Believe, Achieve, Succeed
Penola Catholic College is proud to be part of Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese’s system of 80 Catholic primary and secondary schools operating across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains providing more than 46,000 students with a high-quality, low fee Catholic education.
We are a co-educational secondary school for students in Years 7 to 12, offering a traditional HSC pathway in the senior years.
Our growing College community includes nearly 800 students enrolled in Years 7-12. Our junior school, Years 7-9, consists of 510 students and our senior school, Years 10-12, consists of 250 students.
Believe, Achieve, Succeed
Our Mission
Penola Catholic College has a strong learning culture that meets a diverse range of learning needs.
We aim to ensure our students receive all the support they need to meet and exceed their personal learning goals, and to embark on further study or entry into the workforce.
Through our modern learning environment, we seek to encourage students to be passionate and resilient lifelong learners who are creative, innovative and responsible citizens of a global community.
Our Vision
Walking in the tradition of Mary MacKillop, we promote the values of courage, compassion, integrity and hope.
Our framework for learning is designed to promote engagement, empowerment and enterprise skills in all stages of learning.
Our school community nurtures the growth of people from diverse cultures and backgrounds, challenging students to be independent, kind and resilient, encouraging an active participation in parish and community life.
Our college community values the dignity of each person and promotes respect and care for self, others and our environment.
Our History
Formerly known as McCarthy Catholic College (named for early Irish settlers and lay Catholics in the region), our school was established in 1986 as a senior secondary college, becoming 7-12 in 1999.
In 2010, McCarthy Trade Training Centre (TTC) was established on-site, allowing students to achieve their HSC and begin an apprenticeship.
In 2020, the TTC became part of CathWest Innovation College, retaining the McCarthy name for its Emu Plains campus. The college was renamed Penola Catholic College, to mark its future as a stand-alone college with a new vision for learning.
Today, Penola Catholic College is a school ‘on the move’ employing contemporary learning practices that engage and excite today’s learners such as Project Based Learning and Flipped Learning.
The college draws strength from the values and example of St Mary MacKillop, as Penola is the place where she and Father Julian Tenison-Woods started a school, beginning their work of extending the opportunities of education to thousands of Australian children and young people.
Testimonials
We invite you to join our vibrant learning community
Contact us today to find out how to enrol.