THE SCHOOL RUN

WHERE YOU CHOOSE TO EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN CAN BE A DIFFICULT DECISION. HERE, WE HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE TOP BOARDING AND REGIONAL SCHOOLS.

SCOTCH COLLEGE MELBOURNE

Founded in 1851, this all-boys college located in the heart of Melbourne caters for students from Prep to Year 12 and offers boarding from Year 7. It has tennis courts, an indoor heated swimming pool, diving pool, squash courts, weight training room, gymnasium and basketball courts. Morrison St, Hawthorn, Victoria, (03) 9810 4321, scotch.vic.edu.au

TARA ANGLICAN SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

The largest privately owned telescope in Australia, built in collaboration with Oxford University, gives students unique access to an astronomy program. The school is from Prekindergarten to Year 12 and offers boarding from Year 5 to Year 12. Weekend outings are supervised and include visits to the beach, movies and shops. Masons Dr, North Parramatta, NSW, (02) 9630 6655, tara.nsw.edu.au

ST PAUL LUTHERAN SCHOOL

This co-ed primary school is guided by its strong Christian base. It connects the curriculum with life in the wider community and the world, teaching students about service to others. The latest technology is available to children, with students having access to an ipad from Year 3. 44 Audrey Ave, Blair Athol, SA, (08) 8260 2655, stpaulba.sa.edu.au

SCOTS ALL SAINTS COLLEGE

This is a co-ed Presbyterian school for pre-kinder to Year 12. Boarding is available from Year 6 and there is accommodation onsite for visiting parents. The sixty-hectare campus has a working cattle and sheep farm where students can experience hand-on learning. Boarders can keep their own horse on the grounds. 70 Eglinton Rd, Bathurst, NSW; 4173 O’connell Rd, White Rock, NSW, (02) 6331 3911, allsaints.nsw.edu.au

CONCORDIA LUTHERAN COLLEGE

A co-ed Christian school with a kindergarten, junior college, middle college and senior college allowing for an easy transition between different stages. Boarding is available from Years 7 to 12 with separate boarding houses for girls and boys but there are opportunities to mix socially in a common room and during activities. 154 Stephen St, Toowoomba, Qld, (07) 4688 2700, concordia.qld.edu.au

KINROSS WOLAROI

Located in picturesque Orange, this co-ed school is for pre-kinder to Year 12 and accepts boarders from Year 7. It runs a program that engages student with the local community and allows them to see how classroom learning is relevant in future careers. In Year 11, this program facilitates internship opportunities at local businesses. 59-67 Bathurst Rd, Orange, NSW, (02) 6392 0300, kws.nsw.edu.au

BUNBURY CATHEDRAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Set on 33 hectares of bushland close to the city of Bunbury, WA, this co-ed Anglican school offers learning for prep to Year 12. Boarding admissions start at Year 7 and there is a dedicated program to help students transition to a new home and school. Also, because it is co-ed, brothers and sisters can board together. 5 Allen Rd, Gelorup, WA, (08) 9722 6000, bcgs.wa.edu.au

NEGS

There is a real focus on sport at this regional school, which is co-ed in the junior school and all-girls from Year 7. The world-class equestrian centre is overseen by a former Olympian and the school has a talented athletes program. NEGS offers full-time, weekly and casual boarding. 13-83 Uralla Rd, Armidale, NSW, negs.nsw.edu.au

CANBERRA GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL

With an early learning centre, junior and senior school, this offers seamless transitions for students. Boarding is offered on a weekly or full-time basis with short-term boarding available for day pupils. In senior school, students are offered programs to help them grow into leaders of the future, such as Young Women as Changemakers. (02) 6202 6400, cggs.act.edu.au

OXLEY COLLEGE

Taking its name from explorer John Oxley, this school has about 400 pupils. It teaches a subject, created at the school, that shows pupils how to think critically and exposes them to the big ideas in ethics and philosophy. It offers co-ed learning for students from kinder to Year 12. 11-29 Railway Rd, Burradoo, NSW, (02) 4861 1366, oxley.nsw.edu.au

ST PETERS LUTHERAN COLLEGE

This Prep to Year 12 co-ed school has two distinct schools — St Peters Indooroopilly and St Peters Springfield. St Peters Indooroopilly offers boarding from Year 6 onwards and is set on 21 hectares. The Ironbark program offers an expansive outdoor education experience in Year 9. (07) 3377 6222, (07) 3470 3888, stpeters.qld.edu.au

COLUMBA CATHOLIC COLLEGE

Spread over two campuses, around 100 boarders reside at this co-ed school in Charters Towers, Queensland. It caters for primary and high school students with facilities that include a working farm and pool. (07) 4787 1744; (07) 4754 6333, columba.catholic.edu.au

For students who board, school becomes a second home and friends are like family members.

Ella Cornish, a student in the Ironbark program at St Peters Lutheran College in Queensland. FACING PAGE The entrance to the 600-hectare Ironbark centre where outdoor education, including farm skills, is taught.

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT NEGS is an all-girls school from Year 7 in Armidale, NSW; girls can bring their horses to NEGS to stay in the on-campus equestrian centre; pupils arrive at Columba Catholic College at Charters Towers in Queensland.