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St Leonard's College

Australia, Melbourne

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees A$300 - 59,415
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 1576
Type Co-educational
Opened 1914
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (DP), Australian Curriculum
Taught languages English, Mandarin, French, Spanish
Typical class size 22
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Outdoor Education
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School, Senior Secondary School
Introduction

St Leonard's College is an independent, coeducational Australian school serving students aged 3 to 18. The curriculum blends the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme for younger years with the Diploma Programme for senior students, alongside the Australian Curriculum. Prep to Year 4 focuses on inquiry, independence and international mindedness, supported by specialist teachers across English, Science, Mathematics, Humanities, Languages, Wellbeing, DigiSTEM, Drama, Art and Music. The Cove (Years 5 and 6) is an upper-primary program with dedicated teachers across English, Science, Mathematics, Humanities and Languages (Chinese, French or Spanish). Middle School (Years 7–9) offers elective options and an experiential Year 9 SEA program, with curriculum informed by Harvard GSE and Monash and participation in the OECD 2030 project. In Years 10–12 students choose between VCE and IBDP, with course guides published. Since 1914, the school has evolved as a coeducational community, celebrating 50 years of coeducation and the IB Diploma.

The Essentials

St Leonard's College has 1,576 pupils, typical class sizes of 22, instruction in English.

Location

Bunurong Country, 163 South Road, Brighton East, VIC 3187, Australia. The campus is in the Bayside area of Melbourne. The South Road entrance is used for College activity and bus routes. St Leonard's College is Bayside's school of choice with the address serving as the primary campus location.

Stages

Early Learning Centre (ages 3–5); Prep to Year 4 (IB PYP); The Cove (Years 5 and 6); Years 7 to 9 (Middle School); Years 10 to 12 (Senior School).

Type

Independent, coeducational

Additional learning support

The Learning Enhancement Faculty provides dedicated, evidence-based support across the College. In Junior School, early identification and targeted literacy, numeracy and self-regulation support are provided; Years 5–6 use in-class and small-group programs with tailored adjustments; in Middle School, support develops self-advocacy, executive functioning and flexible thinking with classroom assistance and assistive technologies; in Senior School, teachers guide pathways including examination adjustments and special provisions.

Country affiliation

Australia

Religious affiliation

Presbyterian heritage (historical).

School day structure

Attendance times: ELC 8:30–12:00 or 3:00; Prep to Year 4 8:30–3:20; Years 5–12 8:30–3:35. Years 5–12 operate on a ten-day cycle; Years 7–12 timetable: 8:30–9:50 Period 1; 9:50–10:15 recess; 10:15–11:35 Period 2; 11:35–12:55 Period 3; 12:55–1:40 lunch; 1:40–2:15 Period X; 2:15–3:35 Period 4; dismissal 3:35.

Bus service

The College Bus Service provides six chartered routes arriving near the South Road entrance at 8:15am and departing at 3:50pm each school day; stops connect to suburbs including Beaumaris, Bentleigh, Brighton, Caulfield, Cheltenham, Dingley Village, Elsternwick, Elwood, Hampton, Highett, Malvern East, McKinnon, Moorabbin, Mordialloc, Parkdale and Sandringham.

Fees

Annual tuition at St Leonard's College ranges from AUD 300 to AUD 59,415 for 2026/27.

Application fees

- Domestic (Australian citizens, permanent residents, temporary residents applying via the domestic process): non-refundable application fee AUD 200, payable when the online Application for Enrolment is submitted.
- International (full fee‑paying overseas students applying on a student visa): non‑refundable application fee AUD 300, payable at time of application. An Enrolment Confirmation Fee of AUD 2,400 is payable on acceptance of an offer (non‑refundable, non‑transferable).

Tuition fees (annual and per‑term by year level, domestic students — 2026)

