Narrabundah College vs Telopea Park School - Lycee Franco-Australien de Canberra

	N Narrabundah College Canberra, Australia	T Telopea Park School - Lycee Franco-Australien de Canberra Canberra, Australia
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year A$11,100 - 14,500	Fees / year A$265 - 16,200
Age range	Age range 16 - 18 years	Age range 5 - 16 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Australian Curriculum, IB (DP), French Curriculum	Curriculum Australian Curriculum, IB (MYP), French Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 922	Pupils 1,601
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, French
Opened	Opened —	Opened 1923
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Located on Jerrabomberra Avenue in Narrabundah, Canberra, ACT 2604. The ACT Government's integrated public transport network provides bus and light rail options to access the campus. Walking or cycling to school is encouraged to reduce traffic and improve safety.	Location Location: Barton, ACT 2600, Australia. Address: New South Wales Crescent, Barton. The ACT Government's Transport Canberra network provides bus and light rail options for travel to and from the school. Walking or cycling is encouraged for safety and to promote activity.
Stages	Stages Senior secondary college for Years 11 and 12	Stages Kindergarten to Year 6 (Primary) and Year 7 to Year 10 (Secondary). The Primary curriculum is harmonised (Harmonised K-6) and combines French and Australian curricula. All Secondary students study the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) with two streams: English/French Stream and English Stream.
School type	School type Senior secondary college; offers ACT Senior Secondary Certificate, International Baccalaureate, and French Baccalaureate	School type Public binational school (France–Australia)
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix Over 60 countries represented; international atmosphere	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Targeted and strong student support over the two-year college program	Additional learning support Student Welfare and Student Support are provided.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation France and Australia (binational)
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure Primary day: 9:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.; Secondary day: 8:50 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Supervision starts 30 minutes before school (8:30 a.m. for primary and 8:20 a.m. for secondary). After school care and transport options available.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details Bus service is operated by the Parents and Citizens Association (P&C).
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees - Application (non-refundable): AUD 265. Tuition fees by year group (annual and per term) - Primary (Kindergarten – Year 6): AUD 11,100 per year (AUD 2,775 per term, calculated on a four-term year). - Secondary (Years 7 – 10): AUD 14,500 per year (AUD 3,625 per term). - College (Years 11 – 12): AUD 16,200 per year (AUD 4,050 per term). Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition fees are payable in Australian dollars and are charged for the academic year; payment is required in advance for the year of enrolment. Continuing students will receive an invoice for the following year during Term 4. Acceptance of an offer requires payment as specified on the offer. Requests for payment plans by temporary residents may be considered, but payment plans are not available for students on visa subclass 500 (school sector). Boarding / Accommodation (homestay) fees (where applicable for international students) - The college does not operate a boarding house. Homestay services are arranged through the ACT homestay provider (AHN) and include: - Homestay matching fee: AUD 340 (payable at acceptance of offer). - Homestay weekly payment (example rate listed): AUD 400 per week (payable to AHN). - Family-nominated homestay program matching/payment: AUD 340 matching fee and AUD 50 per week family-nominated homestay payment where applicable. - Airport pick-up (optional): AUD 160 (payable to AHN). Other costs and fees - Parent contributions: - General contribution: AUD 200 per year. - Resources contribution (paid on enrolment): AUD 100 (covers ID card, yearbook, textbook hire, printing allowance). - Subject consumables and curriculum-related charges (examples; invoiced at the start of each session): - Ceramics: AUD 60 (session 1), AUD 120 (session 2); Design: AUD 40 / AUD 80; Photography: AUD 65 / AUD 130; Food and Technology: AUD 60 / AUD 120; Graphic Design / Architecture / Engineering: AUD 40 / AUD 80; Information Technology: AUD 40 / AUD 80; Media: AUD 30 / AUD 60; Music: AUD 30 / AUD 60; Textiles and Fashion: AUD 50 / AUD 100; Visual Art: AUD 60 / AUD 120; Wood Technology: AUD 60 / AUD 120; Dance: AUD 80. These fees are charged per subject session and may change. - International Baccalaureate (IB) programme fees: - IB entrance contribution (payable prior to starting the IB course): AUD 1,200 in addition to normal parent contributions. - IB external examination charges (students pay their own exam fees): a full IB Diploma (six subjects plus Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and