The debate of what are the top 10 best primary schools in Sydney keeps popping up now and again – especially in the minds of parents whose children have just reached the appropriate age to start primary school.
Before now, we have written and published a lot of articles about the top-rated primary and high schools in Australia. However, we want to take the time out to write another article with a focus on the top ten primary schools in Sydney, Australia, and Oceania’s most populous city.
With that said, this article will provide an all-around overview of ten of the most sought-after primary schools in Sydney. These include public and independent primary schools in New South Wales’s capital.
ABOUT THE CITY OF SYDNEY
Sydney is the largest and capital city of New South Wales – abbreviated as “NSW”. Apart from its huge population—well over 5 million people, the largest in the country—the city pride itself as an educational hub, housing some of the best public and private institutions.
Presently, there are six state universities in Sydney catering to both domestic and international students. However, of the 5.3 million population of Sydney, 7.8 percent are attending primary school and 6.4 percent are enrolled in high school.
In addition to its high-performing universities and colleges, the city also houses a plethora of outstanding private and public, denominational, and nondenominational schools for children with age ranges from 4 to 18.
The state of New South Wales, including its capital – Sydney, has very strict education policies. These policies make it compulsory for children between the age of 4 to 18 to go to school. In other words, children who fall within this age range must attend primary and secondary school, respectively.
Check Also: Top 10 Best Primary Schools in Melbourne
According to the data released by the New South Wales Department of Education, Sydney houses roughly 935 preschool, primary, and high schools. These schools are administered by the New South Wales Department of Education.
TOP 10 BEST PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN SYDNEY
1. SYDNEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL
| YEARS | Preschool – 6 |
| PHONE | (02) 9332 5800 |
| webmail@sydgram.nsw.edu.au | |
| ADDRESS | College Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010 |
| WEBSITE | sydgram.nsw.edu.au |
Sydney Grammar School abbreviated as “SGS” is one of the oldest schools in Australia. SGS is an all-boys private, non-denominational, day school situated in Sydney.
The school was founded in 1857 and currently has an enrollment of approximately 1,841 students from Kindergarten to Year 12. SGS operates on three different campuses at different locations: Edgecliff, St Ives, and Darlinghurst. However, of the three campuses, only Edgecliff campus caters to learners from Kindergarten to Year 6.
Despite its affiliation with a number of religious organizations such as the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), JSHAA, and AAGPS; SGS is rated the best in Sydney, and Australia.
Therefore, Sydney Grammar School is worth a try if you’re looking to send your children to the best private primary schools in Sydney.
Sydney Grammar School is one of the most expensive schools in Australia. The average annual tuition fee per student is $38,043. However, the fee is payable in three installments at the beginning of Terms 1, 2, and 3.
2. ST ALOYSIUS’ COLLEGE, (SYDNEY)
| YEARS | 3 – 12 |
| PHONE | (02) 9955 9200 |
| ADDRESS | 29 Burton Street, MILSONS POINT, 2061 NSW |
| WEBSITE | staloysius.nsw.edu.au |
The quest to finding the best primary schools in Sydney is never completed if some of the top-rated schools in the city are neglected.
St Aloysius College is the oldest private Catholic boys’ school in New South Wales. The school is a denominational, independent primary and high school for boys, situated in Kirribilli, Sydney, New South Wales.
St Aloysius’ has a very rich history, which could be traced back to 1879 when it was founded by Joseph Dalton SJ. 141 years on… and it’s still sailing smoothly. However, being a Roman Catholic school, its teachings are conducted in the Jesuit tradition.
Presently, the school caters to approximately 1,251 students from Years 3 to 12—7 to 18 years old.
At St Aloysius’ College, school fees are scheduled per term, wherein $4,423 is the average fee for a Junior School (Years 3 to 6) student; while $5,151 and $10,302 is the average school fee for Year 7 to Year 11, and Year 12, respectively.
