St Patrick's Primary School

What St Patrick's Primary School does

St Patrick's Primary School Port Fairy is a Catholic parish primary school serving 173 students from Foundation through Year 6, located in the coastal town of Port Fairy, Victoria, Australia. Established in 1849 as the 2nd Catholic school in Victoria, it is governed by the Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited (DOBCEL) — the umbrella body for 58 parish schools across Victoria — and operates within the Star of the Sea Parish network. The school delivers the Victorian Curriculum alongside the Awakenings Religious Education Curriculum, with an evidence-based Structured Literacy approach built on the Sounds Write phonics program (Foundation to Year 2), Spelling Mastery (Years 3 to 6), and a research partnership with La Trobe University's FLARE Primary Literacy team. Specialist instruction covers Japanese, STEM, Physical Education, The Arts, and Technologies, with wellbeing programs including School-wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS), Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS), Bounce Back, and a CatholicCare Family Support Worker.

The school's revenue model combines annual tuition fees (approximately $1,445 per student per year, or $520 for CSEF-eligible families) with a $380 per-family capital levy, $380 per-family maintenance levy, and a $155 per-student technology levy, supplemented by state and federal government funding for Catholic education and a Year 4 Chromebook charge of $606.10. Distribution and go-to-market are community-led: enrollment flows through parish connections, Discovery Tours and Information Sessions, Little Learners Playgroup, the Schoolzine website and mobile app, and word-of-mouth within the tightly bounded Port Fairy catchment. The institution holds eSmart School Accreditation and 5 Star Sustainability School certification, and is led by Principal Tarryn Delaney (appointed 2026) and Deputy Principal Benson Steere. Recent strategic activity has centred on leadership refresh, pedagogical evidence integration via the La Trobe partnership, and capacity expansion (5 flexible learning spaces completed in 2022).

Name

St Patrick's Primary School

Legal name

St Patrick's Primary School Port Fairy

Website

https://spportfairy.schoolzineplus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1849

Operating status

Operating

Short description

St Patrick's Primary School Port Fairy is a Catholic parish primary school educating 173 students from Foundation to Year 6 in Port Fairy, Victoria, governed by DOBCEL and delivering the Victorian Curriculum with an evidence-based Structured Literacy approach and sacramental faith formation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Primary Education (Catholic)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Nursery & Playgroups (EDACACAK)

Keywords

• Primary education services
• Catholic primary schools
• Religious education curriculum
• Structured literacy programs
• Primary school enrollment

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Fairy

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Capital Levy: Annual capital levy of $380 per family for ongoing capital upgrade of school facilities.
2. Maintenance Levy: Annual maintenance levy of $380 per family for ongoing maintenance of school facilities.
3. Technology Levy: Annual technology levy of $155 per student.
4. Tuition Fees: Annual tuition fees charged to families with multiple payment options including weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, or annual payments. Fee Payment Plan available.
5. Camps, Sports and Excursion Fund: Victorian Government funding provided to assist eligible families with costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities. Also Family Fee Assistance Scheme for qualifying families.
6. State and Federal Government Funding: Catholic education is supported by State and Federal funding, with families contributing the balance of the cost of educating their children.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

St Patrick's Primary School Port Fairy is a Catholic parish primary school delivering faith-based education from Foundation (age 5) through Year 6 to 173 students across 8 class groups. The school delivers the Victorian Curriculum and Awakenings Religious Education Curriculum, with an evidence-based Structured Literacy approach (Sounds Write phonics Foundation–Year 2; Spelling Mastery Years 3–6), specialist programs in Japanese, STEM, PE, The Arts, and Technologies, and comprehensive wellbeing programs including SWPBS, MHiPS, Bounce Back, Respectful Relationships, and CatholicCare family support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Catholic Primary Education (Foundation to Year 6) Catholic faith-based primary education delivered across Foundation (age 5) to Year 6 in 8 class groups, covering the Victorian Curriculum and Awakenings Religious Education Curriculum, with sacramental preparation (Reconciliation Year 6, Confirmation Year 3, Eucharist Year 4), for families in Port Fairy and South West Victoria.
• Structured Literacy Program Evidence-based literacy program covering phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, and text structure using Sounds Write (Foundation–Year 2) and Spelling Mastery (Years 3–6), aligned with the Science of Reading and supported by La Trobe University research partnership.
• Discovery Tours and Information Sessions School visitation experience for prospective families to meet staff and students, see the school environment, and learn about enrolment, curriculum, and Catholic faith-based programs.
• School Camps Program (Years 3–6) and Year 5/6 Melbourne Camp Outdoor and experiential learning camps provided to students in Years 3–6, including a Year 5 & 6 Melbourne Camp that takes students outside the local region for broader experiential learning.
• Swimming and Surf Program School swimming lessons for Foundation through Year 5 and a surf program for Year 6, delivering water safety and physical education as part of the Health & Physical Education curriculum.
• Little Learners Playgroup Weekly playgroup supporting early childhood development and family engagement with the school community for prospective and current families.

