustainability, and leadership pathways for student voice. These priorities aim to prepare students to thrive in an evolving world while staying grounded in values of compassion, courage, and service. House System Santa Maria College operates a House System to promote student leadership, community spirit, and participation in sporting and cultural activities. Students are assigned to one of eight houses upon enrolment, participating in inter-house competitions and events throughout their time at the College. Boarding Santa Maria College provides residential boarding for approximately 150 girls from Years 7 to 12, primarily from rural and regional areas of Western Australia. The boarding community is structured across four houses. Year 7 and Year 12 students are grouped by year level, while students in Years 8 to 11 are accommodated in mixed-age houses to encourage cross-year relationships and peer mentoring. Each student has a private room, and boarding houses include common lounge and kitchen areas. Boarding staff include a Director of Boarding, Boarding Supervisors, and Housemothers, who provide supervision and pastoral care. Students participate in a transition program called Embrace, designed to support adjustment to boarding through relationship-building, routine development, and academic support. Boarders engage in a range of co-curricular and recreational activities, both within the College and in the wider Perth area. These include sports, cultural events, and regular interactions with students from other schools. See also List of schools in the Perth metropolitan area Catholic education in Australia References External links Official website Media related to Santa Maria College, Perth at Wikimedia Commons