German International School Sydney vs International Chinese School

	G German International School Sydney Sydney, Australia	I International Chinese School Sydney, Australia
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year A$1,655 - 19,762	Fees / year A$12,132 - 13,820
Age range	Age range 0 - 18 years	Age range 5 - 12 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Australian Curriculum, German Curriculum, IB (DP)	Curriculum Australian Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 430	Pupils 33
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English, German	Instruction language English, Mandarin
Opened	Opened 1989	Opened 2015
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location 33 Myoora Road, Terrey Hills, NSW 2084, Australia. Terrey Hills is a leafy suburb on Sydney's Northern Beaches. The campus is connected by four GISS-operated private bus routes and by government public buses; booking is via RollCall and real-time tracking is available. The school sits within the Deutsche Auslandsschule network of German Schools Abroad.	Location 211 Pacific Highway, St Leonards NSW 2065, North Shore, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Stages	Stages Preschool; Primary School; Junior Secondary; Senior School (IBDP).	Stages Kindergarten to Year 6 (K-6). Early Stage 1 – Kindergarten; Stage 1 – Year 1–2; Stage 2 – Year 3–4; Stage 3 – Year 5–6.
School type	School type Private day school; co-educational; bilingual in English and German; offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in Years 11–12.	School type Bilingual K-6 Anglican Christian primary school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix 440 students; 38 nationalities; 42 languages; about half from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other countries, and the other half from Australia.	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support GISS has a Learning Diversity Team that supports teachers and students with diverse learning needs; it plans, implements and monitors personalised adjustments and collaborates with parents and external professionals as needed; it aims to build teacher capacity to ensure inclusive learning.	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Germany-affiliated; part of the Deutsche Auslandsschule (German Schools Abroad) network sponsored by ZfA.	Country affiliation Australia
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation Anglican (Anglican Christian tradition).
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details GISS operates four private bus routes across Sydney; bus bookings use RollCall; pricing is zone-based (Zone 1: pre-booked $9.50, casual $13.00; Zone 2: pre-booked $10.50, casual $15.00). For enquiries, bus@giss.nsw.edu.au.	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and enrolment fees - Application fee (non‑refundable): AUD 250 per application. - Enrolment fee (Kindergarten to IB, non‑refundable): AUD 1,250 per child. - Preschool enrolment fee: AUD 500 per child. - Security deposit (refundable, non‑interest bearing): AUD 1,000 per child. - One‑off capital levy (not applicable to short‑term and overseas students): AUD 1,500 per family. Tuition fees by year group (annual and per term) - Kindergarten: Annual tuition AUD 15,362 — Per term (4 terms per year): AUD 3,840.50. - Years 1–4: Annual tuition AUD 17,221 — Per term: AUD 4,305.25. - Years 5–6: Annual tuition AUD 18,396 — Per term: AUD 4,599.00. - Years 7–8: Annual tuition AUD 18,570 — Per term: AUD 4,642.50. - Years 9–10: Annual tuition AUD 18,746 — Per term: AUD 4,686.50. - International Baccalaureate (IB) Year 11: Annual tuition AUD 32,653 — Per term: AUD 8,163.25. - IB Year 12: Annual tuition AUD 31,569 — Per term: AUD 7,892.25. Preschool daily rates and funding - Preschool daily rates by number of days and age (2026 rates): - 2 days: Age 3–4 years AUD 147 per day; Age 4+ years AUD 142 per day. - 3 days: Age 3–4 years AUD 135 per day; Age 4+ years AUD 130 per day. - 4–5 days: Age 3–4 years AUD 125 per day; Age 4+ years AUD 118 per day. - Start Strong (government) fee relief applies for eligible children; maximum relief levels and eligibility categories apply. Additional levies and common extra costs - Resource Levy (Kindergarten to Year 6): AUD 400 per student per annum. - Resource Levy (Years 7–12): AUD 350 per student per annum. - Book hire fee (Years 5–10): AUD 250 per student per annum; replacement charges apply for books not returned or returned in unsatisfactory condition. - IB‑specific additional fees: Books for the IB cohort are included in tuition; IB Pamoja fees (subject dependent) are invoiced separately (approx. USD 1,655 where applicable); IB exam retake, enquiry and tutor fees may apply and vary. - Class camps (estimated top cost per student): Years 3 & 4 AUD 620; Years 5 & 6 AUD 890; Year 7 AUD 820; Years 8 & 9 AUD 990; Year 10 AUD 800; Year 11 CAS trip AUD 2,200. - Short‑term & overseas students levy (pro‑rata & per student): AUD 5,000 for short‑term (enrolled