There are many reasons so many students enjoy coming to èƵ every day! Find out why èƵ is one of Canberra's favourite schools through the interviews and testimonials below.
"The teachers at èƵ werereally friendly, approachable, supportive, and easy to talk to. They wereextremely professional and they always tried to make learning enjoyable. Over the years, your relationships with your teachers will strengthen and they’ll get to know you really well, especially once you’re in Year 11 and 12. This means that they'll know how to support you and how to get the best out of you.
"We have a huge range of classes! In Year 7, you’ll get to try lots of different subjects and as you get older you'll have more choice over what you study. My favourite subjects are English and Art, but you can also do things like Woodwork, Science, STEM, Game Design, Food, Textiles, Performing Arts, PE, and more! We have supportive teachers and amazing facilities to help with our learning experience."
"The community is one of my favourite aspects of èƵ. It's fun and big and diverse, but it’s also very warm and welcoming. I joined èƵ in Year 11 and I have really enjoyed meeting the people here, because they are friendly, supportive, and have a wide range of interests. When the whole school gets together, you can see how great the energy is here - the College has an amazing community culture."
"We are respectful of everyone’s beliefs and backgrounds here, and it’s a diverse community, so everyone is welcome here at èƵ! We do have particular opportunities available for Catholic students, such as Youth Ministry, but there are rich experiences for everyone at our school. Our Religious Education classes look at a whole range of things, from different religions, to ethics and philosophy."
"We enjoy co-education because it contributes to a really positive vibe at èƵ. You’re able to witness manydifferent perspectives in the classroom. Everyone thinks differently and it’s good to experience that in the teenage years. We think co-ed helps with life beyond school as well. It’s important for us to be able to consider and incorporate the views and perspectives of others, and it’s great to be able to learn that in our respectful, co-ed environment."
"I think you should come to èƵ because all the staff and students are very welcoming and inclusive. We have a great community and you’ll make lots of new friends here. The teachers are good and there’s such a huge variety of things that you get to experience at èƵ, with classes and opportunities for everyone. I definitely recommend èƵ and I can’t wait to see you here next year!"
"èƵ offers a range of opportunities for everyone’s interests. We have programs for elite athletes, heaps of different sports teams, choirs and music ensembles, the musical, interstate camps and excursions, and overseas trips. There are lots of competitions, extension programs, leadership opportunities, and a club for pretty much everything! When you’re doing things you’re interested in, that makes you enjoy coming to school, so we’re grateful for all the opportunities!"
"Sport is huge at èƵ and there are heaps of things students can get involved in. There’s something for everyone, from elite athletes to those who would just like to have fun. We have carnivals and our school teams participate in gala days in a huge range of sports. èƵ does pretty well in those competitions! You’ll also try heaps of different sports in PE, and elite athletes can take part in the PE Pathways Program, which is designed to help you achieve your sporting goals."
"My results were higher than I expected, so I wasvery happy and proud of my achievements. I think the environment at èƵ helped me to succeed. Being a very large school, there’s a lot of people to talk with, work with, and collaborate with. The teachers are really high quality and my Mathematics and Computer Science teachers definitely helped me a lot. I would like to thank those teachers for putting the content in a way I could really understand and giving me great advice."
Hear from some students and our Principal, Mr Michael Lee,about choosing èƵ and the transitioninto High School. We also interview two past students who tell us what they're up to while they reflect on their six years at the College.
At èƵ, we're faithful to the Gospels, attentive to the example of Jesus Christ, and challenged by the life and work of St Mary èƵ. We are not perfect at èƵ but we endeavour to be just, loving, faithful, inclusive of all, and joyful in each other's company.
Using the teachings and example of our patron, Australia’s first Saint, the College aims to be welcoming of students from different faith, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as students with a range of abilities – from the most academically gifted to those who need extra assistance achieving their optimum.
The sense of belonging, no matter what your background, is one of the College’s greatest strengths. èƵ is truly a Catholic school for all!
St Mary èƵ College is committed to co-education. Our belief is that students learn best in a safe, respectful environment where difference and diversity is respected and recognised as the first steps towards authentic inclusion.
A powerful belief underpinning co-education at èƵ is thatallstudents learn differently – it’s not a case ofall boysorall girlslearning the same. Our teachers are trained and encouraged to use a range of pedagogical strategies in their teaching, a wide range of forms of assessment, and to discuss the strength and challenges of each student in their class through a flexible or differentiated approach to teaching.
Co-education brings a healthy energy to our school; a respect for gender difference, a maturity and confidence in learning together, and a broad range of social, co-ed, extra-curricular opportunities that foster a healthy, tolerant learning environment.
