The College has been educating boys since 1911 and has helped generations of old scholars in making the transition from boyhood to becoming fine young men of faith and character who have made significant contributions to the community in all walks of life. At St Virgil's College, 'we know boys'!
At St Virgil's College, our staff are specialist educators of boys and implicitly acknowledge and understand that boys have different learning needs and challenges to girls. Boys are by nature pragmatic, experiential and hands-on learners and require a curriculum that engages their multiple intelligences and abilities. This is done within a supportive learning environment where boys are encouraged to take risks with their learning and encouraged to take on leadership roles, vocational interests and other challenges that may appear to be too daunting to boys within a co-educational learning environment. At St Virgil's College, 'if the boys don't do it, it doesn't happen' and as such the College has proud traditions of musical performance, public speaking, drama, choir, music and visual arts.
Being a School for boys in no way devalues co-education or females; quite the contrary in that at St Virgil's College we see value in our educational environment as being an ideal medium to educate boys about being strong men of faith and compassion who respect females and would never tolerate disrespectful or inappropriate behaviour against females. The social development of boys is critical and is reflected within curricular areas as well as in our ongoing commitment to undertaking activities with St Mary's College. As the College reintroduces Year 11 this year and Year 12 in 2024, this formation work with our young men will be critical. This will provide additional opportunities to develop our young so they are at the forefront of campaigns to eradicate violence against women, gender inequality and discrimination.
Staff at the College have undertaken professional learning in the area of boys' education and are specialists in this complex and ever-evolving field of study.
Dr Ian Lillico, arguably the nation’s leading authorities on the education of boys has spent time with staff and parents of St Virgil’s College, working intensively with staff about the specific issues and challenges related to educating boys. He also met with parents to provide practical tips on how to raise boys and assist them with the journey to becoming fine young men.
