News
2 November, 2026
Parents vow to fight Catholic school amalgamation
Parents are determined to fight the proposed closure of St Michael’s Catholic School in Mittagong. They say they have been left “shocked, heartbroken and deeply concerned” by the decision and say it was made without any meaningful consultation.
Parents are determined to fight the proposed closure of St Michael’s Catholic School in Mittagong.
They say they have been left “shocked, heartbroken and deeply concerned” by the decision and say it was made without any meaningful consultation.
They are seeking an immediate suspension and independent review of the decision, including meaningful consultation with parents, staff and the wider community, examination of enrolment and demographic evidence, consideration of alternative models and transparency regarding the future of the Mittagong property.
The Bishop of Wollongong, Most Reverend Brian Mascord, announced last week that the school would be amalgamated with St Thomas Aquinas in Bowral to establish a single, unified school from the start of Term 1, 2029.
The new school will be known as the Corpus Christi Catholic Parish Primary School, Mittagong-Bowral and will be located on the site of the existing St Thomas Aquinas campus in Bowral.
In a letter to the school community dated October 29, Bishop Mascord acknowledged the news would “come as a shock and may bring uncertainty and concern” but said the decision had been made to meet “the diverse needs of people living in and around the parish”.
Parents say they were completely blindsided by the announcement.
The Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong issued a media statement on October 30 saying the decision had followed “extensive discernment and takes into account a range of data and information sources”.
The Diocese said the decision would “create new possibilities for current and future generations of Mittagong and Bowral students”.
“By bringing together these two smaller schools into a single, two-stream parish primary school located on the current St Thomas Aquinas campus in Bowral, students will have opportunities to form new connections and learning opportunities, while staff can engage in a collaborative planning and resource-sharing model aligned to the new unified school,” a spokesperson said.
“Primarily the change will allow the parish to meet broader parish and community needs, while still offering a high-quality Catholic education to school-age families at the new combined Corpus Christi Primary School.”
Alison Parker said parents and families were not given a meaningful opportunity to challenge the proposal, examine the evidence or present alternatives before the decision was announced.
“We have been offered opportunities to provide feedback about how the amalgamation will proceed, but that is very different from being consulted about whether our school should close in the first place,” Mrs Parker said.
“How can a decision of this magnitude be made without first giving the people most affected a genuine voice?”
Mrs Parker said the decision had been made despite population forecasts showing Mittagong’s population would increase from approximately 10,578 residents in 2021 to 13,504 by 2041.
“Despite this projected growth, the Diocese has decided to remove one of Mittagong's two mainstream primary school options, leaving Mittagong Public School as the town's remaining local mainstream primary school.
“We want to know whether the Diocese has properly investigated future demand for education across the Southern Highlands, including population forecasts, housing developments, enrolment trends and the capacity of other local schools,” she said.
Mrs Parker said the amalgamation was “not simply a matter of moving children from one building to another”.
“St Michael's is a deeply connected school community, with families whose relationships span generations.
“For many children, it is the only school they have ever known,” she said.
“These children are being told that the friendships, routines, teachers, traditions and environment that give them a sense of belonging will change because of a decision over which they had no say.
“Parents are facing the prospect of additional travel to Bowral, disrupted work schedules, increased transport demands and considerable uncertainty.”
A Change.org petition calling for the decision to be reconsidered has already been signed by more than 1300 people.
Parent Kathryn Dovey – who started the petition – said St Michael’s was “not just a school” but a “120-year-old institution that has been the cornerstone of the community for generations”.
She said the amalgamation was more than a logistical change and represented “a disruption to our kids’ education and our community’s heritage”.
Mrs Dovey said the amalgamation would force students into longer commutes and would impose “significant logistical and financial strains on families”.
It would also put pressure on already overburdened schools in the Mittagong area because some parents would simply be unable to send their children to Bowral and would look to the public school system.
“St Michael’s is not just another school,” Mrs Dovey said in her petition.
“It’s a small, one-stream, country school that offers a unique educational environment different from larger schools.
“It’s known for its close-knit community, where students receive more personalised attention and form lifelong friendships.
“This environment fosters not only academic success but also personal growth, something that is hard to replicate in larger settings.
“We understand that change is sometimes necessary, but there are alternative solutions that do not diminish our community’s legacy,” Mrs Dovey said.
“We propose that the local parish reconsider this decision and explore other avenues to maintain St Michael’s, such as infrastructure improvements or resource sharing initiatives.”
Bishop Mascord said the decision had been “carefully considered” and would ensure Catholic education in the parish remains “spiritually vibrant and strong for decades to come”.
“This is not the case of erasing the history of two existing schools,” the Bishop said.
“We are building on their incredible legacies to create a refreshed, modern Catholic school that represents the entire Corpus Christi region,” he said.
Bishop Mascord said a “seamless and supportive” two-year transition period would allow time for staff, students and families from both schools to participate in “co-creating the new school’s culture, identity, traditions and charism”.
Enrolments at both schools would be guaranteed.
“While no final decisions have been made regarding the future of the St Michael’s site in Mittagong beyond 2029, this transition provides an opportunity for the parish to explore new options to serve unmet community needs within the broader Southern Highlands region, such as those identified in various regional reports and plans,” Bishop Mascord said.
Parents have taken to social media, describing the decision as both “sad” and “absurd” given the region’s growing population.
Some have suggested the decision is purely financial given the potential resale value of the Mittagong site.
“Very sad to think that the holy dollar rules these days instead of children first,” one former student commented on Facebook.
Mrs Parker said there were rumours that the site could ultimately be repurposed for an over-55s residential development or another use unrelated to primary education.
“We recognise that these are currently unverified claims; however, the Diocese's own announcement confirms that the amalgamation creates an opportunity to explore alternative uses for the Mittagong property to meet broader parish and community needs,” Mrs Parker said.
“We believe the public deserves transparency about whether any redevelopment proposals, feasibility assessments, discussions with third parties or alternative-use plans have been considered and what role the potential reuse of this valuable property played in the decision to relocate the school.”
Mrs Parker said parents were not resisting change “for the sake of it”.
“It is about asking whether a decision that will permanently change our town, our children's education and our community was made with proper evidence, transparency and consideration of those affected,” she said.
“Once St Michael's closes, generations of history and an important part of Mittagong's educational identity will be lost.
“We are determined to ensure that does not happen without every reasonable opportunity to challenge the decision and fight for our school's future.”
· To sign the Change.org petition, go to https://www.change.org/p/keep-st-michael-s-mittagong-open-and-preserve-its-legacy
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