Best northern beaches schools based on academic results, by the Better Education Group
We have ranked the best performing primary and high schools on the northern beaches according to independent academic analysis. Find out the best schools in our comprehensive list.
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Every school on the northern beaches has been independently assessed to find out its academic ranking.
The study undertaken by the Better Education Group marks schools out of 100 and then ranks them on performance.
The analysis is based on results in English and maths as well as the overall academic performance.
Below are a list of schools that have achieved a mark of 90 or more out of 100 and where they are ranked in NSW.
Fourteen high schools on the beaches achieved a score of 90 or more and 45 primary schools. All are listed below.
The Better Education website is run independently and describes its aim as providing “informative and comparative school results, including school rankings or ratings and lists of best performing schools, to parents wanting to make choices about schooling for their children”.
The peninsula’s top high school is the selective Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly Campus in Freshwater which is sixth in NSW. It was given a state overall score of 100/100 by the group.
St Luke’s Grammar School in Dee Why, was second on the northern beaches and ranked 57 in NSW. It received a state overall mark of 97/100.
While the German International School Sydney, in Terrey Hills, was third on the beaches and 66th in NSW, with a state overall score of 97/100.
Northern Beaches Secondary College Balgowlah Boys Campus was the highest non-selective public school to rank on the beaches, coming in fifth. It ranked 88th in NSW and its overall state score was 96/100.
Geoff Lancaster of St Luke’s Grammar School put the school’s success down to “engaged students and positive teachers”.
“We set the benchmark high and the students rise to it,” he said.
“They generally meet those high standards, they are lovely students.”
Deputy Principal Horst Giesler of the German International School Sydney, said he believes his school performs well because of the focus on languages and science.
Unlike popular belief, 70 to 80 per cent of students are locals, rather than expats.
“You don’t need any prior German to come to this school, at whatever age,” Mr Giesler said.
“A lot of locals come to our school because in their families they have some European DNA.
“They like that we concentrate on languages, not just German, but our students also speak French or Spanish.
“If you live in Europe every country demands two foreign languages as a major subject.”
The school also offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma, which Mr Giesler believes attracts students that are above average.
Paul Sheather, Principal of Balgowlah Boys, a public, non-selective school, said his school had been identified within the Department of Health as being brilliant at teaching boys.
“We have a wonderful team of teachers that really work hard and we have established a successful pedagogy of teaching boys in particular,” he said.
He said students are told clearly what they need to achieve at the start of each lesson, spend the class learning what is required and then are tested at the end.
He said in 10 years the number of pupils have jumped from 400 to 1200, as the school has become more popular, but it has managed to retain its excellent academic standards.
Meanwhile, the top primary school on the peninsula is the John Colet School in Belrose. It came sixth in NSW and a state overall mark of 100/100.
Second was the Sydney Japanese International School, in Terrey Hills, coming in 35th in NSW and given a state overall score of 99/100.
And, third was Balgowlah Heights Public School, Balgowlah, NSW, 2093, which was ranked 94th in NSW and was given a state overall score of 98/100.
John Colet School Principal Julian Wilcock said the academic success was all down to the staff.
“Teaching is not about the buildings, it’s about having great teachers,” he said.
“They stay with the children for a number of years, three years during infants. That promotes stability.
“We also have a really challenging arts program.
“We teach Sanskrit and Latin and Shakespeare and philosophy.
“We also run a mindfulness program which sees children pause 10 t 15 times a day which helps them to keep calm and focus.”
Top high schools on the beaches in order, and their NSW ranking
1. Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly Campus, North Curl Curl, ranked 6
2. St Luke’s Grammar School, Dee Why, ranked 57
3. German International School Sydney, Terrey Hills, ranked 66
4. Pittwater House School, Collaroy, ranked 87
5. Northern Beaches Secondary College Balgowlah Boys Campus, Balgowlah, ranked 88
6. Covenant Christian School, Belrose, 89
7. Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls Campus, Manly Vale, 96
8. Killarney Heights High School, Killarney Heights, ranked 120
9. Oxford Falls Grammar School, Oxford Falls, ranked 124
10. St Augustine’s College, Brookvale, ranked 132
11. Stella Maris College Manly, Manly, ranked 166
12. Mater Maria Catholic College, Warriewood, ranked 205
13. Pittwater High School, Mona Vale, ranked 210
14. Davidson High School, Frenchs Forest, ranked 211
Top primary schools on the northern beaches in order and their NSW ranking
1. John Colet School, Belrose, ranked 6
2. Sydney Japanese International School, Terrey Hills, ranked 35
3. Balgowlah Heights Public School, Balgowlah, ranked 94
4. Covenant Christian School, Belrose, ranked 107
5. St John The Baptist Catholic Primary School, Freshwater, ranked 108
6. Pittwater House School, Collaroy, ranked 187
7. St Martin’s Catholic Primary School, Davidson, ranked 207
8. Killarney Heights Public School, Killarney Heights, ranked 212
9. St Luke’s Grammar School, Dee Why, ranked 213
10. Manly West Public School, Balgowlah, ranked 224
11. Forestville Public School, Forestville, ranked 229
12. Maria Regina Catholic Primary School, Avalon Beach, ranked 234
13. Balgowlah North Public School, Balgowlah North, ranked 236
14. Oxford Falls Grammar School, Oxford Falls, ranked 247
15. Curl Curl North Public School, North Curl Curl, ranked 270
16. German International School Sydney, Terrey Hills, ranked 275
17. Kambora Public School, Davidson, ranked 279
18. Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Primary School, Forestville, ranked 288
19. St Cecilia’s Catholic Primary School, Balgowlah, ranked 2093
20. Manly Village Public School, Manly, ranked 293
21. Forestville Montessori School, Forestville, ranked 298
22. Bilgola Plateau Public School, Bilgola Plateau, ranked 300
23. Manly Vale Public School, Manly Vale, ranked 302
24. Mona Vale Public School, Mona Vale, ranked 307
25. Harbord Public School, Freshwater, ranked 318
26. Frenchs Forest Public School, Frenchs Forest, ranked 320
27. Barrenjoey Montessori School, Avalon, ranked 321
28. Wakehurst Public School, Belrose, ranked 323
29. Allambie Heights Public School, Allambie Heights, ranked 326
30. St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Manly, ranked 327
31. Collaroy Plateau Public School, Collaroy Plateau, ranked 331
32. Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Mona Vale, ranked 361
33. Avalon Public School, Avalon Beach, ranked 377
34. Mimosa Public School, Frenchs Forest, ranked 387
35. Narrabeen North Public School, Narrabeen North, ranked 419
36. Beacon Hill Public School, Beacon Hill, ranked 451
37. Wheeler Heights Public School, Collaroy Plateau, ranked 454
38. Elanora Heights Public School, Elanora Heights, ranked 455
39. St Kevin’s Catholic Primary School, Dee Why, ranked 456
40. Terrey Hills Public School, Terrey Hills, ranked 458
41. Cromer Public School, Cromer, ranked 500
42. Seaforth Public School, Seaforth, ranked 509
43. Northern Beaches Christian School, Terrey Hills, ranked 514
44. Galstaun College, Ingleside, ranked 524
45. Newport Public School, Newport, ranked 587
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