Courage Starts Here

Our vision: Revolutionise girls' education - to live a future without boundaries

Our purpose: Limitless

At Penrhos, our students are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to nurturing strong, independent young women who lead with confidence, compassion and a desire to make a positive difference in the world. Our progressive approach to teaching and learning focuses on building essential skills and mindsets for life-long learning, equipping students with the resilience, curiosity and adaptability they need for the future.

Through a comprehensive and balanced curriculum, we provide engaging, challenging and varied learning experiences that inspire each student to reach her academic potential. With a strong emphasis on academic care, we support every girl’s individual journey, encouraging her to explore her passions, discover her strengths and pursue her aspirations with purpose and confidence.

Endless Opportunities

At Penrhos, learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door. Our co-curricular program is designed to inspire, challenge and empower students – helping them grow into confident, capable individuals with a strong sense of purpose.

With opportunities across sport, creative and performing arts, academic clubs, leadership and service, students are encouraged to explore their passions, try something new and develop lifelong skills – all while having fun and building meaningful connections.

Sport and fitness:

• AFL
• Athletics
• Badminton
• Cross Country
• Equestrian
• Fitness
• Golf
• Hockey
• Netball
• Rowing
• Softball
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Volleyball
• Walking Club
• Water Polo
• Yogalates

Creative and Performing Arts:

• Band and Orchestra Festival
• Cantabile Voices Choir
• Chorale
• Coltrane and Basie (jazz) Bands
• Contemporary Band (rock and pop)
• Creative Arts and Design Exhibition
• Creative Arts Club
• Dance Festival
• Dance Showcase
• Dramafest (student-led production)
• Music Eisteddfod
• Music Gala Night
• School Production
• String Orchestra
• VOX
• Wind Orchestra

Academic and enrichment:

• Academic fairs
• Bible Study
• Da Vinci Decathlon
• Debating
• Duke of Edinburgh
• Homework Support Club
• Maths Mentor
• Mock Trials
• Ngala Maya
• Perkins Profs
• Philosophy Club
• STEM+
• Tech Team
• Tournament of Minds
• Young Writers Collective

Leadership and service:

• Big Sister
• Cultural Exchange
• Duke of Edinburgh (also listed under Enrichment)
• Form Captains
• Library Committee
• SAGA Committee (student-led yearbook project)
• Student Council
• Sustainability Club
• Year Representatives

Boarding at Penrhos offers a warm, welcoming home-away-from-home for girls from regional Western Australia and overseas. With space for 100 students from Years 7 to 12, our Boarding House provides a nurturing and intimate environment where each girl enjoys the privacy of her own room year-round and is housed alongside peers in her year group for an age-appropriate living experience. Located conveniently on campus, our boarders benefit from easy access to all school facilities, eliminating the need for daily travel.

Boarding at Penrhos is more than just residential care — it’s a place where lifelong friendships are formed and where independence, resilience and leadership are nurtured. In sharing daily life, our students learn the value of empathy, respect and cooperation, building essential life skills that will serve them well beyond school. Our dedicated staff provide 24/7 care, guided by a strong pastoral framework that ensures personalised support tailored to each student’s individual needs.

To ease the transition into boarding, we offer a weekend orientation program where new students and their families can settle in ahead of the returning boarders. This includes unpacking together, meeting staff and asking questions in a relaxed environment. Each new boarder is also paired with a Year 12 buddy, creating an immediate connection and a sense of belonging from day one.

At Penrhos, we believe wellbeing is the foundation for both academic and personal success. That’s why we work in close partnership with families to support each student’s mental, emotional and physical health, helping her develop the life skills she needs to thrive. Our CONNECT Wellbeing Framework, based on the principles of positive psychology, guides this journey through six key themes: relationships, emotions, health, engagement, meaning and accomplishment. These are explored through our pastoral curriculum and supported by our dedicated psychologists and pastoral care team, who collaborate with families and teachers to ensure every student feels seen, supported and empowered.

We also recognise the vital role families play in a student’s wellbeing and success. We equip parents and caregivers with the knowledge, tools and confidence to support their daughters throughout their school years. With engaging workshops, expert guest speakers and a wealth of practical resources, we foster understanding and connection, helping families navigate the challenges of adolescence and to build strong, supportive relationships that last a lifetime.

Penrhos College Tours

Prospective families are encouraged to attend one of our upcoming tour events with the opportunity to experience Penrhos College and meet with key Penrhos staff members. Book a tour here.