- ELC3 sessional (five mornings) — Annual: AUD 15,581. Per term (standard 4-term division): AUD 3,895.25.
- ELC3 part time (four days) — Annual: AUD 24,320. Per term: AUD 6,080.
- ELC3 & ELC4 full time — Annual: AUD 27,789. Per term: AUD 6,947.25.
- Prep — Annual: AUD 25,183. Per term: AUD 6,295.75.
- Year 1 — Annual: AUD 28,620. Per term: AUD 7,155.
- Year 2 — Annual: AUD 28,620. Per term: AUD 7,155.
- Year 3 — Annual: AUD 32,086. Per term: AUD 8,021.50.
- Year 4 — Annual: AUD 32,086. Per term: AUD 8,021.50.
- Year 5 — Annual: AUD 34,726. Per term: AUD 8,681.50.
- Year 6 — Annual: AUD 34,726. Per term: AUD 8,681.50.
- Year 7 — Annual: AUD 39,438. Per term: AUD 9,859.50.
- Year 8 — Annual: AUD 39,438. Per term: AUD 9,859.50.
- Year 9 — Annual: AUD 41,113. Per term: AUD 10,278.25.
- Year 10 — Annual: AUD 41,152. Per term: AUD 10,288.00.
- Year 11 — Annual: AUD 43,482. Per term: AUD 10,870.50.
- Year 12 — Annual: AUD 42,903. Standard per‑term equivalent (dividing annual by 4): AUD 10,725.75; however, Year 12 fees are invoiced differently: Year 12 tuition is charged in three equal instalments (one‑third of the annual fee) in Terms 1, 2 and 3 — each Year 12 instalment therefore equals AUD 14,301.00.

(Amounts above are the published Annual Tuition Fees for 2026; the per‑term figures shown are arithmetic conversions for clarity. For most year levels accounts are issued on a term basis as described below.)

International (full fee‑paying) annual tuition fees — 2026 (summary)

- Prep: AUD 36,891; Year 1: AUD 36,988; Year 2: AUD 36,988; Year 3: AUD 41,465; Year 4: AUD 41,465; Year 5: AUD 44,462; Year 6: AUD 44,462; Year 7: AUD 51,445; Year 8: AUD 56,477; Year 9: AUD 56,477; Year 10: AUD 56,866; Year 11: AUD 56,866; Year 12: AUD 59,415. International fee schedules and additional international charges (health cover, tuition deposit at acceptance, etc.) apply.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Standard billing: fee accounts are rendered on a term basis and are issued one term plus 30 days in advance. Consolidated accounts show one‑quarter of annual consolidated fees on each term account (i.e., four equal term instalments). For Year 12, billing is in three equal instalments (one‑third of the annual fee) charged in Terms 1, 2 and 3. International full fee‑paying student accounts are issued twice per year and specific upfront deposits are required at acceptance as specified in the international offer. Notice of withdrawal must be provided one full school term in advance; failure to provide one term's written notice will result in one term's fees being payable.

Enrolment bond / acceptance deposits

- An Enrolment Bond is required for all accepted offers from 2026 onward to confirm enrolment; the bond amount is specified in the Acceptance of Offer documentation and is held and deducted from fees after a minimum period of attendance (the Enrolment Bond is forfeited if the student does not commence or complete the minimum required enrolment period). For the Early Learning Centre, a tuition deposit for Prep may also be required in certain circumstances and is deducted from the first account once the student commences. The non‑refundable admission (confirmation) fee required on acceptance is specified in the Acceptance of Offer.

Boarding fees

- Boarding is not applicable. St Leonard's College is a co‑educational day school with an Early Learning Centre; there are no boarding fees for students.

Other costs and common additional charges

- Camps and major experiential trips: Year 6 Canberra trip estimate AUD 2,000–AUD 3,000; Year 9 CUE Big Experience estimate AUD 5,500–AUD 11,500 depending on destination and program. These costs are additional to tuition where applicable.
- International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) annual registration/exam fee (2026): AUD 1,055 for Year 11/12 IBDP students.
- Stationery, apps and class incidentals typically range by year level from approximately AUD 100–AUD 400 per year.
- Musical instrument hire for curriculum lessons: AUD 245 per year (includes AUD 25 insurance). Private music lesson instrument hire: AUD 220 per semester. Private lesson fees per semester/term are listed separately in the Fees Schedule (e.g., private 30‑minute lessons approx. AUD 1,085 per semester). Speech & drama and music tuition fees are charged per lesson/semester as listed in the Fees Schedule.
- Club Sport, Aesthetic Sports and other co‑curricular activities have separate semester or annual charges (examples include cheer, dance, gymnastics, basketball club fees, sailing, Taekwondo, swim program). Uniforms or costumes required for these programs are compulsory and charged separately. Payment is required prior to participation each semester/season.
- Voluntary Building Fund contribution (tax‑deductible): an optional levy of AUD 460 per student per annum may be added to each quarterly account if families choose to contribute.
- Bus fees, optional camps, optional music camps, competition travel and equipment, and certain elective program fees are additional and appear as separate line items. Instrument repair liability: parents are responsible for the first AUD 500 of repair costs on hired instruments; unrecoverable loss may be charged.

