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The Augustinian Order opened Villanova College in the northside
suburb of Whinstanes, at the invitation of the then Archbishop of
Brisbane in 1948. In 1954, the College moved to its present
location in Coorparoo, and continued its developing tradition of
academic excellence in a caring, supportive community.
Since those early pioneering days, much has changed in educational
circles. While the fundamental vision for education remains the
same at Villanova in the 21st century as it was in the 20th - as a
search for truth and understanding within a strong, faith-filled
community - fifty years of academic and action research in the
fields of education and psychology have indicated the need for
changes in the ways schools are organised and the way students
experience education.
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The significantly different developmental needs of students in the early, middle and senior phases of learning are
now recognised. Further, research indicates the need for approaches to teaching and learning and pastoral care
that are specifically designed and structured to meet the needs of students at the different stages of their schooling.
Each stage of schooling needs to be designed to encourage the successful completion of the developmental tasks
that boys must negotiate at each stage in their lives.
Research has also indicated the psychological and developmental benefits that derive from students establishing
and maintaining a connectedness to their school, their peers and their community. This connectedness is best
fostered in a developmentally-appropriate way according to the students’ age.
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In 2003, Villanova began a process of renewal which became known as the Villanova Schooling Project that
aimed to redesign our students’ experience of schooling to make best use of these academic and action research
findings. As the result of extensive consultation and research, the College determined that to offer students the
very best possible experience of schooling, Villanova would become three schools-within-a-school, taking
advantage of those aspects of a large school such as extensive resources and expertise while at the same time
ensuring that students had a ‘small-school’ experience of connectedness and community.
In 2006, Villanova formally inaugurated its Junior School consisting of Years Five and Six, and its Middle
School consisting of Years Seven, Eight and Nine. In 2007, the Senior
School consisting of Years Ten, Eleven and Twelve
saw the appointment of its inaugural Head of Senior School.
While each school within the College has its own specialised approach -
as appropriate to the developmental stage of the students - Villanova remains
one College in the Augustinian tradition. The strong Villanova community of
parents, teachers, students and friends will be maintained and strengthened.
Villanova’s proud academic, sporting and cultural traditions are also preserved and continued.
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