Cranbrook School is an Anglican independent school in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, teaching children from age three to 18 across day and boarding places on a harbourside campus at Bellevue Hill. Founded in 1918, it is one of the city's best known private schools and offers an unusual dual senior pathway, with the International Baccalaureate running alongside the New South Wales curriculum. It sits at the premium end of the Sydney market on fees, and a major redevelopment has renewed much of its senior campus.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | NSW curriculum and the IB Middle Years Programme, with the IB Diploma or the HSC at senior level |
| Stages | Age three to Year 12, day and boarding |
| Founded | 1918 |
| Accreditation | Anglican independent school; authorised IB World School; HSC through NESA |
| Fee band | Premium, among the highest in the eastern suburbs |
| Location | 5 Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill, with a junior presence at Rose Bay |
Curriculum and academics
Cranbrook runs a layered academic programme that changes shape as students move up the school. In Years 7 to 10 it teaches the IB Middle Years Programme as a common curriculum alongside the New South Wales syllabus, with languages chosen from French, Latin and Mandarin. The defining feature comes at senior level, where Years 11 and 12 students choose between the IB Diploma Programme and the NSW Higher School Certificate, a dual track that lets families pick the credential best matched to an Australian or an international university destination.
The school reports a strong record across both senior pathways, though parents should ask for the current year cohort results rather than rely on long run averages. Sport, music, drama and a wide co curricular programme are central to school life, supported by facilities including an aquatic and fitness centre and a theatre. For the wider field, see our editorial pick of the best international schools in Sydney, many of which compete for the same eastern suburbs families.
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Cranbrook School fees
Cranbrook sits in the premium tier of Sydney schooling, with day fees among the highest in the eastern suburbs and a further charge for boarding places. The school publishes a current fee schedule by year group, and senior year tuition is higher than the junior years, as is typical across the city. We do not reproduce a figure here because fees are revised annually and we never publish a number we cannot verify against the current schedule.
Our Sydney international school fees guide places this premium band in context against the mid and low fee parts of the market, so you can see where Cranbrook sits relative to other options. Beyond tuition, budget for a registration and acceptance fee, a building levy, uniforms, trips and, for boarders, residential costs, and confirm the current schedule directly with the school.
Admissions
Cranbrook is a sought after school and entry to the main intake points is competitive, so families are advised to register interest well ahead of the intended start year. The principal entry stages are the junior years and Year 7, with limited places at other points where they arise. Admission typically involves registration, assessment appropriate to the age and stage, school reports and an interview, and senior entry is more selective on prior subjects and results.
The school has been phasing in co education, beginning with girls in its senior years, so families should confirm which year groups are open to girls for their intended entry year. Boarding places are limited and should be discussed early with the admissions team.
Location and who goes there
The senior campus sits at 5 Victoria Road in Bellevue Hill, in the eastern suburbs overlooking Sydney Harbour and around 4 kilometres from the central business district, with a junior presence at Rose Bay. Families cluster in the surrounding eastern suburbs, from Bellevue Hill and Rose Bay to Double Bay and Woollahra, with boarders drawn from regional New South Wales and overseas. The community is one that values established tradition, harbourside facilities and the choice between an IB and an HSC finish.
For a full view of how Cranbrook fits the wider city, including curriculum mix, fee tiers and where families settle, start with the Sydney city hub.
Cranbrook School reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for Cranbrook School. GlobalSchoolGuide is an independent guide and no school pays to be listed, so we publish a rating only once we have collected enough verified first hand accounts to be fair to both the school and to families reading them. We would rather show nothing than show an invented score.
If your family has attended the school we would value your account of admissions, teaching, pastoral care and value for money. Share it through our school reviews hub and we will add verified contributions to this page.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Cranbrook School fees?
Cranbrook sits in the premium tier of Sydney private schools, with day fees among the highest in the eastern suburbs and additional charges for boarding. The school publishes a current fee schedule by year group, so confirm the latest day and boarding figures directly with the school before you budget.
What curriculum does Cranbrook School follow?
Cranbrook teaches the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme in Years 7 to 10 alongside the New South Wales curriculum, and in Years 11 and 12 students choose between the IB Diploma Programme and the NSW Higher School Certificate. Languages on offer include French, Latin and Mandarin.
Is Cranbrook School a good school?
Cranbrook is a long established Anglican school with a strong academic record, harbourside facilities and a dual IB and HSC senior pathway. We do not publish a rating without verified reviews, so we suggest you weigh the curriculum fit, the latest cohort results and a campus visit.
Is Cranbrook School co educational?
Cranbrook has historically been a boys school and has been moving toward co education, beginning to admit girls in its senior years. Confirm the current year groups open to girls directly with the school, as the transition is being phased in over several years.
Where is Cranbrook School located in Sydney?
The senior campus is at 5 Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill, in the eastern suburbs overlooking Sydney Harbour, around 4 kilometres from the central business district, with a junior school presence at Rose Bay.