CAS) is approximately AUD 1,100 (amount depends on exchange rates and exact exam entries). - French Baccalauréat fees (where applicable): approximately AUD 530 in Première for the online second language platform (LVB) and AUD 830 in Terminale. Amounts are approximate and may vary with exchange rates. - Additional items not covered by tuition: school uniform, book packs, personal materials used to make items taken home, non-curriculum excursions, private tutoring, canteen purchases, optional trips and activities (international excursions, holiday trips). Fees for optional activities are charged separately. Refund information - The initial application fee (AUD 265) is non-refundable. Tuition refunds for enrolment withdrawal are handled by the International Education Unit and follow a pro-rata schedule depending on when written notification is received: - Withdrawal before 9:00 am on day 1 of the academic semester: 90% of the unused portion of tuition refunded. - Withdrawal before 5:00 pm on Friday of Week 4 of the academic semester: 50% of the unused portion of tuition refunded. - Withdrawal in Week 5 or later of the academic semester: no refund. - No refund applies if enrolment is cancelled because of breaches of visa conditions (for example attendance below 80%, unsatisfactory academic progress or non-compliance with welfare conditions). Refunds to overseas bank accounts take longer (approximately four weeks after processing); domestic electronic funds transfers typically take two to three weeks. Fee payment options - Payments can be made by electronic funds transfer (EFT) to the ACT Education Directorate bank account; international telegraphic transfers may be used and should include the student name as payment reference. Bank details (example provided for payments) include Westpac BSB 032‑777, Account Number 000065 and SWIFT code WPACAU2S. Evidence of payment should be provided with application materials where required. Credit card (Visa and Mastercard) payments are accepted for application and other fees. Payments for parent contributions can also be made in person at the college reception (Visa/Mastercard), by telephone, or via the college's online payment system (Quickweb). Important administrative notes (fees-related) - Tuition fees are set by the ACT Minister or delegate and are charged on a cost-recovery basis for temporary visa holders; the Directorate publishes the applicable rates and manages fee waivers and exemptions according to policy. Fee-exemption, waiver and refund requests are managed by the International Education Unit.	Fee details Application fees - A non-refundable application fee of AUD 265 is payable for international fee‑paying students on submission of the application. Tuition fees (international fee‑paying students) — annual and per‑term - Primary (Kindergarten to Year 6): AUD 11,100 per year. Per term (calculated as annual fee ÷ 4 terms): AUD 2,775 per term. - Secondary (Years 7 to 10): AUD 14,500 per year. Per term (annual ÷ 4): AUD 3,625 per term. - College (Years 11 to 12): AUD 16,200 per year. Per term (annual ÷ 4): AUD 4,050 per term. - These international tuition amounts cover school tuition and curriculum‑related charges but do not include uniforms, book packs, materials students take home, or non‑curriculum excursion costs. Billing schedule and payment terms - All international tuition fees are required to be paid in advance for the full academic year unless an alternative arrangement is specified on the invoice. Continuing students receive an invoice for the following year in Term 4. Applicants must return the Acceptance of Offer and pay tuition by the published due date for the chosen term; failure to comply may affect commencement. Term dates and acceptance/payment due dates are published annually. Boarding / Homestay (where applicable for international students) - The school does not operate an on‑site boarding facility. Homestay accommodation options are arranged through the Australian Homestay Network (AHN) or by family nomination. Typical AHN charges include a homestay matching fee of AUD 340 and a homestay placement cost of AUD 400 per week; a family‑nominated homestay program fee and a lower weekly charge for family‑nominated accommodation may apply. Airport pick‑up (optional) is charged (example: AUD 160). These homestay charges are payable to the homestay provider, not as part of the school tuition. Other costs and routine charges - Uniforms: New uniform items are paid by families through the retailer used by the school; a school second‑hand uniform shop operates with low‑cost items (examples: many second‑hand items priced from AUD 5 each). Families may be asked to supply specific items outlined by year level. - School levies and activity charges: Charges for elective subjects, music tuition, camps, excursions, instrument hire, and activity levies apply in addition to tuition. Examples from published school materials include band levies (approx. AUD 60–120 per year depending on instrument use), camp charges that vary by activity (examples cited ~AUD 150–335 for specific band camps), private music lessons invoiced by semester (approx. AUD 45–50 per lesson), and locker hire (example: AUD 20 or AUD 40 depending on option). These amounts vary by year level, instrument use