Ridley College

Founded in 1889, Ridley College is dedicated to the cultivation of human flourishing by developing the threefold nature of the child: moral, intellectual, and physical. The school’s mission is to teach the habits of living well, balancing academic excellence with care, compassion, and wellbeing. It promotes a global perspective and a culture of service, aiming to inspire students to transform the world.

Ridley College is an IB Continuum school, offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme across its academic stages. The curriculum is divided into Lower School (JK–Grade 6), Middle School (Grades 7–8), and Upper School (Grades 9–12/PG), providing a balanced education of the mind, body, and spirit. The academic offering is supported by university counselling and a variety of elective courses.

Graduates are prepared for post-secondary success, with many receiving significant university scholarships. The school emphasizes the development of the 'whole child'—moral, intellectual, and physical—to foster flourishing lives and global leadership. Alumni are recognized through programmes such as the Athletic Lives of Distinction.

The school provides a 'Circle of Care' model for student support, which includes university counselling, health and wellness services, and dedicated learning support. The school is a designated Visible Wellbeing foundational school, focusing on the health and wellbeing of the whole child.

Ridley College is an independent day and boarding school for students from Junior Kindergarten (JK) to Grade 12. The admissions process is holistic, evaluating academic records, character, and potential contributions to the school community; applications for boarding and day students in Lower and Middle School are reviewed on a rolling basis, while Upper School day applications have a fixed deadline of February 19th. International applicants are expected to enrol as boarders, and all day students must reside within a 50 km radius of the campus. The school provides over $3.5 million annually in scholarships and bursaries to eligible families.

The school operates on a semester-based academic year, with specific application deadlines for Upper School day students in February and decision notifications in March. Summer programmes, including day camps for ages 4 to 16 and various sports camps, run in one-week sessions throughout the summer months.

The 90-acre campus features world-class facilities, including the Evans Athletic Centre, which houses a three-court hardwood gymnasium, a squash complex, a yoga and fitness studio, a purpose-built fitness centre, and a rowing training room. The campus also includes the Iggulden Building (home to the Mitchell Learning Commons), the Paterson Performance Hall, a grand dining hall, and the Tiger Arena, which features an NHL-sized ice surface. The Schmon Health Centre provides on-campus medical support.

The school offers a wide range of co-curricular activities, including competitive sports, arts, and leadership programmes. Students participate in House Teams, which engage in spirited challenges and games throughout the year, and have access to global engagement and exchange opportunities. Athletics are a core component of the student experience, with programmes in rowing, hockey, basketball, figure skating, and squash.