Prince Alfred College vs Scotch College
Prince Alfred College (Kent Town) and Scotch College (Torrens Park) are both independent schools in Adelaide. Prince Alfred College is a boys’ school; Scotch College is co-educational. Both teach R-12. Both take boarders. Prince Alfred College has 1,127 students and Scotch College has 1,213 (ACARA 2025). They are about 6.6 km apart in a straight line.
Photos: Prince Alfred College: Photo: Princealfredcollege, CC BY-SA 4.0, 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.
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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 | Prince Alfred College | Scotch College |
|---|---|---|
| Suburb | Kent Town | Torrens Park |
| Region | Adelaide - Central and Hills | Adelaide - South |
| Sector | Independent | Independent |
| Students | Boys | Co-ed |
| Year levels | R-12 | R-12 |
| Religion | Uniting Church | Uniting Church |
| Boarding | Yes | Yes |
| Senior years | SACE + IB Diploma | SACE (IB not confirmed on school site) |
| Facilities and sport (school site) | Swimming pool, Gym, Oval, Indoor sports centre, Theatre / performing arts centre, Boarding, Early learning centre, Library, Australian rules football, Soccer, 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 6.6 km in a straight line | |
Facts from ACARA (2025) and each school’s own website.
Which suits whom
- Families wanting a single-sex school for a son: Prince Alfred College takes boys only.
- Families wanting a co-educational school: Scotch College is co-ed.
- Students wanting the IB Diploma: Prince Alfred College lists it on its website; Scotch College does not confirm it.
- Location: Prince Alfred College is in Kent Town (Adelaide - Central and Hills); Scotch College is in Torrens Park (Adelaide - South).
- Smaller ratio: Prince Alfred College has fewer students per teacher (8.5 against 11.0, ACARA 2025).
- Listed by Prince Alfred College but not Scotch College: Swimming pool, Indoor sports centre and Water polo.
- Listed by Scotch College but not Prince Alfred College: Music centre and Netball.
History
Prince Alfred College
Prince Alfred College grew out of a Wesleyan Methodist resolve in 1867 to create a school “for the education of our sons”. Land was bought at Kent Town, and Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, laid the foundation stone on 5 November 1867 during his Australian tour, which gave the school its name.
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 Prince Alfred College and Scotch College?
Prince Alfred College is a boys’ school; Scotch College is co-educational. Both teach R-12. Both take boarders.
Is Prince Alfred College or Scotch College co-ed?
Prince Alfred College is a boys’ school and Scotch College is co-educational.
Which is bigger, Prince Alfred College or Scotch College?
Scotch College is bigger: 1,213 students against 1,127 (ACARA 2025).
How many students per teacher do Prince Alfred College and Scotch College have?
Prince Alfred College has 8.5 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, Prince Alfred College or Scotch College?
Prince Alfred College is older. Prince Alfred College was founded in 1867 and Scotch College in 1919.
Do Prince Alfred College and Scotch College take boarders?
Yes, both take boarders.
How far apart are Prince Alfred College and Scotch College?
About 6.6 km in a straight line: Prince Alfred College is in Kent Town and Scotch College is in Torrens Park.
How do Prince Alfred College 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