Santa Maria College

Santa Maria College is a girl’s Catholic school situated on a 2.5-hectare single campus, in the heart of suburban Northcote, 7kms north of Melbourne CBD. Established in 1904, the College has undergone much change, and yet remains true to its Good Samaritan, Benedictine charism. The student population is 920.

Santa Maria College is a welcoming school that has dynamic, determined, cohesive and innovative leadership and a committed staff. It is increasingly highly regarded in the community as a school that cares deeply for its students: one that seeks to promote student life that enables girls to become strong, compassionate and independent women who are critical thinkers and who seek to live out Gospel values with integrity, hope and joy. In recognising the importance of working in partnership with parents, the College is endeavouring to provide a holistic education to the young women it serves. In doing so, it is wholeheartedly embracing the challenges of the rapidly changing educational, social and spiritual landscape.

The College successfully gained authorisation from the International Baccalaureate as a global school in 2014 and as such is an official provider of the Middle Years Program (MYP: Years 7-10). This recognition has placed the College on an international platform as a global school for innovative learning.

The College has a true multicultural profile with no one particular nationality dominating the ethnic mix with many students representing third and fourth generation migrant families. Added to this great richness to our College is the enrolment of a small number of Aboriginal students and a growing intake of Sudanese students. This provides a wonderful learning opportunity for considered dialogue, growing relationships leading to the development of mutual respect.

Our College aims to provide a holistic learning experience for each student. Offering opportunities that engage and ignite a passion for learning within a nurturing community, as part of our vision of ‘One Community, Three Villages’ model held within the framework of our Catholic, Benedictine/Good Samaritan tradition. Knowing each student’s story, so that she can learn in community is our intent.