Pembroke School vs Scotch College
Pembroke School (Kensington Park) and Scotch College (Torrens Park) are both independent schools in Adelaide. Both are co-educational. Both teach R-12. Both take boarders. Pembroke School has 1,672 students and Scotch College has 1,213 (ACARA 2025). They are about 7.6 km apart in a straight line.
Photos: Pembroke School: Photo: Shazdor (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons · Scotch College: Photo: Michael Coghlan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr
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.
Compare these schools in full →A$9.99 a year, cancel anytimeSecure payment by Stripe
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 | Scotch College |
|---|---|---|
| Suburb | Kensington Park | Torrens Park |
| Region | Adelaide - Central and Hills | Adelaide - South |
| Sector | Independent | Independent |
| Students | Co-ed | Co-ed |
| Year levels | R-12 | R-12 |
| Religion | Non-denominational | Uniting Church |
| Boarding | Yes | Yes |
| Senior years | SACE + IB Diploma (IB World School) | SACE (IB not confirmed on school site) |
| 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, Theatre / performing arts centre, Music centre, Boarding, Early learning centre, Library, Australian rules football, Soccer, Netball, Cricket, Basketball, Rowing, Swimming, Athletics, Tennis, Hockey, Volleyball, Badminton |
| Distance apart | About 7.6 km in a straight line | |
Facts from ACARA (2025) and each school’s own website.
Which suits whom
- Students wanting the IB Diploma: Pembroke School lists it on its website; Scotch College does not confirm it.
- Families choosing by faith: Pembroke School is Non-denominational; Scotch College is Uniting Church.
- Location: Pembroke School is in Kensington Park (Adelaide - Central and Hills); Scotch College is in Torrens Park (Adelaide - South).
- Size: Pembroke School is the larger school, with 459 more students.
- Smaller ratio: Pembroke School has fewer students per teacher (9.5 against 11.0, ACARA 2025).
- Listed by Pembroke School but not Scotch College: Swimming pool and Water polo.
- Listed by Scotch College but not Pembroke School: Gym, Theatre / performing arts centre, Music centre and Library.
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
Scotch College
Scotch College grew out of Kyre College, a boys’ school that David Henry Hollidge founded at Malvern in 1902. After years of fundraising for a Presbyterian boys’ school, led by the Rev. John Seymour, Kyre became Scotch College and opened under that name in 1919.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Questions parents ask
What is the difference between Pembroke School and Scotch College?
Both are co-educational. Both teach R-12. Both take boarders.
Is Pembroke School or Scotch College co-ed?
Both are co-educational.
Which is bigger, Pembroke School or Scotch College?
Pembroke School is bigger: 1,672 students against 1,213 (ACARA 2025).
How many students per teacher do Pembroke School and Scotch College have?
Pembroke School has 9.5 students per teacher and Scotch College has 11.0 (ACARA My School 2025: total enrolments divided by full-time-equivalent teaching staff).
Which is older, Pembroke School or Scotch College?
Scotch College is older. Pembroke School was founded in 1974 and Scotch College in 1919.
Do Pembroke School and Scotch College take boarders?
Yes, both take boarders.
How far apart are Pembroke School and Scotch College?
About 7.6 km in a straight line: Pembroke School is in Kensington Park and Scotch College is in Torrens Park.
How do Pembroke School and Scotch 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