Xavier recognises that the welfare and education of every child is of the highest importance to parents. Providing boys with opportunities to discover their unique talents, to be cared for, to flourish and to be the best version of themselves is the aspiration of most parents. It’s ours too!
And yet there is even more to life, to a life well lived, and to a school. While we hope for many things for our children, great fulfilment is drawn from greater things.
The instinct of parents is to protect. The intuition of great schools is to allow students to experience so as to learn – to form through experience. At Xavier, as a Jesuit school, we educate through the head, the heart and the hands. Wellbeing is critically important, but it is infused and enriched through a thoughtful appreciation and understanding of faith and of spiritual dimensions - important in every human person. More so, we educate all dimensions of that human person. This holistic approach nurtures the gifts of the entire child in all of its potential and with compassionate consideration of our inherent vulnerabilities. Our approach to pastoral care sets us apart - deliberately and deeply knowing each student as an individual.
We strive to equip each student with the capability and confidence to navigate their own journey through life with good judgement and with good hearts – to help them to steer their ship on their own voyage through the fluctuating seas of life. In this way, our students may come to realise and appreciate their own purpose and to live a life that contributes to the worth of others and the world, to live a life that makes a difference!
At Xavier, we don’t just educate for a final grade in a boy’s school years. We educate for a lifetime. We don’t measure ourselves on our students knowing all the answers, but rather knowing the questions that need to be asked and having the resolve to pursue the answers that really count.
This is the Jesuit way.
This is the worth of an education at Xavier.
When it comes to choosing a school, parents and commentators can become transfixed in what can be easily measured, what can be readily compared, and what is a material means of accounting for an investment. However, our lives are not one-dimensional, and our investment in an education must be for a lifetime, not one that serves a short-term goal or meets one measure.
An education at Xavier in the Jesuit tradition is designed to prepare boys to be men of character, conscience, compassion and commitment. We strive to form students who understand and demonstrate authenticity, who are positive and resilient, who are empathic and who are personally aspirational and who inspire those they encounter.
When we assess the worth of an education, we take into account the whole person, formed and portrayed through the head, the heart and the hands – a Jesuit way of valuing the mind, the intent and the actions. At Xavier, we measure ourselves by a different standard. We invite you to do the same.
At Xavier, our context is the education of boys, forming them to be men for others. Yet we are so much more than this.
As a diverse and inclusive Jesuit community, we more fulsomely express our purpose as being men and women for and with others – who can and do make a difference.
We proudly start our educational offering with 3 and 4 year old girls and boys in our Kindergarten at our Junior School at Burke Hall.
Girls and women will continue to play a crucial role in the formation of our boys into good men. We host and engage in an extensive and diverse variety of purposeful experiences with many female students, mostly in wonderful schools for girls.
In this way, we enable our students to collaborate with all others in projects of shared interest and passion that enhance mutual respect, trust, enjoyment and growth. This occurs annually in musicals and in plays, productions and in musical collaborations, in literacy and creative expression festivals, in social justice works and service initiatives, in dance and social activities, in sport and in academic pursuits.
Further, our well-balanced workforce of educators offer outstanding academic leadership and support while the particular influence and role of both mothers and fathers have their constructive place in our educative fabric.
There is much attention given to the merits of co-educational or single sex schooling. We suggest that neither is right or wrong, as many might wish to argue or conclude. Rather, each approach has the capacity to offer something different and, when done well, something very positive and affirming in their specific context.
As a Jesuit school for boys, we:
- understand and celebrate boys for who they are
- strive to thoughtfully form good men
- embrace compassion and activate conscience
- know that boys develop and learn in different ways
- educate and teach in ways that boys learn best
- pursue depth, meaning, purpose and commitment
- prioritise and lead experiences oriented to bring out their best
- help them discover and explore their full potential
- are able to fuse wellbeing and spirituality in a way that is meaningful and resonates with boys
- enable them to foster deep brotherly connections and lifelong friendships
A Jesuit school for boys frames these important principles in a way that deeply values and nurtures each human person – in a way and with a depth that sustains a lifetime.
Each school has its points of difference – its culture, its gender mix, its faith component, its signature programs, its structures, its levels of performance, its community, its networks beyond the school.
The most fundamental difference to all other schools in Melbourne is that Xavier is a Jesuit School. This profound influence colours all aspects of life at Xavier and is an influence that lasts a lifetime.
Beyond this, and the information and perspectives already shared in this Enrolments section, 14 other points of difference are offered for your consideration. These, along with the perspectives of our Jesuit Rector and graduating students of the College, can be accessed in our ‘Why Xavier’ page.
Students can be enrolled at any year level, although this is clearly dependent upon availability. Our major points of entry fall on the odd number year levels and relate to the progressive expansion of the number of classes per year level and the staged unfolding of our learning offering.
