Welcome and thank you for your interest in Waverley College, a Catholic school for boys from Years 5 – 12. We are proud of being a school that is unique in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs for its genuinely inclusive community, authentic Catholic education, breadth of opportunities and innovative approach to educating boys.
It is an exciting time to be at Waverley College. Our learning philosophy focuses on individual growth, critical thinking, collaboration and innovation which is underpinned by our wellbeing goals of developing boys who are connected, resilient and supportive of each other. Our ongoing investment in school infrastructure is coming to fruition with state-of-the-art teaching facilities across a wide curriculum offering.
"This is a school with an important mission at its core: the development of innovative learning and wellbeing programs designed to assist boys to flourish across their spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional, cultural and physical dimensions"
"Waverley’s commitment is to develop critical thinkers who are ready to engage with their world."
Over its 118-year history, Waverley College has educated many eminent Australians who are represented across all industries. Our students come from diverse backgrounds which provides them with a rich learning environment and real-world experience to learn from each other and to value and appreciate difference. Each year approximately 80% of our graduates go on to attend university, with the remaining 20% taking up apprenticeships and other training or employment opportunities.
Our experienced and motivated teachers have a firm focus on academic achievement and our professional learning focuses on improving pedagogical practice. We have both learning support and gifted and talented (enrichment) programs that support individual advancement and extension. The College has strong literacy and numeracy programs that are explicitly taught across all learning areas. Progress at an individual and class level is closely tracked.
"We make learning active, we harness their interests and use technology to support different learning styles."
"It’s beyond the ATAR result, because it’s their outlook on life, each other and themselves that makes a difference."
In 2024, the College celebrates 121 years of educating young men. The Senior Campus provides its 1,100 students with a comprehensive library, science and specialist areas, gymnasium, tennis courts, cricket nets, an Olympic-size swimming pool and a Performing Arts Centre to cater for all aspects of Music and Drama. The Junior campus houses 290 students in Years 5 and 6. Facilities include a Learning Hub, auditorium, specialist art room and sport facilities. The College’s home sports field and pavilion is located a few minutes’ walk away at Queens Park.
Student wellbeing at Waverley focuses on both mental and physical health and ensuring every student can experience success. The College provides students with proactive and positive behaviour support, designed to encourage independent learning, self-regulation and positive peer and adult relationships. Individual student care is managed by a team comprising the Director of Student Wellbeing, Heads of House, dedicated Mentor Group teachers, Learning Support and school Psychologists.
"Social connectedness and good interpersonal relationships are considered protective factors that have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing."
"In Cadets, we recognise that leadership comes in many forms, and each and every cadet has the chance to shine, to lead by example and to serve with integrity."
The College offers the internationally-recognised Duke of Edinburgh Awards Program to students from Year 9. By creating opportunities for students to develop skills, get physically active, give service and experience adventure, the award can play a critical role in their development.
The Waverley College Cadet Unit has provided fun and vigorous outdoor education, character development and practical skills to our students for over 100 years. Australian legend, Governor-General His Excellency the Honourable Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Ret’d), former Chief of the Australian Defence Force and 2011 Australian of the Year, began his training here. Participation is compulsory in Year 8 and voluntary thereafter, with older students progressively offered greater leadership development opportunities.
Waverley’s Advocacy and Social Justice Program encourages even our youngest students to participate in outreach activities and to develop a lifetime commitment to activism for the world’s marginalised. This is a school with an important mission at its heart: to transform the minds and hearts of young Australians to build a more just, tolerant and inclusive community by educating to make a positive difference in both local and global contexts.
"We aim to give our students experiences that enhance their spiritual wellbeing and increase their awareness of the importance of helping others."
"Drama extends students’ ability to collaborate, to innovate, to express themselves confidently and to liberate their potential academically."
Opportunities for creativity are forged daily. Students are encouraged to take ownership of their own learning, be open to new ideas and challenges, and be willing to take risks with their learning. The College offers more than 40 HSC subjects including English Extension 2 (Creative Writing) and Extension History (Theory and Philosophy of History). There is also an exciting range of Technology and Applied Studies subjects, the most popular at HSC level being Industrial Technology/Multimedia and Construction.
Co-curricular activities are a vital part of our Wellbeing program at the College. We want students to develop lifelong habits that include physical activity which stimulates positive energy within. Physical activity is vital for health, discipline and focus; sport is compulsory for all students from Years 5 to 12. The commitment includes two training sessions per week and a weekend sporting fixture. Graded competition allows every student to represent his school in sport according to his ability, to learn how to win and lose gracefully, and learn from being part of a team dynamic.
"There’s so much passion to do well – not just for sport but academically – there’s a real drive to get the students in strong positions ... ultimately the goal is to turn these boys into fine men."
"Regardless of skill levels, it’s all about positive reinforcement, making new friends, not focusing on themselves but on the participation."
A wide range of Co-curricular Sport and Culture options include: AFL, Athletics, Cricket, Cycling, Cross Country, Diving, Judo, Rugby, Swimming, Tennis, Touch Football, Water Polo, Weights and Fitness. Culture options include: an extensive music tuition and performance program, Debating, Public Speaking, Social Justice and school musical and drama productions.
Because learning is a lifelong process, we aim to develop our students as critical thinkers who are ready to engage with their world: a learner at Waverley College is a problem solver, a communicator, a collaborator, an innovator, globally aware, media savvy and information literate.
"We’re really keen not just to accelerate our students but to provide enrichment along the way."
"It is wonderful to watch the students grow and develop in musical confidence."
Our artists and performers are celebrated in equal measure with our sportsmen and academics. The Junior School has been a frequent finalist and winner in the statewide Wakakirri story dance competition and also boasts the award-winning Cantores boys’ choir. The Senior College stages musical and major drama productions, each produced to a professional standard. Participation by students in the musical life of the College is strongly encouraged, not least for the beneficial effect on other academic outcomes.
The Junior School caters for approximately 290 boys in Years 5 and 6 on a separate campus in Henrietta Street, five minutes’ walk from the Senior School. We focus on giving students the best possible preparation for a seamless transition to high school. Coordinating with the Senior School’s cycle, students are able to access specialist teachers for language, music, physical education and computing. They have access to all Senior Campus facilities including the pool and Performing Arts Centre as well as taking part in comprehensive Saturday sports competitions.
"A switch in Year 5 offers new faces, new teachers and new learning opportunities that can keep your son engaged and challenged."
"All of our teachers are patient carers who persistently seek to see us achieve to the best of our abilities."
Catholic beliefs remain at the centre of our school life, and we are fortunate to have a strong College Board, enthusiastic parent bodies and a dedicated Old Boys’ Union. Together as a community, we strive to support our students as they liberate their potential and contend with the challenges of the 21st century. If you are seeking a school which can offer your child educational excellence with the broadest possible opportunities to explore and grow, we would like to partner with you in that endeavour.
For more information on what we offer our students, please read through our ‘Conversations’. If you are interested in joining the Waverley Community with your son(s), you can find out more about the enrolment procedure here or book a tour.
You can also view our online Prospectus.
Thank you for your interest in our school, we hope to be able to welcome you in person soon,
Graham Leddie
PRINCIPAL
We would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation who are the traditional Custodians of the land on which Waverley College is located. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We are committed to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual connections to the land, waters, seas and sky and their rich contribution to society.
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