Bus Services to Penrhos

Using a bus service is a great way for students to develop independence and support parents who manage multiple school runs or need to commute to work. It also has the added benefits of reducing traffic congestion and environmental impact.

Did you know that Penrhos College is easily accessible from the Perth Hills? Our expanded bus services connect students from Kalamunda, Forrestfield, Lesmurdie and Wattle Grove with our vibrant and diverse community. Find out more.

Engineering the future for women in STEM

Engineering is the cornerstone of the infrastructure, services, products and systems that serve Australia’s diverse population, yet still only 12% of the engineering workforce is female

Penrhos Principal Kalea Haran says breaking down gender stereotypes and inspiring girls to discover joy and curiosity in exploring all the world has to offer is part of the College ethos. “We are reshaping perceptions of STEM – including Maths - as a journey of discovery, to be embraced with fascination and wonder. Students respond to challenges most successfully when they are surrounded by positive and passionate peers, mentors and teachers.”

Find out more.

More than just a classroom: How Penrhos College prepares our girls for the future of work

Our world is changing at the speed of information. Technological innovations touch every part of our lives, forcing a shift in how we approach everything from primary education to employment.

By the time today’s students enter the workforce, they will be pursuing careers that didn’t exist a decade ago and using technologies that don’t exist yet either. 

So how do we prepare our girls for a world where work, life, and success will be defined differently from what we know today?

This existential question is driving change across the education sector. Here at Penrhos College, an all-girls private school in Perth, we are creating flexible learning environments where critical thinking and spontaneous collaboration encourage the pursuit of discovery. 

A generation ago, these spaces were called ‘classrooms’. Now Perth’s best high schools are evolving physical learning spaces to meet the needs of the next generation.  Find out more.

Along with a Master of Education from the University of South Australia and an MBA from Deakin University, Kalea brings to Penrhos her extensive experience of large-scale, international school operations and policy development, together with her passion for girls’ education.

Kalea says…

I love that the red dragon is a proud and unique symbol of Penrhos College.

I imagine the red 9th Century dragon to be timeless and magnificent, strong-willed, loyal and empathetic, ethical and kind. She sits at the very heart of the Penrhos ethos, inspiring pride and confidence, resilience and determination across generations of girls.

I admire and respect that Penrhosians pursue growth in mind, heart, body and spirit; they value knowledge, empathy, integrity and respect; they are encouraged to demonstrate strength of character and to have the courage of their convictions. Penrhosians are committed to the tireless pursuit of their dreams, to supporting each other and to making a positive contribution in the world.

This is what I want for our girls – to leave us as women who know their purpose in life; I want them to be determined, with the passion to make a positive difference, to use the fire in their belly to chase their dreams and to stand up for what they believe in. Penrhosians don’t let barriers get in their way – they will challenge convention and smash ceilings. This is what we stand for – it is what makes Penrhos quite different, and very special.

Penrhos is an environment that celebrates and empowers all girls, where each individual is nurtured and valued, and where stereotypes are left by the wayside. Our girls are empowered to make decisions for their education that support them in their chosen journey, and enjoy learning in a safe environment where every girl is supported to speak to what she believes in, to freely explore her passions, creativity and academic excellence, and to achieve her personal best. This could be in the Arts, in the Sciences, Humanities, sports – there are no restrictions on what’s on offer to a Penrhosian.

I bring to Penrhos my commitment to continuous progression and innovation in education, gained over 20 years of working with diverse students and educators – with world experts, Nobel laureates, international speakers, and those people that have really driven global agendas in education. I will continue to apply my skills and experience to nurturing, supporting, growing and preparing Penrhos girls for the internationally competitive workplace of the future.

Together, we grow.

Kalea Haran
Principal

Life at Penrhos is enriched by diversity – we welcome enrolments from different cultures, religions and backgrounds. The experience of sharing and developing life skills with fellow students from overseas fosters the qualities of understanding, tolerance, awareness and respect. Friendships formed at Penrhos are often friendships that last for life.

Unless parents are moving to Perth with the student, it if the College’s preference that secondary school students live in our Boarding House, where we provide a nurturing and safe environment for each and every girl. Living as a boarder also enables the College to more closely monitor academic progress and involvement in co-curricular activities.

Further information to assist prospective overseas students in learning about accommodation options and indicative costs of living in Australia, please visit Study Australia. Additional resources can also be located via Study Perth or Visit Perth, which provide a snapshot into the wonderful city of Perth, where Penrhos College is located.  Find out more.