About Kambala

Kambala is an Independent day and boarding school for girls located on the rising shore above Rose Bay with a breathtaking view of Sydney Harbour. Founded in 1887, Kambala caters for students from Preparatory (four year olds) to Year 12, with boarders generally entering the school from Year 7.

Kambala offers a broad and holistic education, an excellent teacher-to-student ratio and the opportunity for students to truly excel. Kambala’s rich and varied programs, administered in a positive and supportive environment, inspire every student to realise her own purpose with integrity, passion and generosity. Academically curious and intellectually brave, Kambala aspires to raise leaders of the future.

Though non-selective, Kambala’s history of outstanding academic excellence, is highly regarded. The Year 12 results consistently place Kambala in the top group of schools in New South Wales, a testament to the School’s educational practices and dynamic learning community.

Located in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, students enjoy the open space of the oval and lawn areas as well as the beautiful landscaped grounds surrounding the iconic, heritage-listed Tivoli building. Flexible learning spaces are complemented by specialist areas for Visual Arts, Music, Science, Design and Technology, Food Technology and Multimedia.

Boarding facilities provide opportunity for individual nurturing. Kambala offers a family-style Boarding experience for approximately 50 girls from Year 7 – Year 12, in our purpose built Boarding House Fernbank, adjacent to the school. Kambala’s Boarding experience is a nurturing one, where students develop holistically. Our Boarding model focuses on fostering a strong sense of belonging for our Boarders and a strong sense of community for their families, supporting academic engagement, and promoting healthy lifestyle habits so our girls thrive. The model is also enhanced by the pillars of holistic well-being: healthy sleep patterns, balanced nutrition, and regular exercise and fresh air. We pride ourselves on a robust pastoral support system, established to guide and assist students in their wellbeing journey. Small cohort mentoring forms a central part of the Boarding program informed by current best practice in girls’ development.

The School offers a curriculum that provides a broad liberal education. A continuum of academic development is ensured with strong scholastic performance across all subject areas. The use of ICT to enhance learning is integrated within the curriculum. Students from Year 5 onwards have their own laptop.

Extensive use of specialist teachers at the Junior level, is complemented by a wide range of subjects available to Senior students. The following subjects are available for students in Years 11 and 12 HSC: Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Design and Technology, Drama, Economics, English, French Continuers and French Extension, Geography, Latin, Legal Studies, Mathematics, Modern and Ancient History, Music, PDPHE, Physics, Visual Arts and all extension courses.

In Years 11 and 12, girls have the opportunity to complete either the NSW Higher School Certificate or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program. IB subjects include Design and Technology, English, French, Mandarin, Spanish, Psychology, Global Politics, Economics, History, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Mathematical Studies, Music, Physics and Visual Arts.

Boarding

Kambala offers a family-style Boarding experience for approximately 50 girls from Year 7 – Year 12, in our purpose built Boarding House Fernbank, adjacent to the school. Located close to Sydney Harbour, in Rose Bay, we are minutes from the Rose Bay shopping village and the eastern beaches and close to the city centre. Kambala’s Boarding experience is a nurturing one, where students develop holistically. Our Boarding model focuses on fostering a strong sense of belonging for our Boarders and a strong sense of community for their families, supporting academic engagement, and promoting healthy lifestyle habits so our girls thrive.

The model is also enhanced by the pillars of holistic well-being: healthy sleep patterns, balanced nutrition, and regular exercise and fresh air. We pride ourselves on a robust pastoral support system, established to guide and assist students in their wellbeing journey. Small cohort mentoring forms a central part of the Boarding program informed by current best practice in girls’ development.

Sport

Sport encourages mental and physical fitness and promotes working together cohesively within a team. A broad range of sporting disciplines are offered at Kambala including Athletics, Basketball, Cross Country, Gymnastics, Hockey, Netball, Snowsports, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Touch Football and Water Polo. Girls are strongly encouraged to play competitive sport and to make full use of the extensive range of sporting opportunities. Saturday sport is available but not compulsory.

Outside the classroom

Courses and activities offered in addition to the curriculum include Photography, Speech, STEM, Drama, Debating, Future Problem Solving, Tournament of Minds, Mock Trial, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and numerous orchestral and vocal ensembles.

The Junior School has extensive programs to allow students to follow their interests and passions. They encompass a variety of activities including Ballet, Chess, Gymnastics, Instrumental Music, Jazz, Mandarin, Swimming and Tennis. A variety of programs are led by Senior students including charity initiatives, the Student Representative Council, communication and environmental groups.

An abundance of other special opportunities are available to students at Kambala. Some of these include sequential outdoor education experiences in Years 7 to 10, the Year 9 Service Learning Program, the Year 10 work experience program as well as overseas experience and study tours including World Challenge.

Welfare and personal development

Pastoral care at Kambala is concerned with promoting the academic, social, emotional, spiritual and physical wellbeing of all students. Kambala is committed to working with students to produce a love of learning, self-respect and a real sense of community. Self-esteem is built through the wide variety of opportunities to experience success in a very supportive environment, The School’s welfare and discipline policies take a problem-solving approach to discipline, emphasising the responsibilities that students have to themselves, to one-another, to their teachers and to their parents. The policies are underpinned by values important at Kambala: a safe, nurturing environment, respect for people and property, tolerance and compassion and pride in the School.