St Felix Catholic Primary School Bankstown is one of Australia’s oldest Catholic schools opening in 1853. Archbishop Moran sought help from Mother Mary MacKillop, and in 1887 the Josephite Sisters took control of the school, which then had about 40 pupils. In 1889 a convent, which also accommodated some boarding students, was added, but numbers remained low. Classes were conducted in the original St Felix Church.
The parish of Bankstown was established in 1916 and enrolments then increased significantly to over 400 in 1940 — girls from Kindergarten to sixth class and boys to third class. By 1960 there were 804 students in the primary school alone and over 200 girls continuing to third year secondary (Intermediate).
In 1983, the Josephites Sisters ended their eighty-year leadership and involvement at St Felix. The Catholic Education Office appointed Mrs. Shirley Jackson as the first lay Principal of the school in this century.
Since 1990, boys have continued their education at St Felix to Year 6. St Felix continues to progress as a modern, well resourced systemic school catering for boys and girls from Kindergarten to Year 6, staffed by a team of highly trained and enthusiastic lay teachers. At present there are just over 420 students in our school.