Year 7 & 8 Precinct

The transition into secondary school is one of the most formative stages in a young person’s education.

At Salesian College Chadstone, we asked a different question: what if, instead of expecting young adolescents to adapt to secondary school, we designed the first two years around them?

That question became the foundation of our Mannix Year 7 & 8 Learning Precinct: a dedicated educational model designed around belonging, relationships, confidence, wellbeing and learning.

This is more than a new place to learn.

It is a different way to begin secondary school.

The world our young people are growing up in has changed. While academic results across Australia have remained relatively stable, many students are experiencing lower levels of connection, engagement and wellbeing than ever before. 

We have listened carefully to the data, to our families and to our students. And we have responded with purpose. 

The transition from primary to secondary school brings significant change. New environments, new relationships, greater independence and increased academic expectations can all shape how confidently a young person begins their secondary education.

Listening to contemporary educational thinking, our students and our families, we recognised that Years 7 and 8 deserved an environment intentionally designed around this important stage of development.

The result was a different approach to the first two years of secondary education, one centred on belonging, relationships, consistency and confidence.

The physical environment is the visible expression of a much deeper educational philosophy.

Inspired by St John Bosco’s belief that young people flourish when they are known, loved and accompanied, the Mannix Year 7 & 8 Learning Precinct brings learning, pastoral care, faith, relationships and belonging together.

Stage 1 incorporates the Bartholomew Garelli Year 7 House and Michael Magone Year 8 Centre, creating dedicated environments for these formative years.

But the innovation is not the building.

IT’S HOW WE REIMAGINED THE FIRST YEARS OF SECONDARY EDUCATION.

At the heart of the Mannix model is a simple principle: understand what young adolescents need and build the experience around them.

By creating dedicated Year 7 and Year 8 communities, students experience greater consistency in their learning, pastoral care and relationships. Teachers and wellbeing staff are better positioned to know each boy, recognise when support is needed and respond earlier.

The early data is encouraging. Attendance has increased across both year levels, while student incidents have decreased, most significantly in Year 8.

These outcomes reinforce the value of creating an environment where students feel known, supported and connected from the very beginning of their secondary school journey.

Opening the Mannix Year 7 & 8 Learning Precinct created an important admissions opportunity, but the challenge was never simply promoting a new building.

We needed to help families understand why Salesian College Chadstone had reimagined the first two years of secondary education.

This became the central insight behind the admissions campaign:

Parents are not searching for better buildings. They are searching for confidence that their child will belong, be supported and thrive.

The Mannix Year 7 & 8 Learning Precinct became the primary message on the College homepage, positioning the precinct as an educational initiative rather than simply a new building.

Families were directed to a dedicated admissions landing page to explore the thinking behind the new Year 7 and 8 model and what it could mean for their son.

The dedicated landing page brought together educational research, the Salesian Charism and the College’s Year 7 and 8 educational model in a way that was clear and meaningful for prospective families.

Rather than focusing on the physical features of the precinct, the content helped families understand why the transition to secondary school had been intentionally reimagined.

A two phase digital campaign was designed to build curiosity before introducing families to the educational thinking behind Mannix.

Phase One created anticipation around something new taking shape at Salesian College Chadstone.

Phase Two revealed the complete proposition: Secondary School, Reimagined

The response from prospective families provided an early indication that the educational proposition was resonating.

Across the first seven weeks of Monday Tours following the opening of Mannix, attendance increased 73%, from 255 to 442 attendees, while first-time family attendance increased 25%, demonstrating sustained demand and continued enrolment momentum.

The results showed the campaign was attracting new families while continuing to build confidence among those already considering Salesian.

The response extended beyond campaign awareness and campus engagement to measurable admissions outcomes.

During the campaign period, Salesian College Chadstone received 229 Year 7 applications, with 210 confirmed enrolments.

The College is now approaching the establishment of a Year 7 waiting list for the first time in its history.

The Year 7 & 8 Learning Precinct Admissions Campaign transformed a major capital project into a compelling educational proposition for prospective families.

By shifting the conversation from what we built to why we built it, the campaign helped families understand how Salesian College Chadstone is approaching the transition to secondary school differently.

The result has been increased engagement, stronger admissions confidence and the highest Year 7 demand in the College’s 69 year history.

Mannix represents more than a new precinct. It reflects a broader commitment to continually rethink how we can best support young people through the important transition into secondary school.

By bringing together educational thinking, Salesian tradition and a deep understanding of what boys need during these formative years, we have created an experience designed to help students feel known, supported and connected from the very beginning.

Secondary School, Reimagined is not simply a campaign message. It is a commitment to giving every boy the strongest possible start to his secondary education.