- Prep: 1 class only per year (Prep to Year 2)
- Year 3: 2 classes per year (Years 3-4)
- Year 5: 4 classes per year (Years 5-6)
- Year 7: 8 classes per year (Years 7-8)
- Year 9: Boarding commences – 10 classes per year (Years 9-10)
- Year 11: Last major point of entry (day and boarding)
Again, entry is possible at any year level where vacancies occur. Year 10 is also a significant point of entry for boarding families.
Xavier is structured so that, as much as is possible, families can opt to start at the point that most suits both their family and their child’s needs.
Sometimes, the particular circumstances of the social (peer) dynamic or class sizes and diversity or the orientation towards boys education and their unique need can be defining factors for a parent and child wishing to pursue earlier entry.
There are times through the primary years where a child needs to be stretched or offered a greater breadth or specialisation in their learning programs and social and wider educational experiences (such as in music or sport). Sometimes, the particular circumstances of the social (peer) dynamic or class sizes and diversity or the orientation towards boys education and their unique need can be defining factors for a parent and child wishing to pursue earlier entry. Extending upon the wonderful foundations in our early years (Kindergarten to Year 2) program in the St Louis Building, Xavier has developed a bespoke Year 3-4 learning program that starts to offer greater specialisation in learning and thoughtfully-integrated experiential (outdoor) learning experiences and journeys. Through demand, we have now added an additional class at Years 3 and 4.
Year 5 has been a traditional feeder year for many students as they round off their primary years and prepare themselves more substantially for the important transition into secondary schooling at Year 7. Our Year 5 and 6 program offers high levels of specialisation across Creative Arts, Drama, Music, Physical Education, Languages, STEM subjects and outdoor adventure, as well as the breadth of Sports and wider cocurricular and service (social justice) experiences.
Year 7 is the other traditional large intake year at Xavier. There are roughly the same number of students starting their first year at Xavier as those who are transferring across from our Junior School to the Senior School. The students move into our new award-winning Kostka Precinct that has been purposefully designed to set the foundations through Years 7 and 8.
Year 9 is another important entry opportunity. While a number of day students join at this time, this is the first year of the Boarding House and many boarders start either in Year 9 or in Year 10.
Year 11 represents the last key entry point for many students and families who elect to round off their son's education for the final two VCE years. A number of students also convert from a day to a boarding enrolment at this time, which is becoming increasingly popular for students residing in metropolitan Melbourne as they face the demands but also the exciting opportunities that come in the final two senior years at Xavier.
Xavier accepts applications from families at any time. We do not grant entry to students on the basis of how early in life an application is made. At Xavier, we understand that aligning the right school with family values and the needs of the individual child is important and that some factors and variables can change over time. Understanding the right time can be identified by respecting the unique needs of every child, balanced against the environment that best hones their capacity to bring out their best and enables them to thrive.
Our enrolment criteria is clearly outlined in our Enrolment Policy (accessed via this link). It is fair to say that the time of application does provide one indicator of commitment and does enable the College to ensure prospective families are fully informed of College life, actions and directions through the wait
- All parents are strongly encouraged to develop an understanding of the values and direction of Xavier College prior to making an application. We trust that this website, our XC150 Strategic Plan, our regular College small-group tours, and other engagement points with both the College and Jesuit ministries all assist in developing this understanding (see links above).
- Parents are welcome to submit an application for the prospective future enrolment of your child. This application begins by registering your child for enrolment and registering your child’s name on our application lists. This is done by completing our online form and the payment of $150 (non-refundable). To enrol today, access the online Enrolment Form.
- By no later than two years prior to the preferred year of entry, the College will contact parents to confirm their interest and to arrange for the completion of the next stage of the admissions process. At Xavier, this is an important part of the process and is different from many other schools. Details about the educational history of your son are requested, along with any other information that would be relevant to confirm an accurate understanding of his abilities, interests and capacity, as well as the values and desires of the family for his education. We believe that complete understanding and alignment in this regard is most important to ensuring a meaningful, desirable and successful outcome. Once received and based on the number and correlation of applications, an interview may be offered to a prospective student and his parents.
- An interview does not guarantee a place or an offer of enrolment. All applicants will be considered on their merits and in accord with the entry preferences and criteria of the College. Once the application process has been concluded, with consideration given to the full range of applicants (referring to the large interest and intake year levels of Year 5 and Year 7), offers of enrolment are made. For students/parents who are applying outside of these year levels, applications and offers can be made more promptly in the event that a place is available.
- Accepted students at Xavier are required to undertake an academic assessment prior to their entry at the College. This should correlate with the educational account provided in application and is used by the College’s academic learning team to best prepare for the arrival and educational care provided for each and every student.
- The College Enrolment Policy supports and guides our process and should be understood and considered by parents in making application to Xavier College. Our Enrolment Policy can be accessed
School Tours
Xavier conducts regular small group tours to enable prospective families and students to see and sense the school for themselves. In this way, people can hear from the leaders who breathe life into the school and can understand both the rationale behind our programs and approach, as well as sense what cannot be seen in the moment or where our current thinking might Influence future directions.
A tour of the Junior School (Kindergarten to Year 6) and Senior School (Years 7-12) can be achieved via the links below.
