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School Name

The Scots College

Category

Asia-Pacific Schools

Types

Pre-Prep to Senior School

Pupil type

Boys only

Boarding-Day

Boarding

Day

Curriculums

Australian curriculum

HSC

Pupil age range

3-18

Location

Sydney

The Scots College

Focus

Excellence through adventure

Day fees 2026

$10,300-$37,700

Boarding fees 2026

$39,500-$65,500

Term dates

  • Term 1: 29 January to 1 April 2026
  • Term 2: 21 April to 25 June 2026
  • Term 3: 21 July to 25 September 2026
  • Term 4: 13 October to 7 December 2026

Ages

3-18

Pupil count

2,000

Spear’s Review

One of the premier schools in Sydney, The Scots College was founded in 1893 to educate ‘well-grounded men of integrity, with a strong sense of identity, values and character’.

The school educates boys aged 3 to 18, combining a traditional, Presbyterian-rooted ethos with contemporary teaching approaches. It aims to maximise each student’s independence and places experiential learning at the heart of its ethos.

One popular co-curricular activity is the Glengarry outdoor education programme, which allows Year 9 students to take part in a ‘quest for excellence through adventure, curiosity, creativity and growth’.

Its connection to its Scottish heritage remains strong, most visibly through the school’s pipe band.

Head teacher

Dr Ian PM Lambert has been principal since 2007. He has previously served as principal of Swan Christian College in Perth, and taught English and history at St Paul’s Anglican School and Emmanuel College in Queensland.

University and college destinations

Students pursue higher education at Australian universities as well as international schools, including Harvard University, the University of Oxford, the University of Chicago and the University of California, Berkeley.

Admissions

According to the school, in most cases, the application process involves a pre-enrolment assessment (Years 5 to 11) and interviews (all students). All families are encouraged to enquire about admissions.

Accessibility

Sydney International Airport: 20 minutes

Location

Click for more information about the research process and expert insight behind the Spear’s Schools Index.

Rank: Top Recommended

Top Recommended Spear’s Schools Index 2026, Asia-Pacific Schools

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