It often feels like just yesterday you were teaching them to walk, and suddenly, you’re navigating the complex world of school open days and enrolment forms. We know that choosing a school is about more than just facilities or ATAR results; it’s about finding a community where your child will truly belong.
To help you start that journey, we’ve gathered 20 private schools in Sydney that offer distinct approaches to education from faith-based to secular, and traditional to progressive.
Please note, this list is in no particular order and is not a ranking. Every child is different, and our goal is simply to shine a light on some of the wonderful options available to your family.
Covenant Christian School
Location: Belrose | Type: Co-educational (Prep – Year 12
Located on the Northern Beaches, Covenant is a co-educational Christian school operating under a unique parent-partnership model. It offers a holistic curriculum where faith and learning are deeply integrated, partnering closely with parents to raise children with a strong Christian perspective.
Calderwood Christian School
Location: Calderwood | Type: Co-educational (Prep – Year 12)
Located in the Illawarra Region, Calderwood Christian School is an independent, co-educational facility operating on a parent-partnership model. It integrates academic, sporting, and community activities within a Christian framework, offering senior students comprehensive HSC, vocational, and ATAR pathways.
Illawarra Christian School
Location: Cordeaux Heights | Type: Co-educational (Preschool – Year 12)
Situated near Mt Kembla, Illawarra Christian School is a parent-controlled educational institution. It offers a biblically-based academic program developed in partnership with families, and features specialized campus facilities for creative arts, industrial technology, and secondary education.
Nepean Christian School
Location: Mulgoa | Type: Co-educational (Kindergarten – Year 12)
Located in Western Sydney, Nepean Christian School provides individualized curriculums to accommodate diverse learning needs within an inclusive Christian framework. Emphasizing community over competition, it supports students through targeted primary literacy groups and a multi-tiered high school academic system.
Kuyper Christian School
Location: Kurrajong | Type: Co-educational (Prep – Year 12)
Situated in the Hawkesbury area, Kuyper Christian School is a non-denominational institution founded on a reformed evangelical basis. The school delivers its core academic curriculum fully integrated with a Christian worldview.
Dubbo Christian School
Location: Dubbo | Type: Co-educational (Pre-Kindergarten – Year 12)
Established in 1983 in the Central West of NSW, Dubbo Christian School is a non-denominational, co-educational regional school. It provides a Christ-centred academic program alongside cultural, sporting, and leadership opportunities, facilitated through a parent-partnership model.
St Ignatius’ College, Riverview
Location: Lane Cove | Type: Boys (Day and Boarding)
Commonly known as Riverview, this Catholic school in the Jesuit tradition is situated on a sprawling campus along the Lane Cove River. It emphasises the development of the "whole person," aiming to produce young men of competence, conscience, and compassion who are committed to service.
The King’s School
Location: North Parramatta | Type: Boys (Day and Boarding
Founded in 1831, King's is Australia’s oldest independent school, located on a massive 300-acre campus. It is renowned for its distinctive military uniform, academic rigour, and a strong focus on leadership, character development, and sporting excellence.
Pymble Ladies’ College
Location: Pymble | Type: Girls (Day and Boarding
One of the largest girls' schools in NSW, Pymble offers extensive facilities and a broad curriculum on the Upper North Shore. The college focuses on empowering young women to become influential global citizens through a balance of academic, sporting, and cultural opportunities.
Knox Grammar School
Location: Wahroonga | Type: Boys (Day and Boarding
A Uniting Church school noted for its "Knox Total Fitness" program, which supports boys academically, physically, and spiritually. Knox offers a wide range of subjects and co-curricular activities, focusing on positive psychology and student wellbeing.
Sydney Grammar School
Location: Darlinghurst | Type: Boys
Sydney Grammar is a secular, non-denominational school renowned for its high academic standards and liberal education. With a historic campus near the CBD, it places a heavy emphasis on intellectual curiosity, music, and distinctively broad co-curricular programs.
Abbotsleigh
Location: Wahroonga | Type: Girls (Day and Boarding
Abbotsleigh is an Anglican school with a reputation for empowering young women through a rigorous academic program. It balances high educational standards with service learning and sport, operating across junior and senior campuses in Wahroonga.
SCEGGS Darlinghurst
Location: Darlinghurst | Type: Girls
Located in the heart of inner-city Sydney, SCEGGS uses its location to engage students deeply with the city’s cultural resources. The school prizes individuality and aims to provide a well-rounded education that fosters confidence and independence.
Barker College
Location: Hornsby | Type: Co-educationa
Barker College has completed its transition and is now fully co-educational from Pre-K to Year 12. It is well-regarded for its strong robotics, agriculture, and sports programs, offering a diverse and inclusive environment on the Upper North Shore.
Meriden School
Location: Strathfield | Type: Girls
Meriden is an Anglican school in the Inner West known for its friendly, community-oriented atmosphere. It places a strong emphasis on music and sport, focusing on producing articulate and confident young women prepared for leadership.
Kambala School
Location: Rose Bay | Type: Girls (Day and Boarding
With spectacular views of the harbour, Kambala offers both the HSC and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. The school values academic excellence alongside a nurturing pastoral care program to help girls flourish.
Shore School
Location: North Sydney | Type: Boys (Co-ed K-2)
Shore is deeply rooted in the Anglican tradition and focuses heavily on character formation. While primarily a boys' school, it operates a co-educational Early Learning Centre and K-2 campus, maintaining high academic and sporting standards.
Redlands
Location: Cremorne | Type: Co-educationa
Redlands is an independent, co-educational school that offers families the choice between the HSC and the International Baccalaureate. It is known for its inclusive environment and global perspective, welcoming students of all backgrounds.
Loreto Kirribilli
Location: Kirribilli | Type: Girl
A Catholic school located on the harbour foreshore, Loreto follows the Mary Ward tradition of educating women to be "seekers of truth and doers of justice." It is highly regarded for its strong social justice programs and academic results.
Queenwood
Location: Mosman | Type: Girls
A non-denominational, secular school on the Lower North Shore with a strong focus on liberal arts and sciences. Queenwood encourages girls to pursue their own paths, offering a balanced curriculum that values both academic and creative pursuits.