BEST PRIVATE PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN SYDNEY
3. MCAULEY CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL, ROSE BAY
| YEARS | K – 6 |
| PHONE | (02) 9371 8786 |
| info@mcauley.catholic.edu.au | |
| ADDRESS | 8 Carlisle Street, Rose Bay, NSW 2029 |
| WEBSITE | mcauley.catholic.edu.au |
McAuley Catholic Primary School Rose Bay is an independent, coeducational primary school located on Carlisle Street, Rose Bay, NSW. It currently has an enrollment of approximately 110 students from Kindergarten to Year 6.
The school is ranked among the most respected Catholic primary schools in Sydney, New South Wales. These successes are largely owed to its resilience in nurturing happy and successful learners in a supporting and student-friendly environment.
Students at McAuley Catholic Primary School are offered a rigorous and innovative curriculum with an emphasis on developing and nurturing a child to achieve his/her potential. Plus, the school underpin students to actualize their problem-solving skills.
4. JOHN COLET SCHOOL, BELROSE
| YEARS | K – 6 |
| PHONE | (02) 9451 8395 |
| admin@johncolet.nsw.edu.au | |
| ADDRESS | 6 Wyatt Avenue, Belrose NSW 2085 |
| WEBSITE | johncolet.nsw.edu.au |
John Colet School Sydney is one of the leading co-educational primary schools in the Northern Beaches of Sydney. The school is situated on Wyatt Avenue, Belrose, New South Wales, Australia.
John Colet School is a non-denominational independent school catering to approximately 201 students from Kindergarten to Year 6.
In addition to its stimulating learning environment, the school provides loads of opportunities to children, allowing them the freedom to study in a safe and inspiring atmosphere.
At John Colet School Sydney, students are offered six Key Learning Areas of New South Wales, these include Mathematics, English, Science and Technology, Creative Arts and Personal Development, Health & Physical Education, and Human Society in its Environment.
5. ABBOTSLEIGH, WAHROONGA
| YEARS | K – 12 |
| PHONE | +61 2 9473 7700 |
| jshead@abbotsleigh.nsw.edu.au | |
| ADDRESS | 22 Woonona Ave, Wahroonga NSW 2076 |
| WEBSITE | abbotsleigh.nsw.edu.au |
Abbotsleigh is a private Early Learning, Primary and Secondary school for girls situated on the Upper North Shore of Sydney, NSW.
The school was founded in 1885 and currently caters to approximately 1,500 students from Early Learning to Year 12. However, it has a selective policy for Year 5 through to Year 12.
From 2013 to 2015, it was rated the best-performing private school in New South Wales.
Students at the school are encouraged to engage both in curricular and extracurricular activities. These include participating in sports programs such as swimming, basketball, soccer, cricket, tennis, to mention but a few. In addition, students are also offered extensive programs in music and performing arts.
6. AL HIKMA COLLEGE, LAKEMBA
| GRADES | K – 6 |
| FEES | $1,680 per annum. |
| PHONE | (02) 9703 3017 |
| admin@alhikma.nsw.edu.au | |
| ADDRESS | 291 Haldon Street, Lakemba, NSW 2195 |
| WEBSITE | alhikma.nsw.edu.au |
Al Hikma College is a private school located on Haldon Street, Lakemba, New South Wales, Australia. Currently, the school has an enrollment of over 300 students from Kindergarten to Year 6.
Al Hikma has a strong Islamic affiliation, hence, its teachings are purely based on Islamic principles. Apart from its Islamic affiliation, however, the school adheres strongly to the New South Wales Education Standards Authority curriculum and delivers all the six Key Learning Areas: Mathematics, English, Science and Technology, Personal Development, Creative Arts, Health and Physical Education, Human Society and its Environment as well as lessons in Islamic Studies, Arabic Language, and Quran.
Al Hikma is a fee-paying school, and it has an enticing fee structure. The school fee for each child is an average of $420 per term * 4; that is $1,680 per year.
So, if that fee is within reach, and you’re interested to have your child studying in a school that underpins the studies and teachings of Islam, then you can consider giving it a go.
