ST ANDREW'S CATHEDRAL SCHOOL
SYDNEY SQUARE, SYDNEY NSW 2000
An independent, coeducational Anglican day school for Kindergarten to Year 12.
Head of School: Dr John Collier BA, DipEd, DipBiblSt, EdD, FACE, MACEL.
"This School brings the best out of people. Anyone associated with it cannot feel anything but proud to be a part of it. [The main reward for the teachers and staff] is the knowledge they are forging the generations of people that will make our School, our city, our country and humanity very proud. The most significant reward that any person can receive is a clear path to future conduct in life. Looking at our children, the future looks bright ". Parents of two students currently at St Andrew’s
About us: Located in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, St Andrew’s Cathedral School is a vibrant, coeducational institution providing students from Kindergarten to Year 12 with a strong academic programme, extensive opportunities for involvement in sport, music and the dramatic arts and nurturing pastoral care; all set within a cosmopolitan cityscape. We have strong, innovative policies built on diversity and acceptance that are in-sync with the dynamism of a modern society, nurturing each student’s unique learning style within a framework of Christian values. Student and staff relations are both genuine and unique, with relationships built on mutual respect.
"I like St Andrew’s because it is multicultural. I get to study with people from all different nationalities who bring different viewpoints to my classroom. My friends and I love learning about different countries and their cultures in class too." Year 7 student
Accessibility: Junior and Middle School facilities in St Andrew’s House offer immediate undercover access from Town Hall Station. The School is easily accessible throughout the Sydney metropolitan area using public transport. Many parents travel in with their children on their way to and from work. The School also provides a buddy program on the request of parents for younger Junior School students, pairing them with an older student who looks after them as they travel to school.
"Unlike many other schools we are not limited by our location, our opportunities are bigger. An excursion starts when we walk out the front doors."
Year 12 Graduate, 2009
ACADEMIC
" I get along well with all my teachers; they seem to have this way of relating a subject matter to the way I am thinking. It just adds to the community of the school and the fact that all of us are working together here." Year 12 student
Junior School (Kindergarten to Year 6): The busy and productive working environment of our Junior School is facilitated by smaller class sizes (maximum of 20), unique rooftop playground, open-plan interactive areas and glass walled classrooms.
Gawura: A campus within the School that caters for up to 25 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Focus is placed on core subjects of literacy and numeracy within a context that maintains the cultural significance of students’ backgrounds.;
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"It’s cool going to school with girls and boys together because we all like different things and get to share our ideas." Year 3 student
Middle School (Years 7 to 9): St Andrew’s offers anunrivalled ‘twinning’ experience for its Middle School students. The ‘twinning’ programme sees students attend single sex classes in core subjects such as English, Mathematics and Science, with coeducational classes for all other subjects. This means our students have the best of both worlds. They are in a position to maximize their academic potential in a safe, nurturing environment whilst still taking advantage of the numerous social benefits derived from learning in a coeducational environment.
"There is no division between Middle and Senior School whatsoever; it is such a tolerant environment. If you are wearing the blue and white, you are one of us. Going here from years 3-12 has shown me a strong community atmosphere that shapes the way I live my life. My grade is just like a big family that grows tighter as time goes on." Year 12 Graduate 2009.
"Having a good group of friends rallying around you makes the world of difference in the HSC year ". Year 12 Graduate, 2009
Senior College (Years 10 to 12): Choice to study the Higher School Certificate (HSC) or the International Baccalaureate (IB) in Years 11 and 12. Learning is situated in the Bishop Barry Senior College, which provides a collegiate style campus tailored specifically to learning needs for Years 10 to 12.
"Co-education has prepared me for the future. I feel I can confidently enter the workforce or a university knowing I learn well alongside males and females and understand that gender interaction.” Year 12 Graduate, 2009
Christian values: Tolerant School community based on understanding, compassion and mutual respect between all students, with values of grace, integrity and justice at the core of daily learning.
"At St Andrew’s I enjoyed a positive environment where topics could be discussed with honesty and respect.” Year 12 Graduate, 2009
Subject selection: Aim to cater for all interests and learning levels in Senior College years, from extension courses in core subjects to TAFE delivered vocational education courses. The large year cohorts in the Senior College allow a diversity of subject choices.
Technology: A progressive approach giving high accessibility to Information Technology for classes and students, with seven computer rooms, plus several other areas for student computer access and banks of laptops with remote access. Most classrooms equipped with full multi-media and/or interactive white boards.
School Houses: These constitute a major structural and pastoral role within the School, with each student a member of one of eight houses. Not only are Houses used in competitions such as sport and debating, but as an opportunity for individual academic development, via small, House-based tutor groups that all students meet with on a weekly basis. This fosters greater inter-year relationships and a culture of care between students as they assist one another both in and out of the classroom.
"At previous schools I had attended, your ‘house’ was simply who you sat with at swimming and athletics carnivals. Not at St Andrew’s. We cheered each other on at sporting events, we stood together to raise money for charities, and we sung and prayed together in chapel. To have the opportunity to do so many different things with students across all years, promoted camaraderie, a sense of pride and community." Ex-student of St Andrew’s
CO-CURRICULAR
" The opportunities here were unbelievable. I went overseas on music tours three times and performed in brilliant musicals and concerts in front of thousands of people." Year 12 Graduate, 2009
Music and Performing Arts: The School has anexceptional reputation in drama, art and music, withover 40 music ensembles, aimed at a range of skill levels, integrated with outstanding performance opportunities that include Cathedral events, musicals, interstate and international tours. Drama facilities include an in-house Black Box theatre and open theatre-style classrooms. There are a variety of annual productions for Middle School and Senior College, as well as two IB productions and interschool theatre sports competitions.
City links program: Extensive links to leading venues such as University theatres, City Recital Hall, Sydney Opera House, Martin Place, Darling Harbour, the Rocks, city museums, galleries, civic, legal and business centres.
Sport and fitness: The School’s home sporting facilities are located at Sydney University, (including St Andrew’s Oval) and the close by Wentworth Park. On-site facilities include a gymnasium, basketball courts and cricket nets as well as a fully-equipped weights room. A variety of sports including dance and fencing are offered on site.
Outdoor Education: A vast range of age appropriate programs commencing in Year 3 are offered, which make use ofSt Andrew’s 90 hectare Kirrikee site in the Southern Highlands, as well as more specific Senior College trips including expeditions from Kosciusko to Bass Strait, mountain biking in New Zealand, canoeing on the Murray, country skiing and community service projects in central Australia. Overseas trips have included Peru, Argentina and India.
When to enrol: We see the school experience as a journey from entry year to graduation and encourage students to start as early as possible, so that they can fully enjoy the whole process and grow academically to the best of their ability.
Contact us now for further information or to book one of our fortnightly Head of School Tours. Group numbers are kept small in the fortnightly tours, to ensure that all of your questions are addressed.
"What I’ll miss most about SACS is the strong sense of community and the open attitude of all the students and teachers." Year 12 Graduate, 2009