Refunds and cancellation terms

- Application fees and Enrolment Confirmation/Admission fees are non‑refundable and non‑transferable. An Enrolment Bond (where required) will be deducted from the first account after the student has completed the minimum enrolment period; the bond is forfeited if the student does not commence or does not complete the minimum enrolment period. Written notice of withdrawal must be provided one full term in advance; where such notice is not provided one term's fees will be charged. These conditions are part of the College's Terms of Business.
- International students: specific refund rules apply for overseas students. Where enrolment is withdrawn in writing more than one term before commencement, Annual Tuition and Health Insurance Fees minus a cancellation fee of AUD 1,000 are refundable (Application Fee and Enrolment Confirmation Fee remain non‑refundable). If withdrawal is less than one term prior to commencement, the Application Fee, Enrolment Confirmation Fee and 25% of the Annual Tuition Fee are non‑refundable; health insurance fees may be refundable. If a visa application is rejected by the Department of Home Affairs and evidence is provided, Annual Tuition and Health Insurance Fees are refundable (Application and Enrolment Confirmation Fee are not). Refunds to international families are processed in Australian dollars to the party that made the original payment and, where approved, are processed within the timeframe set out in the international refund procedure.

Fee payment options and methods

- Accepted payment methods include: BPay; Credit Card (Visa and MasterCard — overseas credit cards for international students may be restricted per policy); Debit Card transactions; and electronic funds transfer (bank transfer). Cash payments are not accepted. Credit card details are taken for application payment (Visa/MasterCard only). For international students, a tuition deposit (50% of the annual tuition for the first study period) and other charges are payable on acceptance, and thereafter fees are payable term in advance or as specified in the international offer.

Sibling discounts and concessions

- Sibling discounts on consolidated fees apply where two or more children from the same family attend concurrently: 5% discount for the second sibling, 15% for the third sibling, and 50% for the fourth and subsequent sibling. The greatest discount applies to the fees for the lowest year level; sibling discounts do not apply to additional charges (non‑tuition items) and do not apply to international student fees.

Key administrative notes on fee timing and obligations

- Fees are subject to annual review and change; parents receive notice in advance of any change. Invoices are normally issued termly (one quarter of consolidated annual fees) and are payable within the College's stated payment terms; Year 12 fees are invoiced in three instalments. Failure to pay accounts or to provide required notice of withdrawal will result in fees being charged in accordance with the College's Terms of Business and may lead to collection action for overdue amounts.
Academics

St Leonard's College teaches IB (PYP), IB (DP), Australian Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum

Prep to Year 4 follows the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) for ages 3 to 12, focusing on inquiry, independence, and international-mindedness. The Junior School uses specialist teachers across English, Science, Mathematics, Humanities, Languages, Wellbeing, DigiSTEM, Drama, Art and Music. The Cove (Years 5 and 6) is a bespoke upper-primary program with dedicated teachers across English, Science, Mathematics, Humanities, Languages (Chinese, French or Spanish), Wellbeing, Self and Society, DigiSTEM, Physical Education, Drama, Art and Music. Middle School (Years 7 to 9) offers elective options and a Year 9 experiential learning SEA program, with curriculum informed by Harvard GSE and Monash and participation in the OECD 2030 project. In Years 10 to 12, students choose between VCE and IBDP, with Year 10 Course Guide 2026, Year 11 Course Guide 2026, and VCE Course Guide 2026 available.

Exam Results

Class of 2025 achieved a median ATAR of 95.5 for IBDP, 81.0 for VCE, and 87.45 combined. In 2025, 46% of students achieved 90+ in the combined results, 31.25% achieved 90+ in VCE, and 68.13% achieved 80+ in combined results; 54.69% of VCE students achieved 80+.

Higher Education Progression

Monash University, University of Melbourne, RMIT University, Deakin University and Swinburne University of Technology were the most popular destinations for Class of 2025 VCE/IBDP graduates, with offers also made interstate to ANU, Bond University, University of Sydney and University of Queensland, and international offers from Harvard University and the University of the Arts London.

Gifted and Talented

St Leonard's College offers High Potential Learning for Prep to Year 12 with opportunities to extend and enrich learning. The program includes enrichment activities such as OzClo, BrainSTEM Innovation Challenge, Computational and Algorithmic Thinking, da Vinci Decathlon, Ethics Olympiad, Future Problem Solving, Informatics, Mooting and Tournament of the Minds.

Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

The WISE Wellbeing framework is used across the College from the Early Learning Centre to Year 12, guiding student wellbeing through four domains: Warm Hearts, Inspired Futures, Strong Minds and Engaged Beings. Mentors and Heads of Year provide individualized support and monitor academic and personal progress to ensure each student feels known, nurtured and supported. The Cocurricular program supports students' intellectual, personal, physical, social and emotional growth through a wide range of activities. The Wellbeing Centre, opened in 2023, provides a dedicated space for group activities and peer connections, reinforcing a nurturing environment. Wellbeing initiatives include the Personal Development Program (PDP), external presenters and SchoolTV resources for students and parents, supporting a holistic approach to wellbeing.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Counselling Services address cognitive and emotional strengths, provide educational support, and assist with social and behavioral concerns; they also offer support for family difficulties and special needs. This indicates the College provides direct support for students with special educational needs through its counselling team.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

The Program for Language Acquisition and Cultural Engagement (PLACE) supports students from non-English speaking backgrounds to transition into mainstream classes and life in Australia. PLACE offers Intensive English Language (IEL) entry streams and English as an Additional Language (EAL) entry streams to support language development and transition to mainstream classes. IEL provides targeted English development embedded in the timetable, with small class sizes and transition timeframes to entry mainstream. EAL classes bridge the gap between current English level and the demands of mainstream subjects for eligible students in Year 8 or above, with AEAS testing and external EAL eligibility guidelines. PLACE staff assist with subject selection and university entrance information; intake begins at the start of Term 1 or Term 3.

Mental Wellbeing

The Wellbeing framework (WISE) is used across the College to foster holistic development in four domains: Warm Hearts, Inspired Futures, Strong Minds and Engaged Beings. The framework supports student agency and wellbeing as central to thriving at school. Mentors and Heads of Year provide individualized support and monitor academic and personal progress, ensuring students feel known, nurtured and loved. The College Psychologists and Chaplain offer counselling services addressing cognitive, emotional and social challenges, and assist families with special needs. The Wellbeing Centre opened in 2023 to provide a space for wellbeing activities and peer connections; PDP, external presenters and SchoolTV resources support wellbeing for students and parents.

Safeguarding

The College has a zero-tolerance policy for child abuse and prioritises children's safety through a comprehensive Child Safety and Wellbeing Framework. The Framework includes a Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy, a Code of Conduct, a Complaints and Concerns Procedure, and a Response and Reporting Procedure. Staff and volunteers complete mandatory child safety training upon commencement. There are formal reporting procedures for concerns, including mandatory reporting channels and steps to contact authorities if a child is in danger; in emergencies, the Police should be called at 000. Any member of the College community has a responsibility to raise concerns about a child's safety under the policy.

Admissions

Admissions

1. Families apply online via the Application for Enrolment and pay a $200 non-refundable application fee. Admission depends on the availability of places, a satisfactory interview and assessment, the College's capacity to provide an appropriate program for the child, and acceptance of the College Terms of Business. Upon receipt, the child's name is added to the waiting lists for the nominated year levels. Families should read and understand the College Terms of Business and the Admissions Policy prior to submitting.

Scholarships

Aspire Scholarships comprise Leonardian Scholarships, Global Citizen Scholarships, and Indigenous Scholarships. Leonardian Scholarships may be awarded to prospective students entering Years 7 to 11; applicants must meet financial eligibility criteria via a means test and must be Australian citizens or permanent residents. Applications close on 1 August each year and should be sent in writing to the Head of Engagement with a written statement, references, two most recent school reports, testing results, and proof of citizenship or permanent residency; shortlisted applicants may be invited to interview. Global Citizen Scholarships are for prospective students entering Years 7 to 11 who immigrated to Australia on a refugee visa in the past 24 months; applicants must demonstrate sound academic ability and a commitment to completing secondary studies and contributing to the College community; financial eligibility criteria apply and permanent residency is required. Applications close on 1 August and should be sent to the Head of Engagement with a written statement and two school reports, plus evidence of permanent residency; shortlisted applicants may be invited to interview. Indigenous Scholarships are for Indigenous students entering Years 7 to 11; eligibility includes meeting financial criteria and demonstrating commitment to the College community; applications close on 1 August and should be sent to the Head of Engagement with supporting documentation; shortlisted applicants may be invited to interview. All Aspire Scholarships are tenable to the completion of Year 12 and cover tuition costs and charges for the standard program, including technology access and excursions; the number of awards varies and awards are made at the Principal's discretion; a full list of fee inclusions is available in the handbook.

Waitlist

Names are added to the waiting lists for the nominated year levels upon receipt of the online Application for Enrolment. Waitlist priority is given to children who are permanent staff members, to siblings of enrolled students, and to children of Old Collegians. Admission remains subject to place availability and to a satisfactory interview and assessment.

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