less than one year) and overseas students on a student visa. - Bus service fees are charged separately under the school's Bus Fees and Transportation Terms & Conditions. Billing schedule and payment terms - School year runs on a four‑term calendar; tuition amounts above are annual and the school issues invoices for the school year. Per‑term payment calculations above assume four terms. - Fees are payable by the due date shown on the invoice. The last day for payment of fees in any term is the first day of that term. Failure to pay may trigger administrative late fees or restrictions on attendance and academic reports. Payment methods, plans and surcharges - Preferred payment method: payment in full by the first day of school via the FACTS portal (online) using the FACTS Payment Plan option ‘PAY IN FULL'. - Instalment options via the FACTS tuition management portal are available: semester, quarterly or monthly plans. Surcharges on the invoiced amount apply by plan: - Pay per semester: additional 2.5% of invoiced amount. - Pay quarterly: additional 3.5% of invoiced amount. - Pay monthly: additional 4.0% of invoiced amount. Monthly plans incur a one‑off annual FACTS fee of AUD 59 and must be set up with direct debit. - Payment methods accepted via the payment plans: direct debit from a bank account, Visa, MasterCard and American Express. A 1.1% transaction fee applies to all credit card transactions. - If the full yearly fees are not received by 1 February 2026 or two weeks after an invoice is issued, the school will automatically place the family on a 4% surcharge unless otherwise requested in writing; unpaid months will be prorated. Discounts, late fees and non‑payment - Sibling discounts on tuition fees only: first sibling receives a 10% discount; each subsequent sibling receives a 20% discount. - Late payment administration fee: AUD 50 per student per calendar month may apply if payment is not received by the due date. The school may restrict class attendance, withhold academic reports, and pursue collection action for debts more than 90 days overdue. Withdrawal, extended leave and refund information - Minimum notice to withdraw a student: one full term's written notice to the Principal. The school is entitled to charge full tuition fees during the notice period. Parents are not entitled to a refund of a term's school fees where a student is withdrawn at any time during that term. - Extended leave of absence (approved by the Principal for at least one term) incurs a holding fee of 15% in lieu of tuition fees; the holding fee is non‑refundable and non‑transferable. Other practical notes on fees - GISS fees and levies typically include one excursion per term, student accident insurance, technology access and copyright fees; consumables and personal stationery (e.g., calculators) and extraordinary project materials may incur additional charges. - Families billed by an employer should use the school's company/third‑party billing procedures. (End of fees overview.)	Fee details Enrolment / Application fees - Application Fee: AUD 200 (non-refundable). Overseas applications incur an additional AUD 200. - Acceptance (Enrolment) Fee: AUD 1,000 (non-refundable) payable within 14 days of an offered place. Overseas applicants must also pay the first term's fees in advance to secure the offer (first term's fees for overseas applicants are non-refundable). Tuition fees and Service Charges (per year group) - Years K–2: - Annual tuition: AUD 10,460. - Tuition per term: AUD 2,615. - Annual service charge: AUD 1,672. - Service charge per term: AUD 418. - Years 3–4: - Annual tuition: AUD 10,460. - Tuition per term: AUD 2,615. - Annual service charge: AUD 2,360. - Service charge per term: AUD 590. - Years 5–6: - Annual tuition: AUD 10,460. - Tuition per term: AUD 2,615. - Annual service charge: AUD 3,360. - Service charge per term: AUD 840. Sibling and other fee concessions - Sibling discounts applied to tuition only (not to Service Charges): 2nd child 10%; 3rd child 12.5%; subsequent children 15%. - Christian Ministry Workers Discount: 40% off tuition for children of Christian ministry workers; part-time ministry workers receive a pro-rata discount. Documentation of employment as a Christian Ministry Worker must be supplied at enrolment. - Bursaries: not offered at point of enrolment; may be offered occasionally to current families meeting temporary financial hardship criteria. Billing schedule and payment terms - All Fees and Charges are to be paid in advance, at the end of the first week of each term. Fees on amended accounts and mid-term enrolment invoices are payable within seven days of the invoice date. - The School will debit the nominated account as completed on the Direct Debit Request form (Direct Debit is the stated payment mechanism for regular fee collection). - Overdue and non-payment terms: - Accounts unpaid 21 days after the due date incur an overdue charge to cover administrative and collection costs. - Accounts not paid in full within 60 days