and program participation. - Personal items and consumables: Book packs, stationery, technology requirements, some subject consumables and non‑curriculum excursions are charged separately. The international tuition fee specifically excludes uniforms, book packs, and non‑curriculum excursion expenses. Refund information (international fee‑paying students) - The ACT Education Directorate provides refunds in specified circumstances. If written advice of withdrawal is received before 9:00am on the first day of the academic semester and before 5:00pm on Friday of Week 4 of that semester, 50% of the unused portion of paid tuition fees will be refunded. If written advice is received after 5:00pm on Friday of Week 4, no refund of tuition fees is payable. Tuition fees are non‑refundable where enrolment is cancelled due to visa breaches or failure to meet welfare or enrolment terms. If the provider defaults, a full refund or placement in an alternative course is provided and finalised within statutory timeframes. Refunds are reimbursed in Australian dollars, normally by Electronic Funds Transfer. Fee payment options and methods - Payments are accepted in Australian dollars by credit card (Visa or MasterCard), bank draft/bank cheque payable to the ACT Education Directorate, telegraphic transfer (from overseas) and electronic funds transfer (where available). School payment systems also support online payment facilities (the school uses a Westpac Quickweb payment option for payments to the school finance office). Bank transfer details and invoice references are provided on the application materials and on school invoices. Payers are responsible for any bank transaction fees. Domestic students and voluntary contributions - Australian citizens and Australian permanent residents do not pay tuition to attend ACT Government schools. Schools may request voluntary parental contributions and charge for consumables, elective subject levies, excursions and optional services; these contributions are voluntary and separate from the international tuition schedule. The school maintains a confidential equity fund to assist families experiencing financial hardship. Notes: - All amounts are shown in Australian dollars (AUD). Calculated per‑term figures above are the result of dividing the published annual international tuition by four terms; published annual tuition figures are those applied to international fee‑paying students.
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 Curriculum Handbook 2026 provides the current course and subject offerings. Narrabundah offers the Australian Senior Secondary Certificate with ATAR, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for Years 11–12, and a French Baccalauréat pathway through a French-language stream. The IB Diploma is a two-year program for students aged 16–18, with six subjects (three Higher Level and three Standard Level) plus core components including Extended Essay, CAS and Theory of Knowledge, designed to prepare students for university study. Classes in Year 12 combine ATAR and IB assessment tasks. The French Baccalaureat is taught in French as part of a French-stream pathway.	Curriculum details The school provides a bilingual program in English and French. Kindergarten to Year 2 has four days of French instruction and one day of English (80:20 split). From Year 3 to Year 6, English and French instruction is balanced 50:50. The French secondary program runs for Years 7–10. The English Stream studies the Australian Curriculum through an International Baccalaureate framework and is an authorised IB Middle Years Programme school since 2006. The school implements a bilingual program across all years to support multilingual learning.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio There were 1,597 students enrolled and 95.77 full-time equivalent teaching staff (60.91 permanent, 34.86 temporary), giving a student–teacher ratio of about 16.7:1.
Exam results	Exam results IB Diploma uses a 45-point scale; a minimum of 24 points is required to be awarded the Diploma; the IB Diploma score is converted to an equivalent ATAR for entry to ACT/NSW/VIC universities and is recognised by Australian universities.	Exam results NAPLAN results are reported for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Mean scores show Year 3 Reading 436 (School) vs ACT 415; Numeracy 429 vs 414. Year 5 Reading 527 (School) vs 509; Numeracy 524 vs 495. Year 7 Reading 571 (School) vs 548; Numeracy 567 vs 543. Year 9 Reading 604 (School) vs 576; Numeracy 600 vs 573.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Universities recognise the IB Diploma for entry; the Diploma score can be converted to an ATAR for ACT/NSW/VIC universities; the IB Diploma provides direct and recognised entry to tertiary education both in Australia and worldwide.	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented Gifted & Talented Education operates under the ACT Education Directorate's policy and guidelines. K–6 classes are mixed-ability with targeted extension; highly able students are grouped with like minds to facilitate effective collaboration. Students identified as gifted or talented have a Gifted Individualised Learning Plan (GILP) created after a year of case management, in collaboration with staff and parents.
