Northside Montessori School vs The King's School

	N Northside Montessori School Sydney, Australia	T The King's School Sydney, Australia
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year A$15,986 - 24,950	Fees / year A$5,300 - 49,980
Age range	Age range 1 - 18 years	Age range 4 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Boys School, Boys School (boarding), Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum Australian Curriculum, IB (DP)	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (DP), Australian Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 144	Pupils 2,157
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 9
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1978	Opened 1831
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location 42 Bobbin Head Road, Pymble, NSW 2073, Australia. The school is in Pymble, a suburb on Sydney's Upper North Shore.	Location The King's School is located at 87-129 Pennant Hills Road, North Parramatta, NSW 2151, Australia. The main Parramatta campus serves Pre-K to Year 12, and the Preparatory School is set within 320 acres of native Australian bushland. Tudor House is the Southern Highlands campus catering for girls and boys.
Stages	Stages Toddler to Year 12 (Early Learning to Secondary).	Stages Pre-K to Year 12
School type	School type Co-educational; IB World School offering the Diploma Programme (DP) and is a Diploma Programme Candidate School.	School type Independent school; specialists in boys' education; boarding is central to School life.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Australia	Country affiliation Australia
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation Christian
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details King's operates 13 daily and two weekly bus services. Pick-up and drop-off occur at the School turning circle for Prep and Senior campuses. The services have fixed timetables and routes, with fixed cost per term, and use fully air-conditioned buses with a regular driver. Public transport options are available, and a School Opal card can be used for non-King's buses or trains.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application & Placement Fees - Application Fee: AUD 165 (non-refundable). - Placement Fee: AUD 1,600, payable on acceptance of an offer of placement (non-refundable and non-transferrable). Tuition fees by year group (annual and per-term amounts) - Preschool (3–4 year olds, Monday–Friday 8:30am–11:45am): Annual tuition AUD 15,986; per term (annual ÷ 4) AUD 3,996.50. Annual levy AUD 1,458; per term AUD 364.50. Montessori Home Environment (11:45am–2:45pm) is charged at AUD 28 per day (charged separately). - Kindergarten: Annual tuition AUD 15,986; per term AUD 3,996.50. Annual levy AUD 1,831; per term AUD 457.75. - Years 1–6 (Primary): Annual tuition AUD 15,986; per term AUD 3,996.50. Annual levy AUD 2,035; per term AUD 508.75. - Years 7–10 (High School): Annual tuition AUD 18,427; per term AUD 4,606.75. Annual levy AUD 3,165; per term AUD 791.25. - Year 11 (International Baccalaureate): Annual tuition AUD 24,950; per term AUD 6,237.50. (No separate annual levy amount is listed for Year 11 in the published fee schedule.) - Year 12: No specific annual tuition or levy is listed for Year 12 in the 2026 fee schedule. Notes on what school fees and levies cover: School fees and levies include text resources, sporting activities (including swimming lessons), excursions and incursions, camps and overseas trips, a school-provided laptop and classroom desktops, student insurance and general classroom resources and equipment. Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are billed in November for the following calendar/school year (billed annually). Payment is by ten (10) monthly direct debit instalments (February to November), processed from a nominated bank account on the 5th of each month. Fees unpaid by the due date attract an administration charge of AUD 25 per week overdue. Fees and levies are payable for the whole year of enrolment; no deduction is made for non-attendance. Credits for completed School Support Hours are recognised at the end of each term and applied to the next monthly direct debit instalment. OOSH and Montessori Home Environment (MHE) are billed at the end of each term and added to the next monthly instalment; Vacation Care fees are payable when the booking is made. Boarding fees - Boarding is not listed as a provision; no boarding fees are published in the school's fee schedule. The school operates day programs and offers Out of School Hours Care (OOSH), Vacation Care and Montessori Home Environment. Other costs and recurring charges - Northside Montessori Society Membership Fee: AUD 65 per family. - Fundraising raffle: AUD 300 (recoverable if raffle tickets are on-sold). - School Support Hours Program: AUD 800 (recoverable on completing the program; credits applied as described above). - Building Fund donations (voluntary, tax-deductible in Australia for donations of AUD 2 or more): suggested amount of AUD 100 per monthly instalment. Annual receipts issued in July. - Out of School Hours and related daily/session