If you've ever assumed that attending a Catholic school means you have to be Catholic and that the fees are expensive, you're not alone. It's a common perception, but for many families, the reality looks quite different.
You don't need to be Catholic to belong.
Catholic schools offer character formation that respects the religious and non-religious backgrounds of all students. Day to day, faith shows up through kindness, resilience, service to others, and a genuine sense of belonging, built through learning and social justice programs that let kids make a real difference.
The curriculum looks a lot like you'd expect.
Catholic schools teach the NSW curriculum and are proud of the academic achievements of our students. Religious Education is designed for students of any religious or non-religious background. For those students who are Catholic, it aims to support them in understanding their faith. For other students, it aims to help them learn more about a Catholic understanding of life.
Academic results speak for themselves.
Catholic schools consistently punch above their weight - strong HSC results, dedicated teachers and a genuine sense of community that means every student is known and supported.
The benefits last well beyond graduation.
A 2025 study using HILDA data found Catholic school graduates were, on average, more likely to be employed, reported higher life satisfaction and better general health, were more likely to donate to charity, and earned a 4-11% wage premium vs government-school peers after controls.
And the fees question - it's more affordable than people assume.
Catholic education isn't the exclusive, expensive world some parents imagine. Fees are kept as low as possible, with families paying less each day than they'd spend on everyday essentials like lunch or parking. Sibling discounts are available, flexible payment plans are standard and schools work with families experiencing genuine financial hardship. No family is turned away simply because of their inability to pay.
The bottom line:
Catholic schools today are inclusive, high-achieving, values-driven communities. The best way to see what one is really like is to experience it firsthand. Attend an open day or speak with staff about the programs and community that make each school unique.
Curious what this looks like in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains?
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) is a community of 80 schools where every family is welcomed and supported to thrive. With affordable fees, high-quality learning programs, state-of-the-art facilities and a strong focus on wellbeing and belonging, CSPD schools empower every child to strive for greatness.
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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08 Jul 2026
From Facebook
✨ Looking for the right school for your child? We’d love to welcome you! ✨ Join us at our Open Days and discover what makes our school such a special place to learn, grow and belong. 💙 Tour our classrooms, meet our dedicated teachers, chat with our friendly students, and experience the warm, faith filled community that makes our school feel like home. From inspiring learning opportunities to strong values and meaningful connections, there’s so much to see. Come and see the difference for yourself—we can’t wait to meet you! 🌟
02 Jul 2026
From Facebook
Our Year 3 students proudly showcased their incredible endangered animal dioramas to our Year 2 and Kindergarten classes! 🐨🐢 Through careful research, students investigated the habitats, threats, and challenges facing their chosen animals, including habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and human activities. They also explored real-world conservation efforts and suggested meaningful actions that we can all take to help protect these precious species. With confidence and enthusiasm, our young environmental advocates shared their learning, inspired others to care for wildlife, and demonstrated that even small actions can make a big difference for endangered animals. We are so proud of their creativity, knowledge, and commitment to creating a brighter future for our planet! 🌏💚
More News
17 Jul 2026
What's It Really Like to Send Your Kid to a Catholic School?
If you've ever assumed that attending a Catholic school means you have to be Catholic and that the fees are expensive, you're not alone. It's a common perception, but for many families, the reality looks quite different.
08 Jul 2026
From Facebook
✨ Looking for the right school for your child? We’d love to welcome you! ✨ Join us at our Open Days and discover what makes our school such a special place to learn, grow and belong. 💙 Tour our classrooms, meet our dedicated teachers, chat with our friendly students, and experience the warm, faith filled community that makes our school feel like home. From inspiring learning opportunities to strong values and meaningful connections, there’s so much to see. Come and see the difference for yourself—we can’t wait to meet you! 🌟
08 Jul 2026
CSPD students recognised in Refugee Week Creative Competition
Over 125 students from 10 Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) schools have been recognised for their empathy and powerful storytelling as part of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Australia Refugee Week Creative Competition.
02 Jul 2026
From Facebook
Our Year 3 students proudly showcased their incredible endangered animal dioramas to our Year 2 and Kindergarten classes! 🐨🐢 Through careful research, students investigated the habitats, threats, and challenges facing their chosen animals, including habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and human activities. They also explored real-world conservation efforts and suggested meaningful actions that we can all take to help protect these precious species. With confidence and enthusiasm, our young environmental advocates shared their learning, inspired others to care for wildlife, and demonstrated that even small actions can make a big difference for endangered animals. We are so proud of their creativity, knowledge, and commitment to creating a brighter future for our planet! 🌏💚
29 Jun 2026
From Facebook
🎶 2026 Arts Factor Band Day 🎶 What an incredible day of music, learning and collaboration! Today, a group of our talented Year 6 students, along with Jiji from Year 5, proudly represented Holy Family at the 2026 Arts Factor Band Day. Joining students from primary schools across the Diocese, they took part in an inspiring workshop where they learned and performed a brand-new piece of music together as one combined band. The day also provided each school with the opportunity to showcase their talents by performing two prepared pieces, celebrating the dedication, teamwork and musical growth of every student involved. We are so proud of our musicians for stepping outside their comfort zones, embracing new challenges and representing our school with confidence, enthusiasm and pride. A huge thank you to the Captivate Team Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese for providing such a memorable experience.
