Celebrating 40 Years
of AngliSchools
The Revd Peter Laurence OAM, CEO, AngliSchools
 |
This year marks a significant milestone in the life of our organisation. AngliSchools (formerly the Anglican Schools Commission) celebrates 40 years of dedicated service to Anglican education.
Since our foundation in 1985, AngliSchools has grown from one school at Hillarys in Perth’s northern beaches, to 16 schools across three Australian states, providing an exceptional education underpinned by our values - faith, excellence, justice, respect, integrity and inclusion.
For four decades, AngliSchools has established and supported distinctly Anglican schools, where academic excellence is pursued alongside spiritual formation and character development. Our schools are places where students not only gain knowledge but also learn to serve, lead, and live with purpose. That’s what we call ‘living our Anglican identity’.
Through the years, AngliSchools has remained committed to our mission: making a high-quality, lower-fee Anglican education accessible to a wide demographic in the community; especially Anglicans in our parishes and beyond.
As we celebrate this 40-year journey, it’s timely to reflect on the countless students, teachers, support staff, leaders and governors who’ve shaped AngliSchools into what we are today. From the pioneering vision of our founders, to the continued dedication of today’s teachers, principals, chaplains and every other member of our school and head office staff. Today, we are a family of some 2,500 employees.
This anniversary is more than a historical marker. It’s an opportunity to celebrate each school, recognising the unique contributions they’ve made to our collective body. That is why, throughout 2025, I propose to feature an AngliSchool in each issue of Anglican Messenger, highlighting its history, achievements, and the ways in which it continues to live its Anglican identity. From the Perth CBD and suburbs to regional WA, Victoria and New South Wales, each school has a unique story to tell: stories of innovation, growth, and an unwavering commitment to their students.
As we look ahead, we do so with gratitude for the past and great hope for the future. The mission of Anglican education remains as relevant today as it was in 1985: to nurture young people through an outstanding, all-round education, grounded in the truths of our Anglican faith. The next 40 years will bring new challenges and opportunities, but the foundation laid over the past four decades will guide our journey and provide light to our path ahead.
We invite you to walk with us throughout this celebratory year. Whether you are a parishioner, a parent, a staff member, or a friend of Anglican schools, this anniversary is an opportunity to give thanks for the impact AngliSchools has on thousands of lives. Together, we continue to build a future where our students flourish and our schools remain places where every student and member of staff feels they belong.
Happy 40th anniversary to us. . . AngliSchools! May God bless our schools, our staff, and most importantly, our students, this year and always. Amen.