How many bilingual schools in Sydney
Greater Sydney has roughly 12 schools delivering a meaningful bilingual programme, where two languages are used as media of instruction across the school day rather than a single language being taught as a subject. The bilingual cluster covers seven language pairs: English-French, English-German, English-Mandarin, English-Japanese, English-Korean, English-Italian and English-Spanish. The depth varies considerably by language. French and Japanese have the largest cohorts; Spanish and Korean are smaller but established.
The bilingual cluster splits into three groups. First, schools delivering the foreign national curriculum bilingually, principally Lycee Condorcet (French AEFE), German International School Sydney (German ZfA) and Sydney Japanese International School. Second, bilingual streams inside Australian schools, principally International Grammar School in Ultimo and a handful of Catholic primaries. Third, early-years bilingual nurseries, of which Sydney has around 15 with significant teaching in a second language.
What counts as bilingual
The bilingual label is loosely used. A genuine bilingual school delivers at least 30 percent of curriculum time in the second language, with academic subjects taught through the second language and assessment in both languages. By this definition, Lycee Condorcet, German International School Sydney, Sydney Japanese International School and the International Grammar School bilingual primary stream are genuine bilingual programmes. Many Sydney schools market themselves as bilingual when in fact they offer the second language as a strong subject of study, typically four to six hours a week, which is closer to enriched language teaching than bilingual education.
For families who want their child to live and work in two languages, the depth of bilingual exposure matters. A child in a 50-50 bilingual programme typically reaches age-appropriate literacy in both languages by the end of primary. A child in a strong-second-language programme typically reaches conversational fluency but not full literacy. Our curriculum hub explains the academic differences.
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Fees by language pair
Sydney bilingual fees vary by language pair more than by tier. The AEFE and ZfA accredited schools (Lycee Condorcet, German International School) sit at the lower end of the market because of foreign government subsidy: AUD 12,000 to 24,000 a year. Sydney Japanese International School sits in the middle, around AUD 18,000 to 26,000. Bilingual streams inside Australian independents charge full Australian independent rates: International Grammar School at Ultimo runs AUD 28,000 to 36,000 across the year groups. Bilingual Catholic primaries are the cheapest at AUD 6,000 to 12,000 a year if the family is parishioner-eligible.
Capital levies, building funds, language excursion programmes, exchange trips and the higher textbook spend add 10 to 20 percent to published tuition across all tiers. International student loadings of 25 to 60 percent apply to families on temporary visas at the Australian independents. Our Sydney fees guide sets out the year-by-year loading.
Illustrative example schools
The four schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each delivers a genuine bilingual programme using the 30 percent threshold.
International Grammar School in Ultimo runs a bilingual primary programme with French, Italian, Mandarin and Japanese streams, plus a co-educational secondary delivering Cambridge IGCSE and the NSW HSC. The Ultimo location, in the Inner West close to UTS and the University of Sydney, attracts academic and diplomatic families. A long-standing reputation for genuine multilingual education in Sydney.
Sydney Japanese International School in Terrey Hills is one of the longest-running international schools in Australia. The full Japanese national curriculum is delivered bilingually from elementary through to upper secondary, with most graduates returning to Japanese universities or applying to Australian and international universities through the Japanese senior credential.
Galilee Catholic Primary in Bondi delivers a longstanding English-Italian bilingual primary programme, the most established Italian bilingual primary in Sydney. Tuition is significantly lower than the secular independents because of the parish-school structure. Eastern Suburbs location, walking distance from Bondi Beach.
Petits Bilingues in the Eastern Suburbs runs a French-English bilingual early years programme from age 0 to 5, popular as a feeder to Lycee Condorcet and to bilingual primary streams at the Inner West independents. Several other early-years bilingual operators run Mandarin, Japanese and Spanish programmes across the Eastern Suburbs and Lower North Shore.
Where bilingual families live
Where bilingual families settle in Sydney depends heavily on the language pair. French families cluster in the Eastern Suburbs (Maroubra, Coogee, Randwick) around the Lycee. German families cluster on the Upper North Shore and Northern Beaches around the German International School. Japanese families cluster on the Lower North Shore (Chatswood, Artarmon, Lane Cove) close to the Japanese expatriate community and the school bus routes to Terrey Hills. Mandarin-speaking families spread across Eastwood, Hurstville, Strathfield and Chatswood. Korean families concentrate in Strathfield, Eastwood and Lidcombe. Italian families are spread across the Eastern Suburbs and Inner West, with no single anchor school.
For families choosing a bilingual school not tied to a national community, the practical consideration is commute. The Inner West (Ultimo, Glebe, Newtown, Balmain) sits at the centre of the Sydney public transport network and gives access to the broadest range of bilingual options. The Eastern Suburbs are convenient for French and Italian bilingual programmes. The Lower North Shore is convenient for the Japanese, German and Lycee bus pickup points.
Admissions calendar
The NSW academic year runs from late January to mid-December. Bilingual admissions are typically tighter than mainstream admissions because cohorts are small and language demand is uneven. Most schools open admissions for the following January intake in March or April, with main offer rounds in August and September. The strongest bilingual primaries close their Kindergarten and Year 7 waiting lists by August.
Bilingual schools assess language proficiency as well as the standard mathematics and English ability tests. For genuine bilingual programmes, native or near-native fluency in the second language is required from Year 3 onwards; below that, schools accept children with strong second-language exposure at home. For schools running enriched second-language teaching rather than full bilingualism, the language bar at entry is much lower. Run a tailored shortlist via the school finder quiz.
Frequently asked questions
How many bilingual schools are there in Sydney?
Greater Sydney has roughly 12 schools delivering a genuine bilingual programme, where at least 30 percent of curriculum time is taught in the second language. The cluster covers seven language pairs: French, German, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Italian and Spanish. French and Japanese have the deepest bilingual provision in the city.
How much do bilingual schools cost in Sydney?
Fees vary by language pair more than by tier. AEFE and ZfA accredited schools sit at AUD 12,000 to 24,000 because of foreign government subsidy. Sydney Japanese International School runs AUD 18,000 to 26,000. Bilingual streams inside Australian independents run AUD 28,000 to 36,000. Bilingual Catholic primaries are the cheapest at AUD 6,000 to 12,000 a year for parishioners.
What counts as a genuine bilingual school?
A genuine bilingual school delivers at least 30 percent of curriculum time in the second language, with academic subjects taught through the second language and assessment in both languages. Schools offering the second language as a strong subject of study (four to six hours a week) are enriched language teaching, not bilingual education.
Where do bilingual families live in Sydney?
It depends on the language. French families cluster in the Eastern Suburbs around the Lycee. German families cluster on the Upper North Shore around the German School. Japanese families cluster on the Lower North Shore. Mandarin and Korean families concentrate in Eastwood, Strathfield, Hurstville and Chatswood. The Inner West (Ultimo) is the best base if the language is independent of national community.
When do Sydney bilingual schools open admissions?
Most Sydney bilingual schools open admissions for the following January intake in March or April, with main offer rounds in August and September. Kindergarten and Year 7 waiting lists at the strongest bilingual primaries close by August. Language assessment is part of the admissions process from Year 3 upwards.