27 Jun 2026
From Facebook
🌧️ Rain couldn’t dampen the excitement! ⚽️🇦🇺 As part of their whole school reward, our students cheered on the Socceroos, filling the afternoon with excitement, smiles and plenty of Aussie spirit. It was a fantastic way to celebrate the positive choices they’ve made by living safely, loving respectfully and learning daily. 💚💛🙌
26 Jun 2026
From Facebook
🏆✨ Celebrating our End of Term Award recipients! ✨🏆 Today we recognised students who have truly shone by choosing to Live Safely 💛, Love Respectfully ❤️, and Learn Daily 📚. Their positive attitudes, kind hearts, and commitment to doing their best make our school community a wonderful place to be. We also had three Year students who were recipients of our Student of the Week awards! Congratulations to all of our award winners! 🌟 Keep being role models, making great choices, and inspiring those around you. We can’t wait to see what you’ll achieve next term! 👏🎉 #LiveSafely #LoveRespectfully #LearnDaily
25 Jun 2026
From Facebook
🌟 Reward Day Fun! 🌟 Our students have been working hard to follow our school expectations, and their rewards were well deserved! 🎉 🧦 Year 1 rocked their craziest socks and enjoyed a movie afternoon 🍿 🏉 Year 4 showed off their favourite jerseys and earned some extra play time ⚽ 🧢 Year 3 topped had the chance to wear any hat of their choice! A fantastic way to celebrate positive choices, respect, responsibility and safe learning every day! 👏✨
24 Jun 2026
From Facebook
🎉 Reward Day Fun! 🎉 Today, our students enjoyed some well-earned rewards for consistently demonstrating our school expectations! 🌟 💙 Year 1 brightened the school by dressing in their favourite colours 🌈 🏰 Year 2 brought the magic to life, dressing as their favourite Disney characters ✨👑 🧸 Year 5 enjoyed a mufti day and brought along their favourite toys to share with friends 🎮🚗🧩 We are so proud of the way these students have shown respect, responsibility, and positive behaviour throughout the term. Rewards like these are earned through hard work and consistently making great choices every day! 👏⭐ What a fantastic day of fun, colour, creativity, and celebration! 🎊
23 Jun 2026
From Facebook
A huge thank you to our wonderful Community Links Café Club members for joining us this week! It was fantastic to come together, share a coffee, and hear about the learning taking place across our school. Families had the opportunity to participate in a Learning Walk, visiting classrooms and seeing firsthand the engaging learning experiences our students are involved in every day. The positive outcomes for student learning that have emerged from these initiatives were a highlight of our discussions, and it was wonderful to celebrate the growth, achievement, and enthusiasm of our learners. We are incredibly grateful to the parents who generously gave their time to support and engage with our school community. Your interest, feedback, and partnership play an important role in helping us create the best possible learning environment for our students. Thank you for being such valued members of our Holy Family community. We look forward to welcoming you again soon! ☕✨
23 Jun 2026
From Facebook
🌏♻️ Our Year 6 students stepped up as Climate Champions, investigating important environmental issues and creating informative posters about climate change! 🌱📚 They explored the causes and effects of climate change and designed engaging, eye-catching posters to educate others about simple ways we can all help care for our planet. 🌍💚 Through this project, students strengthened their research, critical thinking, and communication skills while encouraging our school community to take positive action for a brighter, more sustainable future. 🌿✨🌎 #ClimateChampions #FutureLeaders #MakingADifference
22 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Four of our Year 6 students took part in a Vinnies Encounter Day, learning about homelessness and reflecting on how we can see Christ in the poor. Through this experience, they were challenged to respond with compassion, kindness and respect, following Jesus' example of love in action.
19 Jun 2026
From Facebook
💧 Splashing into learning! Year 1 explored volume and capacity through hands-on investigations with water. Students estimated and measured how many cups of water different containers could hold, recording their findings and sharing their discoveries. It was a fun and engaging way to develop mathematical thinking and measurement skills.
17 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Who knew pyjamas could be so powerful? 💙❄️ Today our students came to school dressed in their comfiest pyjamas, oodies and dressing gowns to support the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. Together, we raised an amazing $452 and helped raise awareness for those doing it tough this winter. By following Jesus' example of compassion, kindness and love in action, we are helping bring hope and support to those who need it most. Thank you to our students, families and staff for your generosity. 💙 #faithinactioncspd
16 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Year 3 had an unforgettable Science excursion to Symbio Wildlife Park! 🐍🐅🐖 As part of our learning about caring for the environment and habitats of living things, students explored how animals survive, what they need to live, and ways we can help protect endangered species. From feeding wallabies and meeting meerkats to feeling pythons up close, it was a hands-on learning experience filled with excitement, curiosity and discovery! 💡🧠🧐