Quantifiable outcome

• School raised $3,533 for Jump Rope for Heart in 2026, exceeding goal of $3,000
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited (DOBCEL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOBCEL is the governing body responsible for governance of 58 parish schools from the Murray to the Sea in Victoria. The role of DOBCEL is to lead, provide service to, and partner with schools to enable every student to flourish and experience the presence of the risen Christ in schools.
• Catholic Education Ballarat (CEB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic Education Ballarat (CEB) is the operational arm of DOBCEL and is responsible for implementation of DOBCEL strategies, policies and procedures, and overseeing the day to day running of schools.
• Star of the Sea ParishcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt Patrick's Primary School belongs to the Star of the Sea Parish which includes a network of schools and churches in the South West of the Ballarat Diocese. Fr. John Fitzgerald and Fr. Bill Lourey served as priests, with Fr Matthew Thomas appointed as next Parish Priest.
• La Trobe UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership with La Trobe University as part of the FLARE Primary Literacy team at Catholic Education Ballarat, ensuring teachers have knowledge, skills and support to strengthen classroom practice using current evidence from the Science of Reading.
• Save the Children - Hands on LearningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHands on Learning is a Save the Children practical school program that builds wellbeing, engagement and attendance by creating opportunities for students to discover their talents and experience success through significant and authentic hands-on projects.
• CatholicCarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA School Counsellor employed by CatholicCare supports student wellbeing at St Patrick's. CatholicCare Family Support Worker provides pastoral care, family support, referrals, and parent education sessions.
• The Bandari Project - Samweli TumainiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool sponsors Samweli Tumaini through The Bandari Project as part of Catholic faith commitment to service, compassion and solidarity with others, providing students opportunity to develop global citizenship understanding.
• Emmanuel CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmmanuel College staff visit St Patrick's to observe how literacy is taught in primary years. This partnership strengthens connection between schools and helps ensure smooth transition into secondary education.
• Sporting SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram providing after-school sports activities for students, with sessions on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons until September, focusing on fun, skill development and physical activity.
• Parents & Friends AssociationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGroup of parents and community members organized to support and promote the school, foster educational welfare, provide modern equipment and teaching aids, and promote closer cooperation between parents and teachers.
• School Advisory Council (SAC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSAC brings together Principal, Deputy Principal, representatives of parents, teachers and other groups to provide informed advice to leadership. Assists with DOBCEL and school policies, budget preparation, facilities maintenance, future planning, and community relationships.
• Teeth on WheelsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDental care service visiting the school to provide families with convenient on-site access to dental care.
• Camp QualityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerformance for students provided by Camp Quality as part of student wellbeing and engagement activities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• St Joseph's Primary School Warrnambool: A Catholic parish primary school within the same Star of the Sea Parish network and DOBCEL diocese, serving a similar regional Victorian Catholic community with comparable curriculum and governance structure.
• St Pius X Primary School West Warrnambool: Sibling Catholic primary school within the Star of the Sea Parish network, sharing the same DOBCEL governance, Awakenings Religious Education Curriculum, and Sacramental programs as St Patrick's.
• Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School East Warrnambool: Another Star of the Sea Parish network Catholic primary school under DOBCEL, directly comparable in operating model, curriculum, and regional Victorian market positioning.
• St Patrick's Primary School Koroit: Catholic primary school sharing the St Patrick's name within the same Star of the Sea Parish network and DOBCEL diocese, serving a comparable small-town regional Victorian community.
• St John's Primary School Dennington: Catholic parish primary school in the same Star of the Sea Parish network, operating under identical DOBCEL governance and Catholic education framework as St Patrick's Port Fairy.
• St Patrick's Primary School Camperdown: DOBCEL Catholic primary school in regional Victoria where new Principal Tarryn Delaney previously served in leadership roles; directly comparable operating model and curriculum.

Regional players

• Emmanuel College Warrnambool: Catholic secondary college in the same region that St Patrick's has a formal partnership with for transition purposes. Comparable as a DOBCEL institution serving the same Catholic community but at secondary level.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/spportfairy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about St Patrick's Primary School