charges (additional to tuition): - Before School Care (BSC): AUD 12 per day. - After School Care (ASC): AUD 32 per day. Late pick-up fee: AUD 10 per each 5 minutes or part thereof after 6:00pm. - Vacation Care: AUD 75 per day; Vacation Care with incursion AUD 95 per day. - Montessori Home Environment (MHE) for 3–4 year olds: AUD 28 per day (11:45am–2:45pm). - Toddler Program (walking to 36 months) and Toddler & Transition Program fees (term-based) are published for infant programs (examples from the infant program listing: AUD 360 per 10-week term; AUD 380 per 10-week term for certain sessions). These additional program charges are billed separately as described above. - Co-curricular activities (music, sport, languages, robotics, etc.) are charged in addition and are paid directly to the activity provider. Sibling discounts - Sibling discounts apply to school tuition fees only and are allocated to the oldest child in the family (not available for siblings enrolled in the Infant Community Program). The published discounts are: 2nd child 25% of school fees; 3rd child 50% of school fees; 4th child 75% of school fees; 5th and subsequent child 100% of school fees. Refunds, cancellation and withdrawal terms - Application Fee: non-refundable. Placement Fee: non-refundable and non-transferrable. - Withdrawal notice: withdrawal of a student requires at least one (1) full term's written notice to the Principal to expire at the end of a term. If the required notice is not given, one (1) school full term's fee is payable in lieu of the required notice. For a student leaving at the end of Year 6, an extended notice period of at least three (3) full terms' notice is required (to be given by the end of Term 1); failure to provide the required notice will similarly attract one term's fee in lieu. Credits for completed School Support Hours are applied to the next instalment as described above. Fee payment methods and processing - Regular tuition and levies are collected by ten (10) monthly direct debit instalments from a nominated bank account (processed on the 5th of each month, February–November). OOSH and MHE are billed at the end of each term and added to the next monthly direct debit instalment; Vacation Care fees are payable at the time of booking. No other specific payment methods (credit card, BPAY, bank transfer) are listed in the published fee schedule.	Fee details Application and enrolment fees - Registration fee: AUD 300 per student (non-refundable). - Student Enrolment fee: AUD 5,000 per student (non-refundable and non-transferable), payable at the time of enrolment. Tuition fees (day students) — amounts shown as Yearly / 10 monthly instalments / Termly (Terms 1–4 unless noted) - Pre-Kindergarten: AUD 30,980 / AUD 3,098 / AUD 7,745. - Kindergarten: AUD 30,980 / AUD 3,098 / AUD 7,745. - Year 1: AUD 32,460 / AUD 3,246 / AUD 8,115. - Year 2: AUD 32,460 / AUD 3,246 / AUD 8,115. - Year 3: AUD 35,980 / AUD 3,598 / AUD 8,995. - Year 4: AUD 35,980 / AUD 3,598 / AUD 8,995. - Year 5: AUD 42,440 / AUD 4,244 / AUD 10,610. - Year 6: AUD 42,440 / AUD 4,244 / AUD 10,610. - Year 7: AUD 46,640 / AUD 4,664 / AUD 11,660. - Year 8: AUD 46,640 / AUD 4,664 / AUD 11,660. - Year 9: AUD 47,180 / AUD 4,718 / AUD 11,795. - Year 10: AUD 47,180 / AUD 4,718 / AUD 11,795. - Year 11: AUD 49,980 / AUD 4,998 / AUD 12,495. - Year 12: AUD 49,980 / AUD 4,998 / AUD 16,660 (Year 12 tuition is billed over three terms: Term 1, Term 2 and Term 3). Boarding fees — amounts shown as Yearly / 10 monthly instalments / Termly - Year 7: AUD 35,840 / AUD 3,584 / AUD 8,960. - Year 8: AUD 35,840 / AUD 3,584 / AUD 8,960. - Year 9: AUD 39,200 / AUD 3,920 / AUD 9,800. - Year 10: AUD 39,200 / AUD 3,920 / AUD 9,800. - Year 11: AUD 40,080 / AUD 4,008 / AUD 10,020. - Year 12: AUD 38,370 / AUD 3,837 / AUD 12,790 (Year 12 boarding fees are billed over three terms: Term 1, Term 2 and Term 3). Additional and recurring costs - Digital textbooks (Box of Books): Years 7–10: AUD 294 per year (including GST), billed at the beginning of Term 1; Years 11–12 depend on subject choices and are billed at the beginning of Term 2 where applicable. - Technology fee (Laptop Program): Years 7–10: AUD 461 per term / AUD 1,844 per year. Devices must be purchased through the School's portal; optional insurance available for an additional fee. - VET subject charges (Years 11–12): charged separately depending on subject; may attract government rebates. - Day-boy lunch option: Years 7–11: AUD 600 per term / AUD 2,400 per year; Year 12: AUD 600 per term / AUD 1,800 per year. Pre-K to Year 6 may order and pay for lunch via portal. - Camps, excursions and subject-related charges: camps (Years 5–6 and other compulsory camps) and excursions are charged separately; parents are advised of final costs and these are typically included on term invoices. - Music and other co-curricular activities: charged separately as advised for each activity. - Bus services (King's-operated): AUD 529 per term (Kindergarten–Year 12). - Uniform initial cost (full regulation uniform including sports uniform): approximately AUD 2,150. - Cadet Corps uniform (approximate initial cost): AUD 375 (Year 