2026 ranking · 30 schools

Best Australian private schools for sport

Schools with strong inter-school sport programs — GPS/CAS/APS competitions, multiple representative pathways, dedicated sport infrastructure.

The Education Desk · Editorial team, schools + fertility + family services · Updated 11 June 2026 · How we rank · Editorial standards
1

Sydney Grammar School

Darlinghurst, Sydney · Independent (non-denominational) · boys

ICSEA 1274 $52k Y12 33.7% ATAR 99+

Consistently Sydney's top HSC academic results · Strong Classics, Latin and humanities tradition · GPS sport member with strong rowing and athletics

2

Ascham School

Edgecliff, Sydney · Independent (non-denominational) · girls

ICSEA 1217 $42k Y12 9% ATAR 99+

Dalton Plan progressive education methodology (one of few in Australia) · Top HSC results among Eastern Suburbs girls' schools · Strong rowing program on Sydney Harbour

3

Brisbane Grammar School

Spring Hill, Brisbane · Independent (non-denominational) · boys

ICSEA 1212 $36k Y12 Median ATAR 95 17% ATAR 99+

Top NAPLAN numeracy results in QLD · GPS sport powerhouse · Strong music + debating tradition

4

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

Spring Hill, Brisbane · Independent (non-denominational) · girls

ICSEA 1206 $34k Y12 Median ATAR 96.45 20.17% ATAR 99+

Top-ranked QLD academic results (ATAR + IB) · QGSSSA sport leader · Strong STEM + research culture

5

Lauriston Girls' School

Armadale, Melbourne · Independent (non-denominational Christian) · girls (co-ed Kindergarten only)

ICSEA 1197 $47k Y12

Compulsory Year 9 residential at Howqua rural campus · IB Diploma offered alongside VCE · National-medal-winning rowing program (Head of the Yarra)

6

St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls

Mosman Park, Perth · Anglican · girls

ICSEA 1194 $34k Y12

Among WA's highest ICSEA girls' schools · Three campuses (Mosman Park + Pemberton outdoor ed) · IGSSA sport + boarding from Year 7

7

Scotch College

Hawthorn, Melbourne · Presbyterian · boys

ICSEA 1193 $48k Y12 14.17% ATAR 99+

Australia's oldest secondary school (est. 1851) · Elite APS sport across cricket, football and rowing · National boarding house of approximately 160 students

8

Christ Church Grammar School

Claremont, Perth · Anglican · boys

ICSEA 1191 $37k Y12 13% ATAR 99+

Top-performing non-selective WACE/ATAR results · PSA sport (rowing on Freshwater Bay) · 110-boy boarding house

9

Knox Grammar School

Wahroonga, Sydney · Uniting Church · boys

ICSEA 1187 $45k Y12

Largest GPS boys' school with broad co-curricular program · Strong rugby, rowing and athletics · Wellbeing-led 'Total Boy' framework

10

Camberwell Grammar School

Canterbury, Melbourne · Anglican · boys

ICSEA 1185 $44k Y12 Median ATAR 91.45 13% ATAR 99+

Strong VCE academic results (median 34, 20% scoring 40+) · AGSV member with strong sport program · Established music, debating and outdoor education programs across Junior, Middle and Senior Schools

11

Somerville House

South Brisbane, Brisbane · Independent (PMSA) · girls

ICSEA 1184 $32k Y12

All-inclusive fee (laptop, camps, QGSSSA sport) · Strong academic record - QLD top OP/ATAR results · International + STEM programs

12

Shore (Sydney Church of England Grammar)

North Sydney, Sydney · Anglican · boys

ICSEA 1182 $48k Y12 Median ATAR 91.13

GPS founding member with strong rowing on Sydney Harbour · Northwood and Northbridge campuses with extensive sport facilities · Anglican formation with chapel program

13

Melbourne Grammar School

South Yarra, Melbourne · Anglican · boys (co-ed Prep-Year 6)

ICSEA 1180 $46k Y12 Median ATAR 92.55 15% ATAR 99+

28-time Head of the River rowing champions · Internationally touring symphony orchestra · Strong VCE results, median ATAR consistently 90+

14

Barker College

Hornsby, Sydney · Anglican · co-ed

ICSEA 1179 $45k Y12

ICSEA 1179 (around the 98th percentile nationally) - one of NSW's most academically advantaged independent schools · Completed transition to full co-education in 2022 after introducing girls in senior years in 1975; now Pre-K to Year 12 co-ed on a single Hornsby campus · Boarding for Years 9-12 ($38,830) drawing rural and international students; notable alumni include Midnight Oil's Peter Garrett, film director Philip Noyce and cricketer Lisa Sthalekar

