Archbishop Dr Peter Jensen has accepted an offer to be patron of Gawura, the campus of St Andrew’s Cathedral School for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Dr Jensen was present at the school’s presentation of certificates and took the opportunity to answer questions from Gawura students and then sat with them in the rooftop classroom.

Together with St Andrew's Head of School, Phillip Heath, the Archbishop met students, heard their favourite words and readings from their favourite books. (pictured right Dr Jensen hearing from students about their work).

Dr Jensen told the students that one of the great contributions the church can and should make to the welfare of aboriginal people was education.

The campus, located on a spare area on the rooftop of St Andrew’s House, has been going for two years and this year reported a dramatic improvement in literacy and numeracy among its students.

The literacy result is more than 70 points ahead of the average for indigenous students, although still below the state average.

The Archbishop said he hoped that gap would soon be bridged and commended the students for their progress in reading.

Dr Jensen, Mr Heath and students then shared morning tea and spoke of future prospects for the school.

Archbishop Jensen says “The strong sense of community that is evident in the school is also evident at the Gawura campus. It’s a great model of the diversity that makes up our Anglican schools in Sydney. I’m looking forward to that community growing and reaching out to others.”