Pembroke School vs Rostrevor College
Pembroke School (Kensington Park) is a independent school and Rostrevor College (Woodforde) is a catholic school. Pembroke School is co-educational; Rostrevor College is a boys’ school. Both teach R-12. Both take boarders. Pembroke School has 1,672 students and Rostrevor College has 985 (ACARA 2025). They are about 3.8 km apart in a straight line.
Photos: Pembroke School: Photo: Shazdor (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons · Rostrevor College (school website)
See both schools’ full fees, ATAR results and cost to Year 12
Every year level’s fees from each school’s own schedule, the results each school publishes, and the total cost to Year 12, side by side.
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Key numbers
Students, ICSEA, students per teacher and girls/boys: ACARA My School 2025 (students per teacher is total enrolments divided by full-time-equivalent teaching staff; it isn’t class size).
Fees and results
Side by side
| Fact | Pembroke School | Rostrevor College |
|---|---|---|
| Suburb | Kensington Park | Woodforde |
| Region | Adelaide - Central and Hills | Adelaide - Central and Hills |
| Sector | Independent | Catholic |
| Students | Co-ed | Boys |
| Year levels | R-12 | R-12 |
| Religion | Non-denominational | Catholic (Edmund Rice) |
| Boarding | Yes | Yes |
| Senior years | SACE + IB Diploma (IB World School) | SACE |
| Facilities and sport (school site) | Swimming pool, Oval, Boarding, Early learning centre, Australian rules football, Soccer, Netball, Cricket, Basketball, Rowing, Swimming, Athletics, Tennis, Hockey, Volleyball, Badminton, Water polo | Gym, Oval, Boarding, Tennis courts, Australian rules football, Soccer, Cricket, Basketball, Swimming, Athletics, Tennis, Volleyball, Badminton, Water polo |
| Distance apart | About 3.8 km in a straight line | |
Facts from ACARA (2025) and each school’s own website.
Which suits whom
- Families wanting a co-educational school: Pembroke School is co-ed.
- Families wanting a single-sex school for a son: Rostrevor College takes boys only.
- Students wanting the IB Diploma: Pembroke School lists it on its website; Rostrevor College does not confirm it.
- Families choosing by faith: Pembroke School is Non-denominational; Rostrevor College is Catholic (Edmund Rice).
- Size: Pembroke School is the larger school, with 687 more students.
- Smaller ratio: Pembroke School has fewer students per teacher (9.5 against 13.6, ACARA 2025).
- Listed by Pembroke School but not Rostrevor College: Swimming pool, Early learning centre, Netball, Rowing and Hockey.
- Listed by Rostrevor College but not Pembroke School: Gym and Tennis courts.
History
Pembroke School
Pembroke was formed in January 1974 by bringing together two neighbouring single-sex schools in Kensington Park. Girton Girls’ School dated from 1915, and King’s College, a boys’ school, was founded in 1923 as a joint venture of the Congregational Church and the Baptist Union of South Australia.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Rostrevor College
Rostrevor College was founded by the Christian Brothers in 1923 to take the overflow of boarders from Christian Brothers College in Wakefield Street. Under its first headmaster, Brother Purton, the first students arrived on 6 May 1923 and the boarders lived on the top floor of Rostrevor House, a mansion built in 1858.
Source: rostrevor.sa.edu.au
Questions parents ask
What is the difference between Pembroke School and Rostrevor College?
Pembroke School is co-educational; Rostrevor College is a boys’ school. Both teach R-12. Both take boarders.
Is Pembroke School or Rostrevor College co-ed?
Pembroke School is co-educational and Rostrevor College is a boys’ school.
Which is bigger, Pembroke School or Rostrevor College?
Pembroke School is bigger: 1,672 students against 985 (ACARA 2025).
How many students per teacher do Pembroke School and Rostrevor College have?
Pembroke School has 9.5 students per teacher and Rostrevor College has 13.6 (ACARA My School 2025: total enrolments divided by full-time-equivalent teaching staff).
Which is older, Pembroke School or Rostrevor College?
Rostrevor College is older. Pembroke School was founded in 1974 and Rostrevor College in 1923.
Do Pembroke School and Rostrevor College take boarders?
Yes, both take boarders.
How far apart are Pembroke School and Rostrevor College?
About 3.8 km in a straight line: Pembroke School is in Kensington Park and Rostrevor College is in Woodforde.
How do Pembroke School and Rostrevor College fees compare?
Each school publishes its own fee schedule. Members see both schedules year by year, the results each school reports and the total cost to Year 12. Always confirm current fees with the school.
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School profiles
Get the full picture: fees, ATAR results and cost to Year 12
Every year level’s fees from each school’s own schedule, the results each school publishes, and the total cost to Year 12, side by side.
Compare these schools in full →A$9.99 a year, cancel anytimeSecure payment by Stripe
Source and date
Enrolment, ICSEA, students per teacher and girls/boys: ACARA My School 2025. Other facts: each school’s website, checked 21 October 2026. Distance is a straight line between the schools’ map points, not travel distance. Check details with the schools before deciding. Methodology