Since 1901, Ravenswood School for Girls has embraced a strong tradition of educational excellence, developing young women of purpose who are empowered and inspired by the highest quality of teaching and learning experiences. We are guided by our Christian ethos and Guiding Principles of Excellence, Respect, Courage, Compassion and Optimism.

Recognised as a leading school in the area of Positive Education, Ravenswood was the first school in New South Wales to adopt a Visible Wellbeing approach. Our girls often refer to the keen sense of belonging they experience and the warmth of the school’s atmosphere.

Ravenswood is located in Sydney’s picturesque and leafy upper North Shore, 15 kilometres from Sydney’s city centre and within five minutes’ walk of the main train line. Our girls enjoy beautiful, idyllic grounds and award winning, world-class facilities. Their opportunities are broadened further by our relationship with our brother school, Knox Grammar School.

Ravenswood is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School that uses the framework of the Primary Years Programme (PYP) in the Junior School and offers a choice between the New South Wales Higher School Certificate (HSC) and the IB Diploma in Years 11-12.

Our Global Experience and Social Justice Programs provide inter-cultural and service learning through overseas and interstate educational visits, study of languages and exchange programs.

Ravenswood’s sport for all philosophy delivers opportunities for every girl, promoting both inclusiveness and the physical and mental wellbeing aspects of sport.

Students have access to an extensive and dynamic performing arts curricular and co-curricular program across Music, Drama, Dance, Speech and Technical Theatre, that encompasses students from all Year Groups.

The school offers more than 100 co-curricular options across a broad range of domains, providing girls with endless opportunities to explore their passions outside the classroom.

Ravenswood offers a boutique boarding experience for students from Years 7 to 12 in the stylish Ravenswood Residential College (RRC) just a short walk from the school campus. We welcome students from metropolitan and country NSW, interstate and international destinations.

"As Principal of Ravenswood, my vision is to ignite within our girls a passion for excellence, empowered by grit and resilience so that they may fulfil their potential, flourish and lead meaningful lives. Sine 1901, Ravenswood has embraced a strong tradition of educational excellence - developing young women of purpose who are empowered and inspired by the highest quality of teaching and learning experiences," Mrs Anne Johnstone.

Anne Johnstone BA LLB (Hons), MAPP (UPenn), Grad Dip Ed, MACE, CF

The Principal of Ravenswood School for Girls, Anne Johnstone is an internationally recognised educational leader renowned for her pioneering work in the field of Positive Education and the wellbeing of young people.

Anne is the Chair and a founding Board Member of the national Positive Education in Schools Association (PESA)and the Vice-Chair of the International Positive Education Network (IPEN).

This year, the Teachers' Guild of NSW awarded Anne the 2022 Phyllis Evans Medal, a prize that acknowledges a 'distinguished educator of great standing.' It is the second time that Anne has been recognised by the Guild. Early in her career, she received a Teachers' Guild of NSW Award for Excellence in Teaching.  

Anne is also the recipient of a Churchill Fellowship during which she explored strategies to foster resilience in learning while based at Cambridge University in England. 

In 2019, Anne was the only woman among five internationally recognised educational leaders, acknowledged for ‘pioneering work, contribution and internationally-recognised leadership in the field of Positive Education,’ at the Positive Education Global Summit in Philadelphia.

In 2018, she received the prestigious Australian Speech and Communication Association Award for Excellence.

Anne is currently undertaking a PhD in Education through the University of Melbourne and holds a Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the ivy league University of Pennsylvania, a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (with Honours), as well as a Graduate Diploma of Education.  

She completed the thesis for her master’s degree under the supervision of the founder of Positive Psychology, Professor Martin Seligman. Anne’s research was recognised by the University of Pennsylvania as a Distinguished Capstone.  The focus of Anne’s current doctoral research is on helping young people to develop a mindset that promotes wellbeing.   

Before her appointment as Principal of Ravenswood School for Girls, Anne was Principal of Seymour College in Adelaide. Prior to this, she served as Deputy Headmistress, Head of Senior School and Head of Junior School, and an English teacher at Australia’s oldest independent girls’ school, St Catherine’s School in Sydney.  

Before pursuing her passion for teaching, Anne practised as a lawyer for four years, specialising in commercial litigation. 

A nationally and internationally sought-after speaker and presenter, Anne is passionate about helping young people fulfil their potential and flourish in all aspects of their lives.

TRAIN OR BUS

The school is three minutes walk from Gordon Railway Station and Bus Interchange. Gordon Railway Station is on the North Shore line; five stops from Hornsby, providing access to the Central Coast and Epping Line and four stops from Chatswood, providing access to the City and Epping Line.

Regular bus services operate from Gordon to St Ives, West Pymble, West Gordon, East Killara, Macquarie and the Northern Beaches.

Free Travel Passes are available for train, bus and ferry travel for Ravenswood students to and from home. There are conditions for different aged students.

Please phone (02) 9498 9898 for more information.