8). - Occasional boarding (up to three nights per week): AUD 180 per day. - Excursion and Amenities Levy for Pre-K to Year 6: charged in the first invoice of the school year; does not cover overnight camps. - Sibling discounts: Tuition fees: 10% concession for younger brother(s); Boarding fees: 15% concession for second boarder and 30% for third and subsequent boarders. Sibling concessions do not apply to a child holding a Scholarship or other remission. Billing schedule and payment terms - Termly payment: fees are due and payable in full two weeks prior to the first day of each term. - Direct debit instalments: eligible parents may apply to pay by regular direct debit instalments; eligibility requires accounts to be up to date. Ten monthly direct debit billing runs February–November. - Invoicing: the School issues invoices for termly payments; all fees are shown and billed in Australian dollars (AUD) only. The School does not accept cash for fee payments. - Late payment: a default charge of AUD 250 per term applies to fees not paid within 21 days of rendering the account. Students with outstanding fees may be prevented from commencing a new term or participating in discretionary activities. - Withdrawal notice: at least one full term's written notice is required to terminate enrolment. If the required notice is not given, a term's fees (tuition and boarding where applicable) are immediately payable. Refunds and fee changes - Refund policy: payments made to the School are not refundable. - Fee variation: the School may change fees and charges from time to time, generally providing parents one term's notice of any variation. Accepted payment methods and options - Accepted payment channels: online payments via the School's payment portal / QuickWeb and via direct debit. Credit card payments (MasterCard, Visa or American Express) attract a surcharge based on the fee charged to the School (a stated example surcharge is 1.3% where applicable). BPAY payments do not attract an additional charge. The School accepts payments in AUD only. - Extended payment options: the School offers an extended payment facility in partnership with Edstart to spread payments over a longer period; applications are made via Edstart. Notes on inclusions and GST - Tuition fees generally include the majority of academic, extra- and co-curricular activities; separate charges apply for items such as technology, textbooks, stationery, excursions, camps and certain VET subjects. GST is generally not applied to educational tuition but may apply to specific goods and services (for example, the food component of boarding fees).
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 Authentic Montessori education across Early Learning, Primary and Secondary. The High School commenced in 2022 with Year 7 and will continue to add years up to Year 12 by 2027. Years 7–10 work toward the NSW RoSA, with all coursework meeting NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) requirements. For Years 11–12, the school is NESA registered and offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Our teachers are accredited with NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and have Montessori qualifications, and our senior high school teachers are IB trained.	Curriculum details The Preparatory School uses the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) to deliver the NSW curriculum with a global emphasis. Learning unfolds through six Units of Inquiry that integrate Science, History and Geography, the Arts, Mandarin and Physical Education in authentic contexts. Specialist classes include Music, Visual Arts, Woodwork, Physical Education, Biblical Studies, Mandarin and STEM. Educational Support Services provide targeted assistance, and the Enrichment & Extension Program supports gifted and talented students through one-on-one or small-group instruction, with opportunities to engage in external competitions such as the da Vinci Decathlon, Maths Challenge, Maths Olympiad and Write a Book in a Day. The program emphasizes inquiry-based learning, character development and a holistic approach to education.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression The King's School supports graduates into universities and tertiary institutions in Australia and abroad through Global Tertiary Pathways, with high academic results guiding entry to commendable universities. The school hosts SAT testing as an accredited international test centre and offers the SAT Suite (PSAT8/9, PSAT10, PSAT/NMSQT) and Advanced Placement (AP) exams as part of its higher-education pathway, with registration and testing coordinated through the US College Board. Cambridge and Oxford admissions tests information is also provided for select courses.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented Gifted and talented students are supported through the Enrichment & Extension Program, with a specialised Extension and Enrichment teacher delivering differentiated instruction and rigorous challenges; identified students may participate in external competitions such as the da Vinci Decathlon, Maths Challenge, Maths Olympiad and Write a Book in a Day.