BEST PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN SYDNEY
7. MATTHEW PEARCE PUBLIC SCHOOL
| YEARS | PreK – 6 |
| PHONE | 02 9624 3311 |
| mattpearce-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au | |
| ADDRESS | 4G Astoria Park Rd, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 |
| WEBSITE | matthewpearceps.nsw.edu.au |
Matthew Pearce Public School, often abbreviated as “MPPS”, is a government school situated in the Baulkham Hills, Sydney.
Founded in 1982, the school continues to welcome children from all around northwest Sydney and beyond. There are approximately 1,344 students enrolled at the school.
From its inception, Matthew Pearce Public School has always been in cooperation with parents and the community, with the aim to provide a safe and stimulating learning environment for learners.
MPPS is committed to empower and nurture each child through quality learning and teaching. Students are provided with a stimulating and dynamic learning environment to further enhance their approach to solving academic, and real-life problems.
8. ARTARMON PUBLIC SCHOOL
| YEARS | R – 6 |
| PHONE | 02 9411 1950 |
| artarmon-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au | |
| ADDRESS | McMillan Road, Artarmon, NSW 2064 |
| WEBSITE | artarmon-p.schools.nsw.gov.au |
Artarmon Public School is a coeducational, government-funded school located on McMillan Road, Artarmon, New South Wales, Australia.
It was founded in 1910 and currently caters to approximately 1,300 students from Kindergarten to Year 6. The school is largely diverse with over 50 percent of its learners coming from non-English speaking backgrounds.
In other words, the vast majority of its students are non-Australian. In addition to its diversity, the school is one of the most sought-after in the region and has consistently ranked among the top public primary schools in Sydney over the past few years.
90 years and counting… Artarmon Public School continues to enjoy tremendous achievements in music and academics.
9. ST IVES NORTH PUBLIC SCHOOL
| YEARS | K – 6 |
| PHONE | 02 9144 7743 |
| stivesnth-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au | |
| ADDRESS | 87 Memorial Ave, St. Ives NSW 2075 |
| WEBSITE | stivesnth-p.schools.nsw.gov.au |
St Ives North Public School was established in 1961 with an intention to cater to the increasing population on the Upper North Shore of Sydney in New South Wales.
The school is a coeducational government public school catering to approximately 900 students from Kindergarten to Year 6.
Students at St Ives are mostly outstanding throughout their years of studies, thanks to the robust syllabus and the ever-committed teachers who strive to ensure that students are nurtured and developed to reach their full potential.
Despite emphasising on developing a whole child and making them independent learners, they also incorporate a plethora of extracurricular activities into the school curriculum, wherein students are allowed the opportunities to express themselves in different programs including debating, sports, robotics, dance, drama, and music to mention but a few.
This school offers each child the opportunity to explore other fields of interest in a safe and friendly environment.
10. HORNSBY NORTH PUBLIC SCHOOL
| YEARS | K – 6 |
| PHONE | Telephone02 9987 4605 |
| hornsbynth-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au | |
| ADDRESS | Ida Street Hornsby, NSW 2077 |
| WEBSITE | hornsbynth-p.schools.nsw.gov.au |
Hornsby North Public School is a coeducational government (public) primary school situated in the northern suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
The school has an enrollment of approximately 949 students from Kindergarten to Year 6. Class sizes are intentionally kept small to promote the student-teacher relationship.
The school is an environment where pupils thrive, and everybody knows everybody. The introduction of technology and smart learning facilities has made it far easier for students to learn at school and even while at home.
In addition to having being provided with a plethora of learning options, children are also encouraged to be independent learners.
Students in Kindergarten through to Year 6 are often encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities including sports, choirs, drama, and debating.
FINAL THOUGHTS
That was the list of top primary schools in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. However, don’t get it twisted if you didn’t find a school you thought ought to have made the list.
Even though finding an ideal school for your child is of utmost importance to the development of the child; it is equally crucial to know that parents have a huge part to play in order to foster the development of their children.
In this article, we shared the top 10 best primary schools in Sydney. These schools include all the top government and independent primary schools in the state of New South Wales.
While some of these schools are fee-paying schools, others are free to attend – although not totally free.
We believe this post will help you find the best primary schools in Sydney for your children. Let us know what you think of this article via comment. And don’t forget to share this post using any of the social media buttons.
