All-boys Catholic Salter Point, Perth Founded 1894

Aquinas College.

Christian Brothers' Catholic boys' college on a 60-hectare Mount Henry Peninsula site by the Canning River. Heritage stretches to 1894 (CBC Perth); the present Salter Point campus opened in 1938.

Inside Aquinas

Aquinas's history begins with Christian Brothers' College, Perth (CBC Perth), opened on St Georges Terrace on 31 January 1894 by the Christian Brothers. CBC Perth was for decades one of the principal Catholic boys' schools in WA. In 1936, the Christian Brothers purchased land on the Mount Henry Peninsula on the Canning River, and Aquinas College opened there in 1938 when the headmaster, boarders and some day students from CBC Perth moved to the new campus.

Although CBC Perth continued as a day school until 1961, Aquinas inherited the College colours red and black, the honour boards, and the academic and sporting history of CBC Perth covering 1894 to 1937. So while Aquinas's physical site dates to 1938, the school traces its heritage back to 1894 and is one of the oldest Catholic boys' schools in WA.

Aquinas is now an independent Roman Catholic single-sex day and boarding school for boys, located at Salter Point, sometimes referred to as Manning given its location near the Manning suburb boundary. It serves boys from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12 across a substantial riverside campus, and is one of the foundation members of the Catholic Schools Performing Arts Festival circuit.

What Aquinas is known for

Christian Brothers' Catholic foundation

The school's identity is rooted in the Christian Brothers' tradition, with an emphasis on faith, sport, and community service. For Catholic families wanting a boys' school with strong tradition, Aquinas is one of the obvious choices.

60-hectare riverside campus

The Mount Henry Peninsula site on the Canning River gives Aquinas a sport and outdoor footprint that few inner-Perth schools can match. The grounds are part of the school's identity.

Solid PSA member

Aquinas is a longstanding member of the PSA, with strong cricket, rowing, rugby, and athletics traditions. Sport is a substantial part of senior school life.

Day + boarding hybrid

Around 80 boarders, primarily from regional WA. The boarding community gives the school a different feel from purely day-school independents.

Things to consider

Aquinas isn't the right fit for every student. Here are the genuine tradeoffs to think through, drawn from publicly available information about the school.

Catholic foundation, central not optional

Religion is a curriculum subject, masses are part of the school year, and the Christian Brothers' Catholic ethos is central. For non-Catholic families, this is worth understanding.

Independent Catholic fees

Fees are below the top PSA private schools but still substantial. Sibling discounts and other supports exist; check directly with the school.

All-boys

Single-sex from Year 7 onwards. The shared events with girls' schools soften the social dynamic but the daily classroom is single-sex.

South of the river but not central

Salter Point is south of the Swan and is a 6 to 10-minute drive from many central southern suburbs. For families further out, the commute is longer.

The ATAR pathway at Aquinas

Aquinas boys take broad ATAR plates. Most common: Engineering (Methods + Specialist + Physics + Chemistry), Pre-medicine (Methods + Chemistry + Human Bio + English), Commerce (Methods + Economics + English + a science), and Sport / outdoor sciences (Apps + PE + Human Bio + English).

UWA is the dominant tertiary destination, with strong streams to Curtin (engineering, commerce) and Notre Dame Fremantle (especially for boys following Catholic-flavoured pathways).

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From Aquinas to our Bentley centre

Our Bentley centre is about 3 km from Aquinas, a 6-minute drive along Manning Road. Plenty of Aquinas boys ride or get a quick lift to weekly classes after school. The trip is one of the shortest school-to-tutor commutes in Perth.

Aquinas College questions

Common questions from Aquinas College families

How far is Aquinas College from Educatta's centres?

Does Educatta tutor the subjects Aquinas College students typically take?

Yes. Educatta tutors all the major ATAR subjects Aquinas College students are sitting: Mathematics Methods, Mathematics Applications, English, Chemistry, Physics, and Human Biology. Year 11 and 12 students from Aquinas College can attend small-group classes at our Bentley centre, or live online from anywhere in WA.

Can Aquinas College students attend Educatta classes after school?

Yes. Most of our weekly classes run between 4:00pm and 8:30pm on weekdays, with weekend slots also available. Aquinas College's school day finishes in time for students to arrive at our Bentley centre for after-school weekly classes.