If you’re a Hong Kong-based family thinking about the next step in your child’s education, have you thought about boarding schools in Brisbane, Australia as an option? St Peters Lutheran College is considered one of the best schools in Brisbane, the Queensland capital, and is attended by day students and also boarders from Hong Kong and other parts of Asia. Here, we get some insights from ROSS THOMSON, the school’s Director of Community Engagement. (Plus, you won’t need to travel from Hong Kong to Brisbane to meet the team – read on for details of a Hong Kong information session on St Peters Lutheran College in May!)
Could you give us an overview of St Peters Lutheran College for those looking at boarding schools in Brisbane.
St Peters was established in 1945 and started with 56 boarding students. Today, there are 2,285 day and boarding students. St Peters is located on 53 leafy acres and we are only six kilometres from the Brisbane CBD; major roads and railways stations are nearby which service the school. When people tour our campus they often comment that it reminds them of a university.
The College is well resourced with a Performing Arts Centre, a Learning and Innovation Centre, multiple science labs, a chapel, two swimming pools, a cafeteria, three ovals, tennis/netball and basketball courts and a gym.
What are some of the academic and cocurricular offerings?
The College has a strong academic focus, with students able to take multiple pathways, particularly in Years 11 and 12. We offer the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme for Prep to Year 6, the Australian Curriculum for Years 7 to 10 and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme or ATAR at Years 11 and 12.
Our boarding school in Brisbane offers a wide range of cocurricular activities. There are over 30 sports, 38 ensemble groups and numerous other activities including the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, eSports and Robotics. In addition, there’s a range of Service Learning opportunities available.
St Peters Western Swim Club, which is run by St Peters, is regarded as the top school swim club in the world. Old Scholars include Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus and world champion Mollie O’Callaghan.
How many boarders are at St Peters Lutheran College and where do they come from?
We have around 135 boarders. Our boarders come from all over Australia as well as every continent in the world. From Asia, we have students from Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and China.
Within Australia our boarders come from rural and remote areas, cattle and farming properties and from urban areas.
Is there a house system?
Yes, in both the boarding and day schools. There are two boys and two girls houses in boarding and within the day school we have 10 houses. Pastoral care is very much front and centre of the house system. Both house systems have a vertical structure with students from Years 7 to 12 in each house. Within the day school the houses also compete in Inter-House competitions such as swimming, cross country and athletics.
To ask everyone’s favourite boarding-related question: what’s the food like?
The food in the Boarding House is actually quite good! The students have a food sub-committee who meet regularly with the Food Services team and the Director of Boarding. A dietician is also engaged to ensure the meals satisfy healthy eating requirements. The full-time chefs also cater for any special dietary needs of our boarders.
What support is offered to boarding students transitioning from living in Hong Kong to Brisbane?
The boarders are well supported in the Boarding House. The College engages academic tutors to assist and guide the boarders during their study in the evening and on weekend. It also engages an external provider, A-Team, to assist the younger (Years 7 to 9) with developing good study techniques and learning how to study effectively.
The College also employs Guidance Counsellors who the students can access for support. The Health Centre is manned by nursing staff and are on call for our boarding students. Nurses will also arrange medical and dental appointments for our boarders as well as accompany them to their appointments.
Give us an insight into a typical day for a boarder at St Peters.
A typical day starts at 7am with the boarders showering and getting ready for the school day. After cleaning their area, they head off to breakfast in Café 45.
The academic day starts at 8.05am and the students work seven 50-minute periods with the school day finishing at 3.10pm. Morning tea and lunch are provided in the cafeteria.
The boarders return to their respective boarding houses after school to get changed to go to sporting or music practice. If they have no commitments after school they may just relax with their friends in the Boarding House.
Study time (“Prep”) for students in Years 7 to 9 is between 4.30pm and 6pm so that following dinner these students will be involved in a recreational program. Students in Years 10 to 12 do their study between 6.30pm and 8.30pm. Prep is fully supervised with academic tutors available to assist the students with their homework.
Following Prep, supper is provided before the boarders get ready for bed. Lights out is from 9pm to 9.30pm.
What kind of characteristics do you aim to inspire in your students?
Independence, confidence and a strong sense of self. We want them to be creative thinkers, collaborators, leaders and to develop a commitment to service. Most importantly, we want them to be happy and successful young people.
What extracurricular opportunities are available at St Peters?
The College has an extensive cocurricular program. Boys have 15 sports to choose from and girls 18 sports. These include swimming, track & field, cross country, rugby (union and league), football, touch, netball, volleyball, cricket, rowing, tennis, basketball, AFL, equestrian and rhythmic gymnastics.
The cultural program offers options in music, drama and visual arts. The music program has 38 ensemble groups within the band, strings and choirs programs. Music tuition is also offered on an individual basis.
Students can also sign up for the Duke of Edinburgh program, eSports and Robotics, visual arts and drama programs such as theatre sports.
We also allow boarding students to pursue their interests outside of school. These could include sports or dance.
How do you help students transition successfully into adult life and prepare for university?
St Peters has a Career Guidance Counsellor who provides information to students and families about career options, University Open Days and entrance requirements as well as work experience opportunities.
As part of the pastoral and academic support program, the staff arrange sessions around the transition from school to university and work.
What universities and careers do students go into after their time at your boarding school in Brisbane?
The majority of graduating students attend the three main universities in Brisbane: the University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology and Griffith University. We’ve also had students attend universities in Melbourne and Sydney. What’s more, as we offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, more and more students are entering universities overseas in the UK and USA.
The careers which seem most popular are in Health Science, Engineering and Business.
Tell us about your upcoming Head of School visit to Hong Kong this May.
We have a quite extensive network of St Peters alumni in Hong Kong as well as current and prospective families and we will be hosting a function whilst in Hong Kong.
The Head of College, Tim Kotzur, and the Director of Boarding, Stuart Delaney, will be holding Information Sessions at the Sheraton Kowloon on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May. This will be a great opportunity for families who are considering sending their children to Australia to study to attend to find out more about St Peters Lutheran College.
What do you enjoy about these events and what do you find families enjoy and gain from attending?
We love holding these events and catching up with families. St Peters is such a great school. It offers so much on all fronts and there is something for every child.
Families who attend will walk away with a great deal of information about St Peters and I have no doubt they will be impressed with what we have to offer to families.
Register for the Hong Kong visit
Meet the St Peters Lutheran College team during their upcoming Hong Kong visit this May, and discover what sets the college apart from other boarding schools in Brisbane. For event and registration details, head here.
St Peters Lutheran College is at 66 Harts Road, Indooroopilly, Brisbane
+61 7 3377 6222 | stpeters.qld.edu.au
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