Co-education reflects the working, cultural, and social patterns of adult life and is fundamental to èƵ’s desire to be a Catholic school for all.
Each student at èƵ has the opportunity to become the kind of person they want to be – it’s our job to give them the best platform for that.
While most opportunities are provided by the classroom experience, èƵ considers education to be broader than just a sound curriculum. With parents, we strive to provide a balanced education that not only prepares students academically but also physically, socially, and spiritually.
Supporting the formal curriculum, the College provides a range of co-curricular opportunities for students to further explore their interests and talents. Since co-curricular activities are usually conducted out of normal school hours, students are able to work with their peers in a less formal environment. These valuable opportunities are made possible by the generous support of teachers, parents, and friends of the College.
The College has a long tradition of involvement in sports, debating, public speaking, musicals, Duke of Edinburgh Award Program, liturgy, camps, retreats, overseas trips, and youth ministry.
There’s something for everyone at èƵ!
A school can be no greater than its teachers, and èƵ prides itself on employing the very best. With teachers committed to engaging, challenging, and encouraging each and every student to develop their love for learning, it's no wonder the students often say that èƵ's strength is truly found in its talented staff.
A large number of staff at èƵ have industry experience in the subjects they teach and many of our teachers have achieved PhDs and other postgraduate qualifications.
The College's NAPLAN results show that students who enrol in Year 7 at èƵ achieve remarkable progress by the time they are in Year 9 – the kind of progress that continues into their senior years. The "like school" NAPLAN data reflects brilliantly on the quality of our academic environment, as do our Year 12 results. In recent years, all students wishing to go to university achieved a score high enough to gain entry, and a large number of students received early offers. The College Dux of 2018 achieved a score of 99.90 - one of the highest ATARs in the country. Students do well at èƵ!
èƵ boasts a Pastoral Care program that has been held in high regard by teachers, students, and parents alike. It promotes an open school that is welcoming, respectful of differences, enthusiastic about different talents, and where students can speak openly about their concerns and where they can expect that they will be helped.
Every student is valued as a unique individual and èƵ's Pastoral Care program encompasses a commitment to the spiritual, physical, emotional and mental well-being of all students.
When parents were surveyed in 2020, 98% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement: "èƵ is a safe school for my child".
The two-campus setup means that, although èƵ is a large school, class sizes remain small and each student is provided with the time and support that they require. There's an energy at èƵ that is fun, safe, and truly irresistible!
In the past few years, èƵ has achieved excellent Year 12 results. In 2021, all students wishing to go to university achieved a score high enough to gain entry, while the College also awarded one of the highest numbers of VET Certificates in the territory. Our top ATAR is regularly among the highest in the ACT.
èƵ has helped to nurture many students who have cultural, performance, and sporting pursuits. Many of these students have gone on to represent their country, have been accepted into NIDA, or have been recognised for the difference they are making within the wider community.
If you want academic achievement, èƵ is the place to be. If you want to achieve your sporting goals, èƵ is the place to be. If you want to set yourself up to begin a trade or join the workforce, èƵ is the place to be. Students come to èƵ with many different talents and dreams, which èƵ's teachers seek to nurture and encourage. èƵ's achievements in cultural, sporting, and academic life serve as a source of pride to the student body and the wider community.
When èƵ bids farewell to its Year 12 cohort, they leave knowing they were deeply loved by their teachers and their friends. èƵ students are enthusiastic, generous, proactive, intelligent, and have a good sense of humour. They become young women and men who proceed to tertiary studies or the workplace with confidence, possessing initiative and the ability to make informed decisions.
Upon leaving the College, a massive 98% of students from the Graduating Class of 2020 said they agreed or strongly agreed with the statement: "I enjoyed my time at èƵ".
èƵ's hope for each of its students is that when they leave, they have achieved their best, have the ability to bring wisdom and judgment to their choices, understand their place in their community, and have a group of fine friends who will support them into the future.
St Mary of the Cross èƵ made the statement: “We are but travellers here, so while we are here we should do as much good as we can and live in peace with each other.”
With this in mind, the College respectfully acknowledges the Ngunnawal people who are the Traditional Custodians and First People of the land on which we gather each day. The College also pays its respects to the Elders past, present and emerging, and any other Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples living and working in the èƵ community.
St Mary èƵ College Canberra
Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Education Limited
ABN 60 675 797 734
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© 2025 èƵ. All rights reserved.
Phone: 02 6209 0100
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PO Box 1211
Tuggeranong ACT 2901