How many international primary schools Sydney has
Sydney runs a hybrid market. Around 60 schools deliver an international or globally portable primary curriculum, defined as Kindergarten to Year 6 or the IB Primary Years Programme. That headline figure breaks down into roughly 30 IB PYP authorised schools, four dedicated national-system schools (German, Japanese, French and Chinese) and the remainder being independents that offer a NESA-registered NSW curriculum with bilingual or international tracks. The pure expat-school cluster is smaller than in Dubai or Singapore, because most internationally mobile Sydney families end up in independent schools that sit comfortably alongside the local market.
The IB PYP is the most portable option for families on rotating assignments. Schools such as International Grammar School in Ultimo, Newington College Lindfield, and Trinity Grammar Prep run PYP through to Year 6 with strong continuity into the IB Middle Years Programme. For families wanting full home-country provision, the German International School in Terrey Hills and the Sydney Japanese International School next door are the only single-curriculum primary options. The Lycee Condorcet in Maroubra extends to primary but caps at small cohorts.
NSW Education Standards Authority registers and accredits every non-government primary on a five year cycle. Parents lean on Independent Schools Australia data, NAPLAN results and the My School portal to compare academic performance. For a curriculum-by-curriculum view of Sydney see our British curriculum hub and the IB hub.
Fees and the primary tiers
Sydney primary fees split into three tiers, all quoted in Australian dollars. The value tier, AUD 15,000 to AUD 22,000 a year, captures most Catholic and lower-fee independent primaries with international student streams, such as Mount St Joseph or Trinity Grammar Preparatory. The mid tier, AUD 22,000 to AUD 30,000, covers the established PYP players including International Grammar School, MLC Burwood Junior and Pymble Ladies College Junior. The premium tier, AUD 30,000 to AUD 38,000, is Cranbrook Junior, SCEGGS Darlinghurst, Ascham and the senior years of the German International School.
Total cost is closer to tuition than at secondary because uniform spend tapers off and there are no IGCSE exam fees at primary. Bus and train transport adds AUD 1,200 to AUD 3,000 a year, with most Sydney primaries running their own private bus network across the harbourside suburbs. Our Sydney fees guide walks through the loading mathematics. The fees comparison tool shows tuition by year group across cities.
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Illustrative example schools
The five primaries below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each runs an internationally relevant primary curriculum and serves a meaningful expatriate or returning-Australian cohort.
International Grammar School in Ultimo is Sydney's longest-running IB PYP school, founded in 1984. Bilingual streams in French, Italian, German, Japanese, Mandarin and Spanish from Kindergarten. The closest analogue to a European international school inside the central business district.
German International School Sydney in Terrey Hills delivers the full Thuringia state curriculum from Kindergarten through to Abitur. The primary section caps at small classes and the German government subsidises a sizeable share of staffing, keeping fees below the equivalent Australian independent.
Sydney Japanese International School, also in Terrey Hills, runs the Japanese national curriculum for Japanese-citizen families and a smaller international stream for English-speaking pupils in primary. A specialist option for families with a clear pathway home to Japan.
Inaburra School in Menai serves the Sutherland Shire with a Christian co-educational primary and offers international student admissions across Years 3 to 6. Strong NAPLAN record and a transparent fee structure.
Where primary families live
Internationally mobile primary families in Sydney cluster around five zones. The Inner West, Glebe, Newtown and Annandale, for International Grammar School families who want a walkable CBD-adjacent life. The North Shore, Lindfield, Killara and Pymble, for Pymble Ladies, MLC Burwood, Knox Grammar Preparatory and Newington College Lindfield. The Eastern Suburbs, Bondi, Bellevue Hill and Vaucluse, for Cranbrook, Ascham, SCEGGS and Moriah College. The Northern Beaches, Terrey Hills, Belrose and Frenchs Forest, for the German and Japanese international schools and a more village feel. Lower North Shore, Neutral Bay, Mosman and Cremorne, for harbourside primaries with a strong international flavour.
Commute is the most underrated factor in Sydney primary choice. Cross-harbour journeys in peak can stretch to 60 minutes one way, so most families pick a primary within the same zone as their home. The cost calculator bundles school transport into total relocation cost.
Admissions calendar
The NSW school year runs from late January to mid December across four terms. Kindergarten entry applications for the January 2027 academic year open from May 2026, with most independent primaries closing initial lists by August 2026. Tier 1 selective primaries like Ascham, SCEGGS and Cranbrook run waiting lists from birth and assess in the year before entry. The IB PYP schools tend to accept applications on a rolling basis through to October the year before, subject to year group availability.
If you are committing to a specific Tier 1 primary, register on the waiting list as early as possible, often before the child turns three. If you are open on school but firm on suburb, applying 8 to 10 months before January entry is usually enough. Mid-year transfers are accepted on a rolling basis. For broader curriculum context our best international schools in Sydney guide covers the full top-tier landscape.
Frequently asked questions
How many international primary schools are there in Sydney?
Sydney has around 60 schools running an internationally portable primary curriculum, including roughly 30 IB PYP authorised schools, four dedicated national-system schools (German, Japanese, French and Chinese) and a substantial independent sector with international student streams.
What age does primary school start in Sydney?
Children start Kindergarten in NSW in the January after they turn five, with a cut-off date of 31 July. So a child born between August and the following July starts the same Kindergarten cohort.
How much do primary schools in Sydney cost?
Annual primary tuition ranges from about AUD 15,000 at the lower-fee independents to AUD 38,000 at the most premium harbourside primaries. Median primary fees sit near AUD 25,000 in 2026, with transport, uniform and trips adding roughly 8 to 10 percent on top.
Are Sydney primary schools inspected?
Yes. NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) registers and accredits every non-government primary on a five year cycle. There are no published Ofsted-style ratings, so families rely on NAPLAN data on the My School portal and Independent Schools Australia benchmarking.
When should I apply for primary school in Sydney?
For Kindergarten entry in January 2027, apply from May 2026 to August 2026. Tier 1 selective primaries take waiting list registrations from birth. Mid-year transfers are accepted on a rolling basis subject to year group availability.
