Brief
Parents launch petition to stop closure of Hartford College in Daceyville
The school, founded in 2023, announced it will close after four years due to low enrolments, prompting a parent‑led petition for a financial bridge.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Hartford College, an all‑boys school in Daceyville that opened in 2023, announced it will cease operations at the end of 2026 because it failed to attract enough students, according to the school’s statement.
What happened
The school told parents in late October 2025 that it would close, giving them notice on a Thursday and inviting them to a meeting the next morning. At the first meeting, parents expressed anger over the lack of warning and the dismissal of suggestions such as going co‑educational. A second meeting on Sunday resulted in parents resolving to keep the school open for another year and launching a petition addressed to the Sydney archbishop.
What the reports add
The SMH article notes that the school has 35 students ranging from year 5 to year 10, who will be offered places in nearby systemic Catholic schools. It also records that the school board’s head, Peter Foley, who also serves as director of finance for the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, said the board considered all options before deciding on closure.
What was said
“The decision was not reached quickly or lightly,” the school said in a statement.
“The Board remains committed to continuing Hartford College’s distinctive model of classical education and academic excellence, and is open to exploring opportunities to do so presented by parents, educators and other interested stakeholders,” Peter Foley told SMH.
“It got heated as you would expect,” said an anonymous parent at the first meeting.
“We took the news pretty badly. One dad tried to speak but he had to excuse himself. He was beside himself,” the same parent added.
How it came about
Hartford College was founded in 2023 with funding from the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney and a vision to deliver a classical curriculum from Plato to Aristotle. Low enrolments have persisted, leading the board to explore options such as co‑education, which were rejected. The current petition seeks a 12‑month financial bridge from the archbishop to allow a turnaround plan before a final decision is due in June 2027.
Key facts
- Hartford College will close at the end of 2026 due to low enrolments (smh.com.au)
- The school has 35 students from year 5 to year 10 (smh.com.au)
- Parents launched a petition asking the Sydney archbishop for a 12‑month financial bridge (smh.com.au)
- Peter Foley is head of the school board and director of finance for the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney (smh.com.au)
Sources
- [1] smh.com.au — originally reported as “Hartford College: Parents launch petition to save Daceyville school from closing after four years”
