As students returned to school for term three, parents of the 30 boarders at Perthville’s St Joseph’s House met with representatives from the school and Catholic Education Office.

One parent, who asked not to be named, said in her meeting she questioned if there was any way the school could revive the boarding house but was told there was no chance.

The parents met individually with the school and staff from the Catholic Education Office and spoke about the option of utilising boarding at All Saints’ College, but feedback from other parents suggested no-one was keen on the idea.

“I don’t think a lot of thought has gone into it. You have to wonder with such a small group of girls going in with a larger group of girls, how it will go,” the parent said.

“Will they be ostracised because they are from a different school? Will they have their own tutor? Will they even have a different supervisor to the All Saints’ boarders?

“I personally got the impression at the meeting that it was a little annoying that we had even voiced our concerns.

“I honestly think they decided to close St Joseph's Boarding House, told us the news before the school holidays and hoped that we would all have it sorted out when we got back to school.

“I think they expected us to all pull the girls out and the problem would be solved.”

The mother said the parents were now waiting to find out any further details regarding future accommodation for their daughters.

“They said they will take our comments back to the decision makers and they will be in contact with us,” the mother said. “They didn’t promise a solution, just an update on the process and what is going on.”

The mother also said parents were told the decision to shut the boarding facility was based on a survey sent out earlier in the year to which just seven people replied.

Bishop of Bathurst Michael McKenna confirmed at the start of July that no new enrolments would be taken at St Joseph’s House but no firm date for its closure has yet been finalised.

He said that date would depend on the outcome of discussions with parents and whether they wanted to make other arrangements for their daughters.