RAVENSWOOD PRIVATE BUS SERVICES

The Ravenswood bus services provide convenient transport of Ravenswood girls to and from school. The buses set down in Henry Street outside the school so there are no roads for students to cross.

We offer:

• Pick-up and drop-off at the school gates
• Fixed timetable and route with daily chartered bus services, allowing families to plan their week
• Fully air-conditioned modern buses provided by Forest Coach Lines
• Fixed cost per semester or annual for return, one-way, or three-day travel
• Mobile TransportMe App to monitor your daughter/s bus

BUS ROUTES

1. Avalon 
2. Freshwater/Narrabeen 
3. Brookvale/Seaforth
4. Mosman/Castle Cove
5. Longueville/Hunters Hill
6. Bella Vista/Hills District

HOW TO REGISTER AND PAY FOR THE RAVENSWOOD BUS SERVICES

Monday to Friday Return Pass: $798 per semester, $1596 per annum
Monday to Friday One-Way Pass: $457 per semester, $914 per annum
Three Day One-Way Pass: $278.50 per semester or $557 per annum (subject to bus capacity, as priority will be given to Monday to Friday Passes)

To register your daughter’s usage of the bus, please contact Emma Ingersoll at bus@ravenswood.nsw.edu.au or (02) 9498 9908 should you require assistance.

Places are limited and will be allocated in order of application and payment.

Transport to and from school is ultimately the responsibility of parents/guardians. We are happy to assist families with a bus service, however, capacity on the buses is limited and we are unable to guarantee a seat.

All published Ravenswood bus timetables are subject to change without notice.

Ravenswood scholarships are: 

• Academic Scholarship
• Music Scholarship
• Kim Buchan All Rounder Scholarship
• The Margaret Donaldson Scholarship
• The Ravenswood Old Girls' Union Scholarship
• The Ravenswood Residential College Scholarship

For Ravenswood Scholarships enquiries, please contact enrol@ravenswood.nsw.edu.au.

Ravenswood is pleased to share the exceptional academic performance of the Class of 2021 following the conclusion of the International Baccalaureate Enquiry Upon Results process.

Following the Enquiry Upon Results process, Laura Zhang (2021) has now received a perfect IB score of 45 out of 45, which equates to an ATAR of 99.95 (the highest possible score).

We are so proud of the class of 2021, who achieved some of our highest results on record, including:

• Three students with the highest possible ATAR of 99.95
• 19 students (15% of the cohort) with an ATAR above 99
• 40% of students with an ATAR of 95 or more
• 62% of students with an ATAR of 90 or more
•  Median ATAR of 93.05
• 90% of students achieved their first university preference
• Nine Showcase nominations across Music, Dance, Drama, Visual Arts, Textiles and Design and Design and Technology

More students from our Class of 2021 have received international university places, reached the finals of international academic competitions, and obtained early entry university offers than any cohort in Ravenswood history.

IB Dux Michelle Bulin (99.95) will study Regenerative Biology at Harvard University and equal IB Dux Laura Zhang (99.95) has received an offer to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford. IB high achiever May Zhu will study Mathematics at New York University and IB high achiever Emily Ra will study Biochemistry at Imperial College London (information current as of 24 February 2022). Our HSC Dux Rachel Halliday Shand (99.95) has received a University of Sydney Chancellors Award Scholarship.

The international competition achievements of this cohort include:

• First place in the 2021 Chicago University Social Innovation competition (Michelle Bulin and Ojasvi Rana)
• Second place in the international 2021 BIOTech Futures Challenge (Ojasvi Rana)
• Representation on the Australian team at the 2021 International Economics Olympiad (May Zhu)
• Participation in the Space Design Competition (Ojasvi Rana, Laura Zhang, May Zhou and Justine Xue)
• Selection for the New York Academy of Sciences program (Michelle Bulin)
• Selection for the Yale Young Scholars Program (Laura Zhang)

‘We are immensely proud of our students in the Class of 2021. Supported by our outstanding academic, well-being and administrative staff teams, they embraced every opportunity and overcame together the challenges arising from the pandemic with a great sense of collegiality, tenacity and a positive indset. These extraordinary young women of character and substance served as excellent role models and have gifted the School with a great legacy,’ said Principal Anne Johnstone.

Discover why Ravenswood is one of the top 20 ranked schools in NSW (SMH Top Ranked Schools Ladder, 2022). Register to come to our next Discovery Tour or book now to attend Ravenswood School For Girls Open Day 27 May: https://enquiry.ravenswood.nsw.edu.au/events

The Ravenswood school community is comprised of girls from local, national, and global communities covering a diverse range of nationalities. We welcome and celebrate the diverse cultures at Ravenswood and the significant contribution each girl brings to the life of the school. 

Ravenswood has also established partnerships with a number of overseas schools in Asia, Europe, Canada, the USA, and New Zealand, providing the opportunity for language and cultural exchange programs.