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Catholic Education South Australia will open a new secondary college in the Riverland region in 2022.

The college will be located in Renmark and will cater for up to 360 students from Year 7 to 12.

The new school will build on the quality Catholic education and pastoral care already provided in the four local primary schools:

St Joseph’s School, Barmera
Our Lady of the River School, Berri
St Albert’s School, Loxton
St Joseph’s School, Renmark.

Bishop Gregory O’Kelly SJ, Bishop of the Diocese of Port Pirie, expressed great satisfaction with the decision to progress this development within the Diocese.

He quoted the adage that the education of youth is the renewal of the world, and this endorsement of the ministry of education in the Diocese will be a source of great blessings for the young people and families involved.

Professor Denis Ralph, Chair, South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools said “This important new development is part of our commitment to expanding Catholic education pathways for children and young people in regional South Australia.

“The new college will provide a high quality Catholic secondary pathway for students currently attending the four Catholic primary schools in the Riverland and all families within the region seeking a Catholic secondary education for their children.”

The Riverland college will open with Year 7 and 8 in 2022 and will offer a new year level annually until it expands to Year 7 to 12 by 2026.

To coincide with the move, all Catholic primary schools in the Riverland will become Reception to Year 6 schools from 2022.

“I know that this decision will be welcomed by many local families in the Riverland,” says Nichii Mardon, Director, Catholic Education Diocese of Port Pirie.

“This expansion follows a thorough consultation process with the regional community that confirmed the strong desire for the development of this new college.

“Together with the existing Catholic primary schools in the region, we are building an even stronger focus on student learning and quality teaching for all students across the Riverland region.

“A range of possible town locations were considered within the Riverland region, with Renmark deemed the most suitable. We expect to be able to announce the site for the college soon.”

The announcement follows last year’s milestone of 100 years of Catholic education in the Riverland region and has been welcomed by the local Council.

“The establishment of a Catholic secondary school in the Riverland region has been discussed by local families for many years, if not decades. To hear that the South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools has approved the development is pleasing news” said Mayor Neil Martinson, Renmark Paringa Council.