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. Enquire: Prospective families use the enquiry form to request further information about enrolling with Northside Montessori School and to speak with the Enrolments Registrar (EI). This step initiates the enrolment process and helps families understand how their child can flourish within the Montessori program. The Registrar provides information to guide the next steps. The enquiry does not commit the family to enrolment. 2. Book a Tour: Northside Montessori School invites families to visit so they can see the campus in action and learn about the Montessori approach. It is an opportunity to explore the school, meet students and staff, and ask questions about how the program supports a love of learning. The visit helps families decide if the school is the right fit. 3. Apply: Applications for entry are made online and are a pre-requisite for enrolment but do not guarantee a place. A non-refundable Application Fee per child is payable at the time of application, and payments are made via the secure system. The school gives preference to siblings of current students, children transferring from other Montessori schools, and to children currently enrolled in the Montessori Toddler program; application date and balance of ages and genders in multi-age classes are considered. 4. Interview with the Principal: If suitable, the school contacts families to arrange an interview with the Principal. The interview provides an opportunity to discuss expected Montessori outcomes and the family's understanding of the Montessori approach. All enrolments are subject to the outcome of the enrolment interview. 5. Acceptance and Attend Orientation Day: Following a successful interview, an enrolment offer is made and a non-refundable Placement Fee is payable upon acceptance. Before starting, families receive an invitation to attend an orientation in the classroom and meet the teacher. Parents must keep their address and contact details current; if the school cannot contact them and there is no response, the enrolment may be cancelled.	Admissions Step 1: Intake points and eligibility. The King's School has four intake years: Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Year 5 and Year 7. From time to time there may be vacancies in non-intake years, and the Admissions Office should be contacted to discuss availability. The 31 March cut‑off birth date applies to the intake year to determine the correct grade level. Step 2: Application and waitlist. Enrolment applications are placed on a waitlist and progress is subject to vacancies; not all applications progress to an interview or an offer of a place. The enrolment registration fee is AU$300 and is non-refundable. Step 3: Campus-specific intake timelines. The Preparatory School (Pre‑K to Year 6) is currently interviewing for entry in 2027 with limited placements for 2026; Tudor House (Pre‑K to Year 6) and Boarding from Years 3 to 6 are interviewing for 2026 and beyond; Senior School (Years 7 to 12) is currently interviewing for day and boarding entry in 2027 and beyond. Step 4: Scholarships and bursaries overview. Scholarships and bursaries are available for entry to Years 7 to 11; awards are governed by terms and conditions and may continue for the duration of enrolment. Some bursaries are means‑tested to assist with boarding costs. Applications for the 2027 Scholarships and Bursaries Program have closed; information for 2028 opens upon registration. Step 5: International applicants. To apply as an international student, complete the online registration and include supporting documents (e.g., last 2 years of school reports translated into English, birth certificate, passport, AEAS results where relevant, extra‑curricular certificates, medical notes). AAU$300 non-refundable registration fee is required. English language proficiency is required, with AEAS testing for Years 7–11 and specific minimum AEAS scores by year. The King's School operates under ESOS framework and provides orientation for new international students; the School does not use recruitment agents. For entry, international students may join from Tudor House (Years 3–6) or Senior School (Years 7–12), typically at the start of the academic year.
Scholarships	Scholarships Bursaries and financial support: Northside Montessori School provides bursaries to families in necessitous circumstances. This assistance applies to tuition fees only; levies and other charges must be paid in full. Bursary decisions are made by the Bursary Committee, and the Principal may grant a fee discount or waiver up to half a year's full tuition for one student; greater relief requires Board approval. All bursary applications are confidential and awarded based on means testing and commitment to Montessori education, with annual review. Further details can be found in the Bursary Policy.	Scholarships Scholarships and bursaries are available for entry to Years 7 to 11; awards are governed by specific terms and conditions and may continue for the duration of enrolment, up to Year 12. Some bursaries are means-tested to assist with boarding costs. Applications for the 2027 Scholarships and Bursaries Program have now closed; to receive information about when the 2028 program opens please register.
Waitlist	Waitlist Waitlist: If you wish to defer the entry date to a date later than the initial accepted date, the School will advise whether it is able to agree to this. If the School is unable to agree, the student's date of application will be amended to the date the deferment was requested. The student will then be placed on a waiting list for the new requested date; however, enrolment cannot be guaranteed.	Waitlist Enrolment applications are placed on a waitlist and progressed subject to vacancies; not all applications progress to an interview or offer. The enrolment registration fee is AU$300 and is non-refundable.
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