15

Pymble Ladies' College

Pymble, Sydney · Uniting Church · girls

ICSEA 1178 $46k Y12 Median ATAR 91.45 8% ATAR 99+

IB Primary Years and HSC offered · Strong STEM and innovation program · AHIGS sport with elite rowing and aquatics

16

Trinity Grammar School (Summer Hill)

Summer Hill, Sydney · Anglican · boys

ICSEA 1170 $48k Y12

Strong music program (one of largest school music programs in Australia) · AAGPS sport member with strong rugby and rowing · Field studies centre at Woollamia

17

Scotch College Perth

Swanbourne, Perth · Independent (Uniting Church) · boys

ICSEA 1170 $36k Y12

Authorised IB World School (PYP, MYP, DP) · PSA sport powerhouse · ~170 boarders Years 7-12

18

Hale School

Wembley Downs, Perth · Anglican · boys

ICSEA 1169 $33k Y12 9% ATAR 99+

Oldest boys' school in WA (1858) · PSA sport (rugby, rowing, cricket) · Strong cadet + boarding tradition

19

Loreto Mandeville Hall

Toorak, Melbourne · Catholic (Loreto Sisters / IBVM) · girls

ICSEA 1168 $40k Y12

Top-ranked Catholic girls' school by VCE (ranked 7th statewide in 2023) · One of the top school rowing programs nationally · Six consecutive GSV Athletics Championships (2014-2019); Positive Education curriculum

20

Saint Ignatius' College Riverview

Lane Cove, Sydney · Catholic (Jesuit) · boys

ICSEA 1168 $43k Y12

Jesuit education in the Ignatian tradition · Largest GPS boarding school by tradition; major rowing program · Strong service-learning and Jesuit retreat program

21

Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie)

East Brisbane, Brisbane · Anglican · boys

ICSEA 1167 $34k Y12 Median ATAR 90.85 13% ATAR 99+

GPS sport (rowing, rugby, cricket) · International Baccalaureate Diploma + Primary Years Programme · 150-boy boarding house from Year 7

22

The King's School

North Parramatta, Sydney · Anglican · boys

ICSEA 1164 $50k Y12

Australia's oldest independent school · One of the largest GPS boarding schools (~430 boarders) · Strong rugby and cadet program tradition

23

Brisbane Boys' College

Toowong, Brisbane · Independent (Presbyterian and Uniting Church) · boys

ICSEA 1164 $33k Y12

GPS sport (rugby, rowing, cricket) · Strong cadet + outdoor education · Robust music and pipe band tradition

24

St Leonard's College

Brighton East, Melbourne · Independent (non-denominational) · co-educational

ICSEA 1163 $32k Y12

IB Diploma alongside VCE · Bayside Melbourne campus · Strong sport + creative arts

25

Penleigh and Essendon Grammar (PEGS)

Essendon, Melbourne · Independent (non-denominational) · parallel learning

ICSEA 1161 $26k Y12

Parallel single-sex learning (boys + girls campuses) · Strong music + rowing programs · Western Melbourne campus

26

St Margaret's Anglican Girls School

Ascot, Brisbane · Anglican · girls

ICSEA 1159 $33k Y12 Median ATAR 93.05 8.1% ATAR 99+

~190 boarders Years 5-12 (one of QLD's leading girls' boarding schools) · QGSSSA sport - rowing, hockey, netball · Sisters of the Sacred Advent founding heritage

27

Wesley College Perth

South Perth, Perth · Independent (Uniting Church / Methodist heritage) · boys (co-educational to Year 6)

ICSEA 1159 $32k Y12

100+ year Methodist heritage · PSA sport (rugby, rowing) · Boarding (~160 students); new Year 7 boarding from 2026

28

St Aidan's Anglican Girls' School

Corinda, Brisbane · Anglican · girls (co-ed Kindergarten)

ICSEA 1158 $32k Y12 Median ATAR 94.95 10% ATAR 99+

Strong academic record (consistently high QLD ATAR median) · All-inclusive fee model with 1:1 device · QGSSSA sport

29

St Mary's Anglican Girls' School

Karrinyup, Perth · Anglican · girls

ICSEA 1158 $30k Y12 8% ATAR 99+

~171 boarders Years 6-12 (largest Anglican girls' boarding in WA) · Strong WACE/ATAR results · IGSSA sport

30

Trinity Grammar School Kew

Kew, Melbourne · Anglican · boys

ICSEA 1158 $38k Y12

APS sport (rowing, cricket, football) · Strong music + concert band program · Eastern Melbourne campus

How this list is ranked

Strongest sport programs typically come from the GPS, CAS, AAGPS (NSW), APS, AGSV, ACS (VIC) + GPS (QLD) competitions. Look for Olympic alumni + national representative coaching staff.

Want to compare any of these schools side-by-side? Add up to 4 to our shortlist comparison tool. Or take our 60-second school finder quiz for a personalised ranking based on your priorities.