Newington College is an established independent school in Stanmore, in the inner west of Sydney. Founded in 1863 and part of the Uniting Church, it is one of the few traditional Sydney schools to offer the International Baccalaureate Primary Years and Diploma Programmes alongside the New South Wales Higher School Certificate, which gives families a continuous IB option as well as the state pathway. A long standing member of the Greater Public Schools group, Newington is now moving to coeducation in stages, having historically been a boys school. Families weighing IB options can read this profile next to our guide to IB schools in Sydney.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | IB Primary Years Programme and IB Diploma Programme alongside the New South Wales Higher School Certificate |
| Stages | Early years through to Year 12, across several campuses |
| Founded | 1863 |
| Type | Independent Uniting Church school, moving to coeducation in stages |
| Campuses | Senior campus in Stanmore with junior campuses in Stanmore and Lindfield |
| Location | Stanmore Road, Stanmore, inner west |
Curriculum and academics
Newington offers an unusually broad curriculum. In the junior years it runs the IB Primary Years Programme, an inquiry based framework, and in the senior years it lets students choose between the Higher School Certificate and the IB Diploma Programme, so a child can follow an IB path from primary through to graduation or switch to the state qualification for the final years. Senior students choose from a wide range of subjects and pathways, including vocational options, reflecting the scale of the school.
That dual senior offering is rare among the traditional Sydney schools and is a genuine draw for internationally mobile families who value the portability of the Diploma. Our list of the best IB schools in Sydney sets Newington in context alongside the other Diploma schools, and our IB curriculum guide explains how the Primary Years and Diploma stages fit together.
Beyond the classroom the school is known for a broad co curricular programme, with strong traditions in sport, music, debating and outdoor education that reflect its long history and its membership of the Greater Public Schools group. The spread of campuses means younger children learn in smaller, local settings before moving up to the larger senior school in Stanmore, giving families a continuous path from the early years through to graduation within one institution.
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Newington College fees
Newington College sits in the upper range of Sydney independent schooling, with fees that rise by year group and vary across its campuses. The school publishes a current schedule, and we do not reproduce a figure here because fees are revised each year and we never publish a number we cannot verify against the current schedule. Families should also budget for an enrolment charge, uniforms, co curricular activities and excursions.
To see where this band sits against the rest of the market, our Sydney international school fees guide sets out the full range, and you can confirm the current schedule for your child stage and campus directly with the school.
Admissions
The school follows the New South Wales academic year and takes its main intakes at the established entry points across its campuses, with the move to coeducation opening places to girls in stages. Because demand for popular year groups is strong, Newington encourages early registration, and waiting lists for some intakes can form well ahead of time.
Admission usually involves registration, school reports, assessment and an interview. Families relocating to the inner west, choosing between the IB and the HSC, or asking which year groups are now coeducational, should contact the admissions team early to confirm current availability.
Location and who goes there
The senior campus is on Stanmore Road in Stanmore, an inner west suburb close to the central business district and well served by the inner west rail line, with junior campuses in Stanmore and in Lindfield on the North Shore. This spread lets families across the inner west and the North Shore access the school, and the inner city location gives the senior school a connected, metropolitan setting. For a full view of how Newington fits the wider city, including curriculum mix and fee tiers, start with the Sydney city hub, and see other Diploma options such as MLC School.
Newington College reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for Newington College. 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 Newington we would value your account of admissions, the IB and HSC pathways, teaching 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 Newington College fees?
Newington sits in the upper range of Sydney independent schooling, with fees rising by year group and varying across its campuses. The school publishes a current schedule, so confirm the latest figures for your child stage and campus directly with the school.
Does Newington College offer the IB?
Yes. Newington runs the IB Primary Years Programme in the junior years and lets senior students choose between the IB Diploma Programme and the New South Wales Higher School Certificate.
Is Newington College coeducational?
Newington was historically a boys school and is now moving to coeducation in stages. Families should confirm which year groups are currently coeducational directly with the school.
Where is Newington College located?
The senior campus is on Stanmore Road in Stanmore, in Sydney inner west, with junior campuses in Stanmore and in Lindfield on the North Shore.
Is Newington College a good school?
Newington is an established school with a rare dual IB and HSC senior pathway and a continuous IB option from primary. We do not publish a rating without verified reviews, so we suggest you weigh the pathways and visit the school.
