Stronger together

This is advertising content for Scots All Saints College.

After more than 12 months of preparation, the start of the school year welcomes a new era in education for students in Bathurst and Lithgow. 

The merger of two outstanding co-educational boarding and day schools, The Scots School and All Saints’ College, to form Scots All Saints College (SASC) will be complete.

Headmaster, Mr David Gates said much planning has taken place behind the scenes, with academic and administration staff working with parents, students, alumni and local suppliers in anticipation of the new College opening on Thursday, 31 January 2019.

“Fortunately, we are starting from a very strong foundation with culture and heritage built over more than 216 years in education combined with experienced caring teachers, specialist facilities and a welcoming school community with strong values dedicated to making our new College a success,” Mr Gates said.

“The merger has provided a unique opportunity for change, reflection and review of how we do things, what we have, the qualities and strengths we need to preserve and we how we can innovate and improve to strengthen the benefits for our students,” Mr Gates said.

Projects to prepare for the first day have included relocating teachers across campuses, rebranding, new signage, website development and uniform fittings.

In fact, more than $1.2 million is being spent on upgrades to technology and renovations to classrooms and boarding houses and creating a new senior school library.

“While academic excellence and diverse co-curricular programs such as music, sport, iSTEAM, equestrian, technology, and agriculture are priorities, an even stronger cohort of students is expected to emerge through wider College connections, greater subject choice and a focus on positive student wellbeing initiatives,” said Mr Gates.

The new library would be a stand-out feature of the senior school and now offers very modern and open-learning spaces.

Scots All Saints College will now offer students more opportunities from pre-kindergarten, to Junior School (kinder to year four), Middle School (years five to eight) at the All Saints Campus. 

While a pre-kinder cohort and the Senior School (years nine to 12) will occupy the Scots campus.

There is also a Lithgow branch for pre-kinder to year six.

The SASC boarding houses accommodate 150 boarders from years five to 12, who are mostly from central and western NSW, with some coming from Sydney and overseas.

Bringing the two schools together will mean double the opportunity. 

Students will now have the benefit of better resources and have access to the best teachers from both schools.

There will be double the sporting facilities as each campus has a gym, ovals, courts and a swimming pool.

It also means that more classes will be offered in the core subjects, for example, previously there might have been only one biology class option but now there will be two.

Underpinned by Christian values and inclusiveness, Scots All Saints College offers an outstanding learning environment, calibre and caring nature of teaching staff, pastoral care and co-curricular programs to develop the whole person.

The boarding houses are like a home from home, and students can even bring their own horse with them to school.

Students have the opportunity to participate in a broad range of music groups which include choirs, bands and orchestras. Both schools have pipes and drums bands, as well as Highland dancing teams.

Agriculture is also an important part of the curriculum.

Scholarships applications are now open for 2020, but you need to act fast as submissions close on February 4.

Academic scholarships are available for years, 5,7, 9,10 and 11, as well as a Headmaster’s Award for all-rounders.

Scholarships for music, pipe band, Highland dancing and agricultural scholarships are also available.

If you would like more information about the scholarships please visit saints.nsw.edu.au/scholarshipsinfo.

In a positive sign for the school, enrollments are growing, with some grades close to capacity. 

Mr Gates said: “While students numbers continue to grow, additional classes for Years 7 to Year 12 have meant that we can maintain the small class structure and nurturing individual focus within a big space to learn, excel and to simply be.”

Scots All Saints College is expected to launch with more than 750 pre-kindergarten to Year 12 students across the three campuses in Bathurst and Lithgow.

If you need any further information, please call the College on 02 6331 3911 or email info@saints.nsw.edu.au.

To organise a campus tour, please contact 02 6331 3911 or go to www.scotsallsaints.nsw.edu.au 

This is advertising content for Scots All Saints College.