Our College

Downlands College is a Prep to Year 12, independent, Catholic, coeducational, day and boarding school with a long tradition of heart-centred and values-based education. Owned and conducted by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) with the assistance of a deeply committed group of teachers and support staff, Downlands has a long history of academic, sporting and cultural achievement.

Situated in the regional city of Toowoomba at the centre of a prosperous rural community, Downlands provides a full range of facilities often found only in large cities. The College is nestled in 38 hectares of landscaped grounds, with historic buildings and modern facilities, including a performing arts centre; dance, drama and film studios; indoor sports centre; flourishing Rural Centre; seven ovals; and a heated 50m outdoor pool.

With a concern for both the academic and pastoral well-being of students, Downlands College encourages all to do their best and strive for excellence. The College respects and celebrates the diverse abilities of all young people. A substantial curriculum, characterised by both breadth and depth, supports strong academic endeavour. This is demonstrated through our student achievements in our student’s post-high school pathways, with high ATAR results, university admissions and post-school employment. Students also perform very highly on national numeracy and literacy testing programs.

Boarding at Downlands is also an integral aspect to our community, and our boarders are the heart and soul of the College, with boarding offered for students in Years 7 to 12. Downlands is the boarding school of choice for many rural families in Queensland, New South Wales, and the Northern Territory, and international students are also welcomed. Up to 300 students and eight residential staff call Downlands home during school terms, with three families live on campus full time.

Downlands is a place where one’s heart can find a home - where students can grow and flourish as they develop a sense of truth, goodness and beauty and so be ready to go out and to make a difference in the world.



As members of the Downlands College Community, we work towards enhancement of the life of each individual physically, psychologically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually in all facets of our College. We want all students to come to know the value of their own lives and so make a contribution for the betterment of the world in which we live.

This framework provides equity in the management of student behaviour. Student behaviour is categorised into levels. All students start on Level 3 and may subsequently move to a level that most accurately reflects their behaviour. In addition to the Level System, Pastoral Care Teachers will encourage students to record their achievements and participation in College activities with a view to encourage all students at the College to strive towards improvement.

Students on Levels 1-3 demonstrate continued positive growth. Students on Levels 4 – 7 are demonstrating inability to meet the College classroom and Community rules and expectations.

To support decisions regarding students who display inability or unwillingness to co-operate with the College policies and Community spirit, a Support Group including Team Leader, Year Leader, the student’s Pastoral Care Teacher, with supervision from the Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care, will assist through devising an intervention program to assist the student’s growth and development. Parents and carers of the student are informed of the College’s concerns and encouraged to contact the Year Leader. The demonstrated response of the student to the intervention program will determine any changes made to the student’s allocated level.  Click to read more about the Student Level System.