Xavier College

With passion and purpose, we seek to forge young men and women of character, of conscience, compassion and competent commitment. Within a spirit of excellence, we challenge our students to pursue their best, make a contribution and unlock their every potential. For 140 years, we have been challenging and educating our students to strive for excellence in the development of their talent and potential through their intellectual, spiritual, moral, physical, social and emotional formation. Xavier offers a nurturing space, valuing inclusiveness and teamwork, in which students strive to discern and realise their gifts and to foster a passion for life and learning.

We also recognise that their gifts must be used not simply for the enrichment of self, but for the betterment of others. We recognise that their heart is most on fire when they are making a meaningful contribution to the world through service. Therefore, in meaningful ways, we seek to fulfil the Ignatian ideal of forming ‘men for others’ through acting in faith, for justice, and with dignity, humility and respect. e aspire to nurture Xaverians who are able and willing, through word and deed, to pursue a courageous response to the challenges of our time and the building of a better world for all.

A Jesuit education encourages the individual to develop his or her talents and fosters reflection so that the person’s heart, mind, body and spirit may become fully engaged to serve in the wider world. Xavier College is a Catholic school founded in 1878 by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). It belongs to a worldwide network of over 2000 Jesuit educational institutions. Our aim is excellence in education with a particular focus on the care of the individual within our community.

In the Jesuit tradition, we believe that, through rigorous self-reflection, each person’s imagination and creativity can be more fully integrated with faith and reason. We encourage each of our students to become more fully alive to their own potential and to the challenge of living out their Christian values through developing and providing outstanding leadership and service in the world.

Our Vision Xavier College aspires to set hearts on fire by an educational commitment to a faith that does justice. Our Mission Xavier College is a Catholic school within the spiritual and educational tradition of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits). Our inspiration is Jesus Christ, the model of fulfilled human life. Our aim is excellence in education and the formation of reflective, compassionate and articulate men and women of Christian faith, hope and love who will provide outstanding service and leadership in our world.

A Jesuit education promotes intellectual achievement and outstanding academic results. It also inspires each student to discover his or her unique gifts and develop them fully. Xavier College has always provided both a first-class grounding in all the traditional core subjects and a breadth of learning experience which includes the compulsory study of a language other than English (LOTE) until the end of Year 9. At each campus, Learning Enhancement Centres meet the special needs of students who wish to extend the scope of their studies or who need consolidation in basic learning areas.

In Years 5 to 8, the curriculum is taught sequentially using an integrated approach that links subjects through common themes. The program gives students increased responsibility for their own learning, and emphasises negotiation skills and peer support. It allows students to progress according to their differing rates of accomplishment. In Years 9 and 10, the extensive range of course options enables students to tailor their studies according to their emerging interests and talents.

The programs are also designed to increase their understanding of the specialist subject disciplines they are considering for the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), so that they can make fully informed choices. In Years 11 and 12, students can again choose from a very wide range of courses. Most commonly they undertake the VCE, but Vocational Education and Training (VET) units and some university studies are also offered. Xavier College’s academic results at VCE are always of the highest standard, reflecting the school’s commitment to excellence both in terms of teaching standards and expectations of students. With assistance from a dynamic Careers Education program, all Xavier College students acquire, by their final year, not only a sound knowledge of specific subject disciplines but also a realistic appreciation of their individual interests and intellectual capabilities.

Xavier College is accredited to deliver the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program. There is a strong alignment between this program and the philosophy and characteristics of a Jesuit education; both focus on the growth of the whole child: intellectually, spiritually, aesthetically, socially, emotionally and physically, in the classroom and the wider world. We have developed a comprehensive curriculum which emphasises the importance of trans-disciplinary learning: the need to acquire skills in context, and to explore knowledge that is relevant to their lives.