St Mary’s Cathedral College is reshaping what education looks like in the heart of Sydney.
With a three-school model that redefines the learning journey, a bold new vision grounded in contemporary liberal arts, and an innovative curriculum that goes beyond the classroom, 2026 marks the next stage of the College’s transformative era.
A model built on wonder and wisdom
In 2025, the College introduced a pioneering three-school model with a Junior School (K-4), a Middle School (5-8), and a Senior School (9-12).
For Principal Kerrie McDiarmid, this evolution is about far more than structural change. It’s about designing an intentional pathway where every developmental stage is honoured and every transition is supported, ensuring students grow with confidence, purpose and joy.
“Our three-school model allows us to respond to students’ developmental and educational needs, making sure we set really strong foundations,” Mrs McDiarmid said.
“In the Junior School, we talk about those being the years where students find wonder, curiosity and joy. In the Middle School, students become immersed in an integrated learning environment where the city becomes their classroom. It’s then in the Senior School years where we hope they find wisdom.
“We have a really strong focus on pathways and partnerships and a cross-curricular approach with our Catholic faith at its heart that provides a unique lens on what learning can be.”
Integrated learning in action
St Mary’s was recently named as one of The Educator’s 5-Star Innovative Schools for 2025, a reflection of how the College is challenging the mould of traditional learning.
A defining feature of the College’s new liberal arts approach is its integrated, cross-curricular learning program. Drawing on UNESCO’s concept of the ‘learning city,’ St Mary’s leverages its unique position in the heart of Sydney to turn museums, university precincts, institutions, gardens and public spaces into extensions of the classroom.
‘Crafting Beauty for Human Flourishing’, a recent project undertaken by Year 8 students, showcases the depth and ambition of this approach. In partnership with the University of New South Wales, the Royal Botanic Gardens, and design firm Vertical, students explored the relationship between beauty, stewardship of the environment and human wellbeing by investigating biophilic design principles and developing proposals to enhance the College’s physical environment.
“These projects are not add-ons,” Mrs McDiarmid explains. “They’re core curriculum. Students learn to collaborate, to inquire, to reflect on truth, beauty and goodness, and to apply their learning in ways that genuinely enrich their community.”
Bespoke electives: From social entrepreneurship to professional sport
As students move into the Senior School, learning shifts from integration to specialisation, supported by a series of bespoke electives designed by St Mary’s staff in partnership with industry.
The College is developing a broad range of creative, academic and practical courses, including Entrepreneurship and Investing, delivered with the University of Technology Sydney, and Football Focus, a high-performance sport elective developed with Sydney FC.
Students also have opportunities in design, visual arts, performing arts, technology, STEM and more, giving them the freedom to experiment before making senior subject selections.
“By Year 9, students have a clearer sense of who they are as learners,” says Ms McDiarmid. “These electives meet them at that stage, keep them engaged, and show them a pathway to Year 12 and beyond.”
Bringing expertise inside the school
To deepen the connection between classroom learning and real-world expertise, St Mary’s has also launched an ambitious In-Residence and Partnership Program. Artists-in-residence, authors, industry experts, academics and community leaders work directly with students, co-creating learning experiences that expand both skill and imagination.
Whether it’s specialists supporting integrated learning units or mentors guiding senior electives, these partnerships bring authenticity and relevance to student work.
The College recently partnered with leading cybersecurity specialists, Waterstons, to give students hands-on education in the world of cybersecurity, strengthening students’ understanding of digital safety in an increasingly digital age.
“It enhances everything,” says Ms McDiarmid of the in-residence program. “Our teachers love the professional generosity of our partners, and our students get to learn from people who are living and shaping the fields they’re interested in.”
Anchored in Truth, Beauty and Goodness
Across all programs, from entrepreneurship to visual arts, the College maintains a deeply Catholic lens.
“Every unit has a lens on truth, beauty and goodness,” McDiarmid says. “If you’re doing entrepreneurship, it’s social entrepreneurship. We have a very specific way that we ask teachers to program.”
The College’s Phronesis Program, a character education program that was introduced in 2023, ensures that academic learning and moral formation go hand-in-hand.
“We are teaching for understanding and character at the same time,” she adds. “We want them to come out as good people, good virtuous people, making good decisions.”
Find out more at St Mary’s Cathedral College Open Day, Tuesday 10 March 2pm–6pm. Register here.