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.
Sydney Grammar School
Darlinghurst, Sydney · Independent (non-denominational) · boys
Consistently Sydney's top HSC academic results · Strong Classics, Latin and humanities tradition · GPS sport member with strong rowing and athletics
Ascham School
Edgecliff, Sydney · Independent (non-denominational) · girls
Dalton Plan progressive education methodology (one of few in Australia) · Top HSC results among Eastern Suburbs girls' schools · Strong rowing program on Sydney Harbour
Brisbane Grammar School
Spring Hill, Brisbane · Independent (non-denominational) · boys
Top NAPLAN numeracy results in QLD · GPS sport powerhouse · Strong music + debating tradition
Brisbane Girls Grammar School
Spring Hill, Brisbane · Independent (non-denominational) · girls
Top-ranked QLD academic results (ATAR + IB) · QGSSSA sport leader · Strong STEM + research culture
Lauriston Girls' School
Armadale, Melbourne · Independent (non-denominational Christian) · girls (co-ed Kindergarten only)
Compulsory Year 9 residential at Howqua rural campus · IB Diploma offered alongside VCE · National-medal-winning rowing program (Head of the Yarra)
St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls
Mosman Park, Perth · Anglican · girls
Among WA's highest ICSEA girls' schools · Three campuses (Mosman Park + Pemberton outdoor ed) · IGSSA sport + boarding from Year 7
Scotch College
Hawthorn, Melbourne · Presbyterian · boys
Australia's oldest secondary school (est. 1851) · Elite APS sport across cricket, football and rowing · National boarding house of approximately 160 students
Christ Church Grammar School
Claremont, Perth · Anglican · boys
Top-performing non-selective WACE/ATAR results · PSA sport (rowing on Freshwater Bay) · 110-boy boarding house
Knox Grammar School
Wahroonga, Sydney · Uniting Church · boys
Largest GPS boys' school with broad co-curricular program · Strong rugby, rowing and athletics · Wellbeing-led 'Total Boy' framework
Camberwell Grammar School
Canterbury, Melbourne · Anglican · boys
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
Somerville House
South Brisbane, Brisbane · Independent (PMSA) · girls
All-inclusive fee (laptop, camps, QGSSSA sport) · Strong academic record - QLD top OP/ATAR results · International + STEM programs
Shore (Sydney Church of England Grammar)
North Sydney, Sydney · Anglican · boys
GPS founding member with strong rowing on Sydney Harbour · Northwood and Northbridge campuses with extensive sport facilities · Anglican formation with chapel program
Melbourne Grammar School
South Yarra, Melbourne · Anglican · boys (co-ed Prep-Year 6)
28-time Head of the River rowing champions · Internationally touring symphony orchestra · Strong VCE results, median ATAR consistently 90+
Barker College
Hornsby, Sydney · Anglican · co-ed
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
Pymble Ladies' College
Pymble, Sydney · Uniting Church · girls
IB Primary Years and HSC offered · Strong STEM and innovation program · AHIGS sport with elite rowing and aquatics
Trinity Grammar School (Summer Hill)
Summer Hill, Sydney · Anglican · boys
Strong music program (one of largest school music programs in Australia) · AAGPS sport member with strong rugby and rowing · Field studies centre at Woollamia
Scotch College Perth
Swanbourne, Perth · Independent (Uniting Church) · boys
Authorised IB World School (PYP, MYP, DP) · PSA sport powerhouse · ~170 boarders Years 7-12
Hale School
Wembley Downs, Perth · Anglican · boys
Oldest boys' school in WA (1858) · PSA sport (rugby, rowing, cricket) · Strong cadet + boarding tradition
Loreto Mandeville Hall
Toorak, Melbourne · Catholic (Loreto Sisters / IBVM) · girls
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
Saint Ignatius' College Riverview
Lane Cove, Sydney · Catholic (Jesuit) · boys
Jesuit education in the Ignatian tradition · Largest GPS boarding school by tradition; major rowing program · Strong service-learning and Jesuit retreat program
Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie)
East Brisbane, Brisbane · Anglican · boys
GPS sport (rowing, rugby, cricket) · International Baccalaureate Diploma + Primary Years Programme · 150-boy boarding house from Year 7
The King's School
North Parramatta, Sydney · Anglican · boys
Australia's oldest independent school · One of the largest GPS boarding schools (~430 boarders) · Strong rugby and cadet program tradition
Brisbane Boys' College
Toowong, Brisbane · Independent (Presbyterian and Uniting Church) · boys
GPS sport (rugby, rowing, cricket) · Strong cadet + outdoor education · Robust music and pipe band tradition
St Leonard's College
Brighton East, Melbourne · Independent (non-denominational) · co-educational
IB Diploma alongside VCE · Bayside Melbourne campus · Strong sport + creative arts
Penleigh and Essendon Grammar (PEGS)
Essendon, Melbourne · Independent (non-denominational) · parallel learning
Parallel single-sex learning (boys + girls campuses) · Strong music + rowing programs · Western Melbourne campus
St Margaret's Anglican Girls School
Ascot, Brisbane · Anglican · girls
~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
Wesley College Perth
South Perth, Perth · Independent (Uniting Church / Methodist heritage) · boys (co-educational to Year 6)
100+ year Methodist heritage · PSA sport (rugby, rowing) · Boarding (~160 students); new Year 7 boarding from 2026
St Aidan's Anglican Girls' School
Corinda, Brisbane · Anglican · girls (co-ed Kindergarten)
Strong academic record (consistently high QLD ATAR median) · All-inclusive fee model with 1:1 device · QGSSSA sport
St Mary's Anglican Girls' School
Karrinyup, Perth · Anglican · girls
~171 boarders Years 6-12 (largest Anglican girls' boarding in WA) · Strong WACE/ATAR results · IGSSA sport
Trinity Grammar School Kew
Kew, Melbourne · Anglican · boys
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.
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