of the due date may lead to suspension of the student's enrolment and the Principal may refuse entry and/or terminate enrolment. Withdrawal and refund information - Parents must give at least one full term's notice in writing to the Principal before terminating enrolment. - If insufficient notice is given, the parent is required to pay one term's school fees (this amount is treated as a genuine pre-estimate of loss). - Application Fee and Acceptance Fee are non-refundable. Overseas applicants' advance first-term fee is non-refundable when used to secure an offered place. Other costs and charges - Service Charges cover classroom consumables, textbooks, photocopying, excursions and sports (including transport) and are charged annually and per term as noted above. - Voluntary contributions: Building Fund and Library Fund donations (tax-deductible for donations of AUD 2 or more). These are voluntary and separate from Fees and Charges. - Uniforms: uniform items are supplied through the school's official uniform shop (Cowan & Lewis School Wear). Orders can be made online and collected from the school; specific uniform item prices are set by the supplier. - Before/After School Care: before and after school care is available during term time (before school from 7:00am; after school until 6:00pm). Permanent bookings require an application process (applications for permanent care are made in Term 4 of the preceding year). Specific session fees or casual rates are managed separately and are not published in the fee schedule. Fee payment options - The School's stated regular fee collection method is by debiting the nominated account via a Direct Debit Request form. Parents should complete the Direct Debit Request to nominate the account to be debited. For other payment methods or one-off payments, contact the Registrar for accepted options and instructions. Notes on enforcement and adjustments - The School Board sets the Schedule of Fees and Charges annually and reserves the right to vary fees by written notice. - No remission of fees is made for student absence due to illness, leave, suspension, or expulsion unless otherwise determined by the School in exceptional circumstances.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details The school provides a complete education in a co-educational and bilingual environment. An intensive language immersion programme leads to bilingual competency in English and German, so students do not need to be familiar with German language beforehand. The curriculum is broad and supports personal development for life after school. In Years 11 and 12 the school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).	Curriculum details The International Chinese School is a bilingual K-6 Christian school in the Anglican tradition, with learning delivered through English and Mandarin. The school is the first and only NSW school approved by the NSW Education Standards Authority to deliver half the curriculum in Mandarin. Primary learning follows the NSW Education Standards Authority's Key Learning Areas, structured as Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten); Stage 1 (Year 1–2); Stage 2 (Year 3–4); and Stage 3 (Year 5–6). The Key Learning Areas are English, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Human Society and Its Environment (History and Geography), Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, Creative Arts, and Languages (Mandarin). Music education is delivered across Years 1–6 by a specialist music teacher, with private lessons and co-curricular programs; co-curricular music opportunities are planned to expand to choir and instrumental ensembles. The teaching approach includes Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), with learning in Mandarin for Key Learning Areas while English continues to be used, supporting a bilingual immersion model.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results November 2025 IB graduates achieved a pass rate of 93.75% and an average score of 31.5 points. They exceeded the global IB average of 29.3 points.	Exam results 2024 NAPLAN results show Year 3 cohort as part of ICS's seventh participation in NAPLAN; ICS was among the top-performing schools on the Lower North Shore in average performance across tested areas; 42% of ICS students come from a language background other than English. Year 3 results: Reading 458, Writing 473, Spelling 490, Grammar 454, Numeracy 495. Year 5 results are not available due to the small cohort (fewer than 11 students).
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Graduates continue their academic journeys at universities across Australia and around the world.	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented GISS Learning Diversity Team includes support for gifted and talented students.	Gifted and talented Selective High School preparation sessions are offered to prepare students for selective high schools. These targeted sessions were introduced in 2024 to support this pathway.
