At the heart of our College is the mission of the Catholic Church and our own Mission Statement which challenges us to be a school community of faith, learning, respect and service in the Catholic tradition. Also at the heart of our Catholic College is the learning community. Together these are blended to form the core of our Catholic school learning community following in the teachings of Jesus.
We are committed to creating a learning community promoting educational excellence where opportunities exist for all students to be inspired and engaged in learning through the experience of a dynamic, relevant, innovative curriculum infused with Catholic values.
— St Patrick's College Strategic Plan 2018-2022
In the ever-evolving landscape of education, continuous improvement is the cornerstone of providing our students with the best learning experiences. In 2022, Catholic Education Tasmania commenced the Insight project, bringing the Science of Learning and renowned educational psychologist Barak Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction to the forefront of our teaching strategies. This approach emphasises effective instructional strategies.
During 2022, our dedicated teaching staff have actively engaged in professional Learning activities to understand better and implement Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction and the Science of Learning. This initiative is based on robust scientific research and best practices, designed to enhance the teaching and learning experience in our College. One key highlight of our professional development activities has been the use of expert demonstrations here at the College. This hands-on approach has allowed our teachers to witness and experience the benefits of the methodology, further inspiring them to embrace it in their classrooms.
This approach to teaching, influenced by the Science of Learning and Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction, strongly emphasises effective instructional strategies, clear lesson structures, active student engagement, and deliberate practice. These elements have been proven to enhance students' understanding and retention of knowledge significantly. Strategies such as mini whiteboards promote active student participation and provide immediate feedback, aligning seamlessly with the Insight approach. They offer a dynamic way for students to actively engage with the material, fostering a more interactive and stimulating learning environment.
The Insight initiative represents our commitment to providing the best possible education for our students. We believe that by incorporating research-based principles into our teaching methodologies, we can ensure that each student reaches their full potential and achieves academic success. We are enthusiastic about Insight's positive impact on our students' learning.
The College is structured into a three school model of learning incorporating the Middle School (Years 7 and 8), Croagh Patrick (Year 9) and Senior School (Years 10-12). Each School has a dedicated leadership team and teachers specialising in working with each age band and their distinctive needs. While each School has unique features and purposes, the tapestry which forms our College curriculum binds us together in the pursuit of academic excellence and achievement for all students at the College.
The Academic Council meets weekly to provide leadership in the enhancement of the learning and achievement of students in the College. They in turn, lead large numbers of teaching staff in their individual Faculties. The Academic Council contribute to the broad fabric of curriculum subject offerings, lead Common Assessment Tasks, assessment, continuous feedback and reporting processes within their Faculty. They are a learning and teaching decision making body.