St Augustine's College | Focus on Boys' Education

An education at St Augustine's College focuses on how boys learn best. Beaches COVERED. spoke with Principal, Jonathan Byrne, about how the College’s tailored approach helps students develop confidence, resilience and enthusiasm for learning in an environment that fosters their growth and success.

Media coverage of boys’ schools generally focuses on incidents of toxic masculinity, bullying, and behavioural issues. Is this reporting accurate?
As the leader of a boys’ school, it’s frustrating to see sensationalist coverage designed to manufacture outrage and generate clicks. It does not reflect the lived experience of our community of staff, students and parents, and ignores many positive aspects and successes of boys’ schools.

Rather than reinforcing the harmful stereotypes in the media and a narrow definition of masculinity, St Augustine’s College understands and celebrates boys, acknowledging the full range of their emotions and vulnerabilities. We have a key role in fostering emotionally intelligent graduates and provide our students with guidance in coping with the many expectations that society has for young males.

With a focus on boys, we implement programs that support the holistic development of young men. We prepare them to make positive contributions to society and promote the positive traits, such as empathy, resilience, and community involvement.

What does the research say about boys’ education?
Longitudinal research from New Zealand shows that boys in single-sex schools outperform those in co-educational environments across various measures, including academic and personal growth. This national research (available at absnz.net/research) is a comprehensive analysis of results and is peer-reviewed.

As a boys' school, we apply scientific evidence regarding male adolescent brain development to implement teaching strategies that cater for cognitive load and emotional development. By providing a tailored educational experience that caters to the unique developmental needs of boys, it allows them to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Without the social pressures of gender stereotypes, our students can explore their full potential.

Our boy-centric school places a strong emphasis on literature, languages, music, drama, and visual arts. These opportunities help boys find their creativity and develop essential communication skills. It is a place where every student can pursue his interests and discover his unique strengths.

Research indicates that boys thrive in environments where they feel supported and understood by their educators. Our students work hard for our teachers and try their best because they feel known and respected, and our educators are interested in them as individuals.

What is the role of relationships in boys’ education?
Relationships between peers are important. Our students build strong bonds through shared experiences in classrooms, sports, and performances. Our pastoral care and wellbeing programs provide younger students with positive role models, a great antidote to the contemporary issues of social isolation and loneliness.

Many of our alumni appreciate the friendships developed at the College and continue these bonds after graduating. Boys need to understand the role they play in building loving, trusting relationships. It is challenging for adolescents to navigate these topics with the constant intrusions of social media and society, so it is crucial that boys’ schools reduce external pressures and create spaces for young men to engage in meaningful dialogue.

Boys can then challenge traditional gender norms, speak their minds, ask brave questions and share their experiences in an environment where they feel safe. With this strong foundation, our students interact with females in a respectful and healthy way through our partnerships with local girls’ schools, fostering authentic experiences that celebrate and value the differences between the sexes.

Why does St Augustine’s College have a reputation as experts in boys’ education?
Our staff are constantly engaged with and contributing to research into best practices for boys’ education. As a member of the International Boys’ School Coalition, our educators regularly present at key worldwide education conferences and lead action research projects. Areas of focus include wellbeing, literacy as a schoolwide approach, working memory in the Primary classroom, and relational aspects of play to develop agency and independence in learning.

Results show that our focus on boys’ education is working. We are now the 5th ranked Catholic School in NSW. In 2024, 34% of our students achieved an ATAR of 90+, with four above 99. We also had a strong showing in the HSC Showcase for Drama, Visual Arts, Design and Technology, and Industrial Technology.

Beyond academic excellence, what values do students develop at the College?
Students are immersed in the Augustinian values of Humility, Interiority, Community, the Restless Search for Truth and Ongoing Conversion. Our AWE (Augustinian Wellbeing in Education) and SEA (Service Education Awareness) programs prepare boys to serve their communities, support their mental health, and develop a strong moral compass.

The College focuses on one Augustinian value each year, and 2025 is Humility. Our patron Saint Augustine provides our community with a framework for personal growth and together, we reflect on his quote: “Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.”

When your son begins his education at St Augustine’s College, he joins a learning environment specifically structured to set him up for success.

For more information about the opportunities St Augustine’s College offers your son, visit saintaug.nsw.edu.au.

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