Xavier College
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Tour Details
Vibe at Xavier College
Xavier College is a Jesuit catholic school situated in the leafy suburb of Kew. The college operates across two campuses in Kew; Burke Hall Campus which is the junior school comprised of ELC to Year 6, and the Senior Campus which educates students from Years 7 to Year 12.
The grounds were very clean and is one of the standout features of the school. The school is placed on an elevated site and gives the impression of a university precinct. The school has a combination of grand heritage buildings such as the memorial chapel and manicured ovals which provide space for the APS sporting programs.
The tour commenced with a gathering at the memorial chapel for a time of reflection and connection. What was notable was the warmth of the staff who took the opportunity to greet everyone participating at the tour. There are a sense of strong community and the importance of parents remaining connected to the school staff to support the students’ overall wellbeing and therefore academically. Kathleen mentioned “we want the students to be good people and once they are citizens of the world that they make a positive influence with a ‘service mentality’”. Overall, Xavier College feels like a nurturing environment which is exemplified through their strong pastoral care program.
The Kostka building comprises of years 7 and 8. Each year level has approximately 190 students throughout the senior school. The Kostka building also has a school nurse and psychologist. It also has a library Robotics lab, Science lab and Design and Technology lab and drama studio.
Enrolment at Xavier College
Xavier College offers a flexible enrolment model that allows families to enter at the stage that best suits their son’s educational journey, rather than following a single intake pathway. While the traditional entry years are Year 5, Year 7, Year 9 and Year 11, the College welcomes applications at any time and assesses each child based on their individual needs rather than how early an application was lodged. Earlier entry points may appeal to families seeking a boys’ education with smaller class settings, strong peer connections or greater opportunities for academic extension and specialist programs.
The Junior School progressively introduces increased subject specialisation from Years 3 and 4, expanding further in Years 5 and 6 through dedicated programs in STEM, languages, music, drama, sport and outdoor education.
Year 7 marks the largest intake into the purpose-built Kostka Precinct, while Year 9 sees the commencement of boarding, with many regional and interstate students joining the College. This flexible approach reflects Xavier’s commitment to partnering with families to ensure each boy enters the College at the time that will best support his growth, wellbeing and long-term success.
Academics at Xavier College
When students commence in Year 7 there is no homework for the first few weeks as they are trying to settle the students into senior school. Students are also required to bring their own laptop to school. The curriculum for years 7 to 8 includes cure curriculum, major studies and electives. The major studies progress through to years 8 and 10 and the elective offerings expand. Furthermore, the years 7 and 8 curriculum is also enhanced by the instrumental program, singing, reading sessions and sporting programs.
The school encourages the students to try different sports and music to stretch their potential and increase their resilience.
The school offers tutoring to all students through their program whereby they have previous Xaverians who achieved an ATAR of >95 and have them assist students on particular subjects. This is offered out of school hours in the library from 4pm-6pm and is considered to be very popular.
Interestingly the tour wasn’t focused on the academics of the school but rather on the wellbeing of students with the emphasis on creating good men and citizens of the world.
Religion at Xavier College
Faith and spirituality are central to life at Xavier College as its heritage is a Jesuit Catholic school. Religious education is an important part of the curriculum across all year levels, with opportunities for the students to participate in liturgies, reflection days and community service programs to deepen their understanding of faith in a practical way. I asked Kathleen how many non-religious families are in the Xavier community and the message was whilst it is a catholic school, it fosters an inclusive environment that welcomes students from diverse backgrounds.
Sport at Xavier College
The students have the opportunity to participate in 24 different sports throughout the year. The school also encourages the students to try sports that they haven’t done before. They are an APS school and the school hosts some of the best stadiums in Melbourne with remarkable ovals and grounds. Additionally, they have a gym which hosts a full time staff member and the students can only access the gym outside of school hours if they have a specific program written for them.
The tour briefly touched on an outdoor education program with the Year 7 students participating in going on a camp at the Murray river, however no further information was provided.