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Open Day and tours: Register for Open Day to visit the school and meet staff and students. A principal‑led presentation explains the curriculum and learning methods. If the event day or time is not convenient, group tours or virtual tours are available. Attending Open Day helps families understand the school environment before applying. 2. Online information and enrolment checklist: Access important information about the school online and review the checklist with the required forms to prepare the application. The online resources outline the documents needed and any deadlines. Families can request a meeting with the registrar or school management team to discuss individual circumstances if required. After reviewing, proceed to the online application. 3. Submit online application: Submit the application online. An application fee of $250 is invoiced at the end of the online application. Provide copies of passport(s) and birth certificate where applicable, and the last two school reports; upload documents to the online application. Ensure all required documents are ready before submission. 4. Approval process after submission: Following submission, you will receive an email confirming receipt and updates on the approval process. GISS reviews the application after the documents are received. The outcome will be communicated: a place may be offered, a place may be placed on the waiting list, or the application may be declined. Additional documents may be requested if needed. 5. Interview and admission test: Once all required documents are received, you will be invited to book your child's interview and, if applicable, an admission test. All Kindergarten to Year 12 students must participate in an age-appropriate interview. If the child is overseas at the time, the interview can be conducted online in English or German. A trial day may be scheduled before or after the interview. 6. Enrolment offer, contract and start information: As soon as enrolment is approved, you will receive an offer that includes the enrolment form and notice for the enrolment fee due. After the enrolment form is completed and the enrolment fee is paid, you will receive a copy of the enrolment contract and enrolment is complete. Before school starts, you will receive additional information via email and/or a parent information session to set up your child for a smooth start. The school may provide visa information for overseas students if applicable.	Admissions 1. Expression of Interest: Fill out the Expression of Interest Form. The Registrar will invite families to join a school tour. If the child is on a visa, indicate the visa subclass in the form's 'Any further comments' field. This step initiates the enrolment process. 2. Enrolment Application Form: Complete the Enrolment Application Form. A non-refundable $200 application fee is required to process the application. Once received, the application will be reviewed and placed on a waitlist. A confirmation email is sent on receipt. 3. Family Enrolment Interview: As there are more applicants than positions, not all applicants proceed to an enrolment interview. The School will contact you if a position becomes available for an interview. The interview is an opportunity for the Principal to get to know the family and ensure that values and expectations align. Enrolment positions are offered at the sole discretion of the Principal. 4. Letter of Offer: Successful applicants are issued a Letter of Offer. To accept the offer, the Letter of Acceptance and ICS Conditions of Enrolment must be signed and returned, along with payment of the $1000 Enrolment Fee. The offer lapses if it is not accepted within the timeframe indicated on the Letter of Offer. 5. Confirmation of Enrolment: You will receive an email from the Registrar to confirm the enrolment of your child.
Scholarships	Scholarships IB Scholarship offers up to 50% tuition support for the two-year International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB Year 11 and 12). It is available to internal and external local Year 10 students with English fluency. Eligibility includes preferably two years at an Australian school, a record of high academic achievement, strong English and Maths, willingness to study in a bilingual/multilingual international environment, personal integrity, and commitment to service learning. German language knowledge is not a prerequisite. How to apply: Year 10 students currently enrolled at GISS email ibscholarship@giss.nsw.edu.au with last four school reports and Year 9 NAPLAN results, a personal statement, and an explanation of why they deserve the scholarship. Year 10 students from another school should start the GISS online application, upload birth certificates, passports, last four reports, and latest NAPLAN results, then email ibscholarship@giss.nsw.edu.au with the personal statement. Applications close on December 3, 2025.	Scholarships The School does not offer scholarships at point of enrolment. Bursaries may be offered from time to time to families that already have children enrolled in the School and who meet temporary financial hardship. Examples of such hardship include death of a spouse or unforeseen loss of employment.
Waitlist	Waitlist An assessment is conducted after the application. The school may offer a place, place the applicant on the waiting list, or decline the application.	Waitlist After submitting the Enrolment Application Form, a non-refundable $200 application fee per applicant is required to process the application. Once received, the application will be reviewed and placed on a waitlist.
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