Stability ensures future

By Tina Seirlis

As one school’s door closes, news another is set to stay open is sure to bring relief to the local community across Clarkes Hill and surrounds.

Although the Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited (DOBCEL) has recently made the decision to close St Brendan’s in Dunnstown, they have in turn provided assurance that enrolments at St Mary’s remain stable, meaning the school will remain open for the foreseeable future.

St Mary’s Primary School Clarkes Hill is described as a small school in a beautiful rural setting, with enrolments sourced from both the local area and Ballarat. Although the school sits within Moorabool Shire it is based in the rural west which is less than a ten-minute drive from Brown Hill.

Executive Director of Catholic Education at DOBCEL Tom Sexton says the school has averaged two to three new prep students each year, contributing to an overall consistent track record of 17-23 students enrolled annually over two decades.

He said he feels confident about the school’s future.

“The DOBCEL Board, and myself as Executive Director, are very passionate about our small schools. We do everything we can to keep them open,” he said.

“They are very important in their communities, from both an education and local economic perspective. We have a regulatory requirement for a minimum of 11 students in Victoria. Once you get close to that you need to look at the viability which is what happened with St Brendan’s.”

Mr Sexton said their overall direction to aim to keep all of their smalls school’s open for the small communities.

Inez French has been the joint Principal of St Brendan’s and St Mary’s over the past four years, and said St Mary’s has five new families joining the school in 2024.

“The school is moving in a positive direction, and with much excitement about the future,” she said.

So, the door that closes will be Ms French retiring at the end of 2023 however, the door that opens is a new principal appointment in Clare Scanlon, currently working at St Brendan’s.

“We’re really excited, as is Clare, and we believe she will do a wonderful job,” Mr Sexton said.

Ms Scanlon has held previous roles at schools in Ballarat, and over many years in the Kimberley, Western Australia.

Mr Sexton extended his appreciation to Inez French for her leadership at St Mary’s and St Brendan’s since 2020.

“The diocesan education community looks forward to appropriately thanking and farewelling Inez in the coming weeks”.