Performing arts at Xavier College
Drama is a compulsory subject in years 7 and 8. The school values performing arts as they believe it helps students develop empathy and understanding. The school has a strong performing arts program and they also engage with various girls schools for musicals. This year, the years 5 to 8 musical is “School of Rock” and years 9 to 12 is Les Miserables.
The school also has a strong debating and public speaking program from prep to yr 12 and emphasises that they want to develop students to be able to speak confidently to a group of people.
Music at Xavier College
Music is a compulsory subject in years 7 to 8. There are approximately 90 music events held yearly at Xavier College. The students have the opportunity to participate in various music tours such as the winds tour in Japan, music trips with other Jesuit schools around the globe and jazz tours in New Orleans. Xavier has three different floors dedicated to music and they have the opportunity to be part of a bands program as well as mixing and sound engineering. There is a strong singing culture in the school.
Inclusivity and diversity at Xavier College
Xavier has a diverse learning department whereby students will have individual learning plans and make accommodations as required. The school is very careful about how they teach the students who need accommodations and mentioned that during the lessons the accommodations are discrete that other students are unaware of these being made for students within the classroom.
Languages
The languages studied in year 7 include Latin as well as the choice between Italian, Japanese and French. In year 8 the students can choose one language from Latin, French, Italian and Japanese. These languages form part of the compulsory core subjects. From year 9 onward languages are not compulsory however the students may like to continue with Latin, French, Italian or Japanese.
Wellbeing at Xavier College
One of Xavier College’s greatest strengths is its commitment to student wellbeing through a comprehensive pastoral care program. Each school day begins with prayer, helping to foster reflection and a sense of community, while students also participate in three dedicated formation sessions each week. In Year 7, these sessions focus on supporting students as they transition into secondary school, covering topics such as organisation and study habits, emotional regulation, developing positive friendships, cultivating a growth mindset, recognising stressors, building healthy relationships, and practising empathy. The College places a strong emphasis on partnering with parents, recognising that student wellbeing is most effective when there is a strong partnership. With an intentional focus on promoting positive mental health, Xavier continues to strengthen its pastoral approach, creating a supportive environment where students feel safe, connected and confident to seek guidance whenever they need it.
School buses at Xavier College
Xavier College offers convenient private charter bus services designed to make the school commute easier. Two dedicated routes service the northern and southern suburbs, transporting students to and from Burke Hall Junior School via the Senior Campus each school day. The southern route services suburbs including Moorabbin, Brighton, Malvern and Hawthorn, while the northern route caters to families in Essendon, Moonee Ponds, Brunswick and Northcote. Students can also access Panorama Coaches’ Kew and Toorak private school services. These transport options provide families with greater flexibility and convenience, particularly for those who live further from the College but wish to take advantage of all that Xavier has to offer.
Mobile phone policy
No mobile phones are to be on the students whilst at school, the phones need to be placed into their lockers. If a student is found with a mobile phone on them, it will be confiscated.
Final words
Overall, Xavier College presents as a school with a clear sense of purpose, where the formation of young men of character is placed alongside academic achievement. While the College offers extensive academic, sporting, music and performing arts opportunities, the strongest message throughout the tour was its commitment to student wellbeing, pastoral care and developing compassionate, resilient young people who are encouraged to make a positive contribution to society. Xavier’s Jesuit philosophy is evident in its emphasis on service, reflection, leadership and educating the whole person.
Families seeking a traditional boys’ school with exceptional facilities, expansive co-curricular opportunities and a strong sense of community are likely to find much to admire at Xavier College. The beautiful campus, flexible enrolment pathways, inclusive learning support and outstanding music and sporting programs complement a culture where students are encouraged to explore new interests, challenge themselves and grow in confidence. Xavier leaves the impression of a school that values kindness, connection and the development of “good men” just as highly as academic success, creating an environment where boys are supported to flourish both inside and outside the classroom.
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