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 The school enrolls students living in its Priority Enrolment Area. The ACT Education Directorate provides online enrolment and key dates for applicants. For the IB Diploma Programme, enrolment must be lodged with the ACT Education Directorate (enrolling in an ACT School) and the IB Application Form must be completed and returned by the Directorate's due dates.	Admissions 1. Parents/carers may apply to enrol their child at an ACT public school at any time during the school year using an online enrolment form. The online enrolment form starts the enrolment process. 2. Enrolling in kindergarten to year 6: the bilingual program is open to ACT residents. Enrol using the Online Enrolment Form. Applications to the junior school will be assessed and scored against the enrolment criteria. 3. Years 1 to 6 criteria for studying in French: applicants seeking to study in French at TPS in years 1 to 6 require a sufficient level of French to access the curriculum. Applications will be assessed against one of the following criteria according to the applicant's French language background: (1) previous schooling in French; (2) previous schooling in another school with evidence of subjects taught in French; (3) no previous schooling with evidence of subjects taught in French. For internal assessment purposes applicants are scored out of 80 and will be advised in their outcome letter of the criterion and score. 4. Enrolment outcomes and prioritisation: primary school applicants who meet the criteria will be enrolled up to the limit of places available. If demand exceeds capacity, priority is given by: (1) assessment score against the criteria; (2) proximity to the school. Applicants will be advised in their outcome letter of the criterion under which their application was assessed and their score. 5. Other enrolment considerations: deferrals are not permitted while away from the ACT. The school no longer maintains a waitlist; the existing waitlist for the 2025 school year will operate until 28 July 2025, when it will be deleted; no new applications will be added after 29 April 2025. Eligible applicants unable to be enrolled will receive an offer from their Priority Enrolment Area (PEA) school and may seek review or appeal; applicants may re-apply to TPS or any other ACT public school at any time. Families living overseas or interstate must be living in the ACT or region to be enrolled in an ACT public school; applications from families planning to move to the ACT but living overseas will be cancelled and asked to re-apply when living in the ACT. Children of diplomats transferring from overseas to work at the French or Canadian Embassies are guaranteed a kindergarten to year 12 place at their PEA school; TPS cannot hold places in the French Stream for late arrivals after the annual enrolment bulk round in early June. Applicants with disability may receive reasonable adjustments to facilitate access to the enrolment process, with consultation between the school and the applicant/parent. The ACT Education Directorate supports families and their children from non-English-speaking backgrounds to settle into their local ACT public school. If you missed the 2026 Kindergarten Information Session, a PowerPoint presentation is available. []
Scholarships	Scholarships Music Scholarship through auditions in March each year.	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist Waitlists: The school no longer maintains a waitlist of eligible applicants unable to enrol for capacity reasons. The existing waitlist for the 2025 school year will operate until 28 July 2025, when it will be deleted. No new applications will be added to the waitlist after 29 April 2025. Eligible applicants unable to be enrolled will receive an offer from their Priority Enrolment Area (PEA) school and may seek review or appeal; applicants may re-apply to Telopea Park School or any other ACT public school at any time. Families living overseas or interstate must be living in the ACT or region to be enrolled in an ACT public school; applications from families planning to move to the ACT but still overseas will be cancelled and asked to re-apply when living in the ACT. Children of diplomats transferring from overseas to work at the French or Canadian Embassies are guaranteed a kindergarten to year 12 place at their PEA school. TPS cannot hold late-year places in the French Stream after the bulk enrolment round. Applicants with disability may receive reasonable adjustments to facilitate access to the enrolment process. []
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