Meriden provides girls with an enriching learning environment that empowers them to achieve their potential. Educating students from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12, Meriden is one of Sydney’s top-performing independent girls’ schools. We offer a rigorous curriculum, a dynamic pastoral care program and a wide range of sport, music and cocurricular opportunities.

Meriden girls are encouraged to find their voice, become independent thinkers, take responsibility for their learning and make a positive difference to their community. The size of our school allows us to offer a wide subject choice and countless opportunities beyond the classroom to ensure all our students are able to explore their talents and areas of interest.

A Christian foundation enriches life at Meriden, with every member of the School community encouraged to live out our values of compassion, integrity, courage and respect. When girls graduate from Meriden at the end of Year 12, they take with them the skills and attributes to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Meriden’s diverse and vibrant working environment attracts highly-qualified educational professionals who are leaders in their areas of expertise. Our talented and dedicated staff members keep Meriden at the forefront of girls’ education.

During their time at Meriden, students are encouraged to immerse themselves in a wide range of experiences to develop a portfolio of achievement in areas including public speaking, debating, the Australian Army Cadets and social justice initiatives. Our cocurricular program is broad and every girl has the opportunity to try new things and find her niche.  

Meriden’s thriving Music Department aims to foster a love of music in every student. The School’s many choirs and instrumental groups cater to every music style and level of ability. Our musicians have a myriad of performance opportunities throughout the year to showcase their latest repertoire. Girls with exceptional musical talent may be invited to join the Amadeus Program, which provides specialised support that nurtures each student’s musical development.

Meriden’s highly-regarded sporting program offers a variety of team and individual sports and encourages every girl to care for her physical wellbeing. The School has a remarkable record of sporting achievement, with Meriden girls having represented Australia in athletics, swimming, water polo, badminton and tennis. The School’s Olympus Program caters to the educational and sporting needs of our elite athletes, supporting them to fulfil their academic and sporting potential. 

Encouraging students to give back to the community and care for one another is an integral part of life at Meriden. Our students gain a deep understanding of the importance of making meaningful contributions to the community through their participation in fundraising and community service activities. Every student leaves Meriden with first-hand experience of what it means to be an active and engaged citizen.

At Meriden, each girl is known and her unique contribution to the life of the School is valued. Our multifaceted pastoral care program and the services of the School’s Counselling, Chaplaincy and teaching staff ensure all students have a comprehensive support network that sees them thrive throughout their educational journey.

Meriden’s central location, in the heart of Strathfield, makes travelling to the School from all areas of Sydney and surrounding regions convenient and direct. Our students come from local suburbs and from further afield and Meriden has its own fleet of private buses to complement the many public transport routes to the School.

The consistently outstanding results of our HSC students are testament to the academic rigour and attentive pastoral care embedded in a Meriden education.

Meriden's Class of 2023 cohort was ranked 12th in the HSC Schools Ranking, with 63% of students receiving an ATAR of 90 or more.

Read more about Meriden's 2023 Academic Highlights.

Meriden graduates on the world stage

Meriden graduates from the Class of 2023 are getting ready to compete in the highly competitive world of collegiate sport after accepting offers to study at leading universities in the USA.

Three alumnae will be representing their universities playing tennis: Nina Krecklenberg will be studying at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and playing for the Ragin Cajuns; Sienna Leeson has secured a place at the University of South Florida and will be playing for The Bulls; and Soha Singh will be attending Louisiana Tech University and playing for The Bulldogs.

Kate Woosnam has gained entry to Saint Leo University (Florida) and will be competing for the Lions soccer team, and track and field athlete, Ada Rand, will be attending Penn State University.

The five alumnae were part of Meriden’s Olympus program, which provides personalised programs to support student-athletes for both academic and sporting success.

Ada will be pursuing an undergraduate degree in Global and International Studies, while representing Penn State University in track and cross country.

“While we were in Year 11, Mr Richards advised the girls in the Olympus program to begin looking into universities that we would be interested in,” Ada said.

Mr Ryan Richards is the Head of Tertiary Pathways, who assists Meriden students with domestic and overseas university applications. He has particular expertise for applications to universities in the USA and United Kingdom, and over a decade of experience in the application and recruitment process of student-athletes.

Ada weighed up her options and considered the universities that were best suited to her academic and athletic interests.

“Penn State was one of these schools and things began to progress from there.”

Ada said the recruiting and application process went smoothly. “Mr Richards provided my family with advice as the application progressed, as neither my parents or I knew very much about what was involved.”

“I am looking forward to experiencing the college lifestyle – living in a dorm, making new friends and having fun outside of studies and sport. Penn State is a really big football school so I am excited to attend games and participate in college life,” Ada said.

In the meantime, Ada is coaching Meriden’s Senior School Cross Country athletes and managing Run Club in the Junior School until she heads off to the USA in September to begin her Freshman year.

Ada recently competed at the Australian Athletics Championships in Adelaide, winning the gold in the Under 20 1500m event, securing her spot at the World Athletics Under 20 Championships in Peru later this year.

Meriden girls urged to 'dream big'

Meriden has seen tremendous success in gaining entry to overseas universities, not only for sport but also through the academic pathways. In the past five years, many alumnae were offered places to study at renowned universities such as Harvard, Oxford, Imperial College, King’s College, The University of Southern California and Purdue.

Ada’s advice to students who are interested in attending university overseas is to conduct thorough research to find the university that best fits you.

“If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend going to visit any universities you are considering, as there is only so much you can learn virtually.

“Regarding the athletics side, I also had lots of conversations with the college coaches to make sure we would get along and that their coaching methods and approach would suit me.

“Another thing I would advise is to keep your options open. Throughout Year 12, I still applied to Australian universities via early entry and studied hard for my HSC, even though I was pretty sure I would be going to the USA.”

Mr Richards urges Meriden girls to:

• Dream big – Meriden girls have proven they deserve to be on the world stage. Performing well at Meriden in sport or academics can lead to a world of opportunities at some of the most distinguished universities across the globe.
• Find a balance – Universities are after a well-rounded student who can communicate and solve problems. Meriden students who immerse themselves in cocurricular activities such as sport, music and debating are seen as ideal candidates.
• Demonstrate continuity and growth – Meriden girls who are involved in activities outside the classroom over a continuous period, such as cocurricular activities, shows growth and interest, which are key competencies universities and future employees look out for.

There are many aspects of Meriden that give me considerable pleasure. These include the girls’ love of learning, the wonderful results of the girls in traditional and non-traditional subjects such as Mathematics and Music, the diversity of the school community, and the excellence of the School in cocurricular areas that include sport, debating, community service and public speaking.

Arguably, however, the most impressive feature of the School is the girls! They exercise their talents and skills to lead the School, work to make a positive contribution to their School and wider communities, and demonstrate vast amounts of school spirit, collegiality and friendliness in House events, competitions and other activities. It is expected that Meriden girls will care for one another, and they do.

Year 12 girls graduate from Meriden as confident, articulate and compassionate young women, ready to make a positive contribution to their communities as global citizens and leaders. Their teachers and I follow their post-school pathways with considerable pleasure and pride!

I hope to see you at Meriden in the near future.

Mrs Lisa Brown
Principal