Observation has been made of an amalgamation of two Catholic Girls' Schools with the twofold aim of: i) identifying the elements that have contributed positively to the functional organisation, and ii) formulating guidelines to assist future amalgamation planners. The three core elements of High Morale, Effective Communication and Efficient Decision-making were found to be strongly operative and apparently - as evidence indicated - were facilitated by: i) principal's attitude and behaviour towards Staff, ii) administration being open to query and advice, iii) principal-staff commitment to the task and expressed goals of the school. While these factors contributed to the success of the organisation functionally, specific activities, in some cases exclusive to Catholic schools, were seen as valuable also. Opportunities for spiritual support and community building were used positively and effectively. The findings indicated that the organisational procedures employed were sound and, that in distinguishing amalgamation planning from single-school planning, the basic need is to foster a unity of purpose and mutual acceptance of persons with persons' rights.

In January 1975, Chevalier College, Bowral, and Elm Court, Moss Vale, schools for boys and girls respectively situated six kilometres apart, began discussions about extending their present combination in the senior school to full co-education in a fully combined high school. Chevalier would become the senior partner and take over administration of the combined school. In 1975, support was sought from religious communities, teaching staffs and parents involved, and detailed planning began in several committees. The next year brought conflict. For reasons so frequently associated with resistance to change, such as loss of power and identity, intensified by thoughtlessness from Chevalier, the Elm Court community began to resist and work against the amalgamation. The diocesan education authorities, appealed to by the local sisters, suggested an alternative proposal to replace the amalgamation. However, after further consideration by the superiors of the sisters at Elm Court, and helped by more careful consideration from Chevalier, the project finally went ahead. The major decisions concerned with the amalgamation were made by the superiors of the two religious orders concerned, and then by the school headmaster, assisted by his councils. There was very little real involvement of the local community of parents, or of the students. With the crisis successfully weathered, prospects seem bright for 1977, especially if the lessons learnt during the conflict are remembered.