John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School
Built on Faith, Growing
with Hope, Shaped by Love
The Revd Peter Laurence OAM, CEO, AngliSchools
In Perth’s northern suburbs, the story of John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School (JSRACS) is one of steady growth, enduring faith and strong community.
Named after Western Australia’s first Surveyor-General, the School has grown steadily over the past 35 years, guided by the values of faith, hope and love.
The School’s journey began in 1990 when AngliSchools took over a small Christian school in Beechboro at the request of the State Government. At that time, Northside Christian School was renamed Thomas Scott Anglican Community School, and later renamed for the second time John Septimus Roe Beechboro Campus. Two years after Beechboro, a second campus opened in Mirrabooka, welcoming primary and secondary students. While the campuses shared leadership, they each had their own character, with a friendly rivalry between the junior years! Both campuses were unified under a single identity.
From its earliest days, the School’s Anglican foundation shaped daily life - with chapel services, Religious Education, and a strong culture of service giving students a sense of purpose and belonging. These traditions continue today, nurturing a school culture that values ‘Faith in Christ’, ‘Hope for each other’, and ‘Love that knows no boundaries’.
From Growth to Transformation
From the Ken Evans Science Building and the Catherine O’Neill Library, to dedicated Middle and Senior School learning spaces, AngliSchools underpinned the School so it could invest heavily in its facilities, to support student growth across all areas of learning and wellbeing.
The Performing Arts Centre became a hub for creativity. At the same time, improvements to the School’s worship spaces, including the installation of a German-built pipe organ in St Paul’s Chapel, reflected JSRACS’s commitment to worship in the Anglican tradition.
In 2021, AngliSchools took the decision at the request of the School Council to consolidate the two campuses. The Beechboro campus closed at the end of 2022, with students and staff welcomed into a redeveloped Mirrabooka campus the following year. The transition marked the beginning of a new chapter in the School’s history.
One Campus, One Community
Today, JSRACS offers a seamless educational journey from Kindergarten to Year 12 on a single, vibrant campus. Two major additions opened in 2024: the Michelle Bolt Early Learning Centre and the Bromilow Learning Centre for Years 9 and 10, both named to honour significant people in JSRACS’s history and heritage, both at Mirrabooka and Beechboro.
From 199 students in 1990, today JSRACS has 1,767 students on one campus; led most exceptionally by Mr Jason Bartell as their Principal.
The School continues to be a place where young people are encouraged to learn with purpose, lead with courage, and serve with compassion. In classrooms, chapel services, camps and other shared moments, the values of faith, hope, and love are lived.
This is the story of John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School - one of 16 AngliSchools - where values are shaped by faith, community is built on love, and every student is a reason for hope.