2025 sees St Andrew’s Cathedral School mark historic milestone.
From humble beginnings in a borrowed Pitt Street schoolroom with just 27 boys – 22 of them choristers – St Andrew’s Cathedral School has grown into an exciting, vibrant, coeducational learning community. Proudly situated in the heart of the city, the School now educates over 1,400 students across Kindergarten to Year 12. Across every era – with changing buildings, uniforms, curriculum and culture – what has endured is a commitment to deeply valuing each student and helping them grow into hope-filled young people who embrace their gifts.
A school with a song in its heart
Founded in 1885 by Bishop Alfred Barry, a scholar and visionary with a passion for education, St Andrew’s Cathedral School was established to support the Cathedral’s rich choral tradition. As the only Anglican choir school in Australia, its origins follow the thousand-year tradition of English song schools, where education and music are intertwined.
Following its founding, the School’s location moved around for decades, making homes in church buildings and offices across the city. This included a period in The Worker newspaper building during World War II, sharing floors with nurses and soldiers. Despite these challenges, the community endured, and in 1976, the School moved into its permanent home in St Andrew’s House, directly beside the Cathedral – a symbolic and physical reminder that St Andrew’s Cathedral School has always been, and still is, a city school with soul.
A community that reflects the city it serves
With students drawn from over 230 suburbs, St Andrew’s Cathedral School has become one of the most diverse independent schools in the country. The School became fully coeducational in 2008, reflecting a belief that a coeducational school helps students develop empathy, mutual respect and real-world readiness.
That same conviction underpinned the founding of Gawura School in 2007 – our Indigenous ‘school within a school’, providing culturally enriching, academically rigorous education for First Nations students in Kindergarten to Year 6. Now recognised nationally for excellence, Gawura School continues to shape the wider School community through truth-telling, reconciliation and shared learning.
“We want First Nations students at our School to flourish – enjoying the same opportunities as any other student in our School community.”
“We have high expectations of our First Nations students, whose literacy and numeracy results are regularly above the national average. We want First Nations students at our School to flourish – enjoying the same opportunities as any other student in our School community,” said Mr John Ralph, Head of Gawura School.
Centred in tradition, ready for the future
The theme for this milestone year, Legacy of Light, captures the dual nature of St Andrew’s Cathedral School: a place grounded in history yet driven by vision. Legacy honours the resilience, creativity and character of generations of students and staff who have shaped the School. Light speaks to the School’s motto, Via Crucis Via Lucis (the way of the cross is the way of light), and the hope-filled education it seeks to offer every student.
“We see further today because we stand on the shoulders of giants and we honour the staff, students, parents and leaders who have gone before us.”
“We see further today because we stand on the shoulders of giants and we honour the staff, students, parents and leaders who have gone before us – they are the ones who built the stepping stones,” said Dr Julie McGonigle at the School’s 140 Year Celebration Commencement Assembly in March , echoing Isaac Newton and the medieval roots of Cathedral Schools.
This is a fitting reminder of the legacy that has enabled generations to flourish.
Today, St Andrew’s Cathedral School is known for its dynamic blend of tradition and innovation. Students can still hear the choir rehearse beside the Cathedral, but they also explore design thinking in their personal projects, inquire into global issues through the International Baccalaureate curriculum and hike the Southern Highlands and well beyond as part of the School’s signature Outdoor Education programme.
Looking forward with faith and courage
Today, under the leadership of Dr Julie McGonigle, St Andrew’s Cathedral School continues to embrace change without losing sight of its purpose. It remains a school where faith and learning are interwoven, where academic excellence is pursued, alongside character formation, and where every student is known, valued and equipped to flourish.
In her assembly address, Dr McGonigle described St Andrew’s Cathedral School not as a towering Goliath but as David – faithful, agile and brave. It’s a powerful metaphor that captures both the School’s humility and its unwavering sense of purpose.
“For 140 years, this has been a school that requires faith. It’s not perfect – that’s reserved for Christ alone – but it has been called by God, to shepherd young people – with skilful hands and integrity of heart,” said Dr McGonigle.
Across the School’s long and rich history, we have seen graduates go on to serve in government, medicine, law, music and the arts, science, education and more. Old Andreans include aviator Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, composer John Antill, Antarctic explorer Charles Laseron and award-winning violinist, Niki Vasilakis. In addition, there are countless others whose lives reflect the School’s ethos of service and excellence.
We are proud of our place in the city, our story and our students. We are proud to be a school where music and maths, prayer and philosophy, friendship and fitness all find their place. We are proud to be a school that says: you matter, because you are made in God’s image – and you are here for a purpose.
As we give thanks for 140 years, we step forward with courage, hope and a renewed commitment to carrying light into the next generation.
