Scotch College vs St John's Grammar School
Scotch College (Torrens Park) and St John's Grammar School (Belair) are both independent schools in Adelaide. Both are co-educational. Both teach R-12. Only Scotch College takes boarders. Scotch College has 1,213 students and St John's Grammar School has 1,009 (ACARA 2025). They are about 2.2 km apart in a straight line.
Photos: Scotch College: Photo: Michael Coghlan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr · St John's Grammar School: 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 | Scotch College | St John's Grammar School |
|---|---|---|
| Suburb | Torrens Park | Belair |
| Region | Adelaide - South | Adelaide - South |
| Sector | Independent | Independent |
| Students | Co-ed | Co-ed |
| Year levels | R-12 | R-12 |
| Religion | Uniting Church | Anglican |
| Boarding | Yes | No |
| Senior years | SACE (IB not confirmed on school site) | SACE |
| Facilities and sport (school site) | 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 | Indoor sports centre, Theatre / performing arts centre, Early learning centre, Library, Science / STEM labs, Australian rules football, Soccer, Netball, Cricket, Basketball, Swimming, Athletics, Tennis, Hockey, Volleyball, Badminton |
| Distance apart | About 2.2 km in a straight line | |
Facts from ACARA (2025) and each school’s own website.
Which suits whom
- Families needing boarding: only Scotch College takes boarders.
- Families choosing by faith: Scotch College is Uniting Church; St John's Grammar School is Anglican.
- Size: Scotch College is the larger school, with 204 more students.
- Smaller ratio: Scotch College has fewer students per teacher (11.0 against 12.3, ACARA 2025).
- Listed by Scotch College but not St John's Grammar School: Gym, Oval, Music centre, Boarding and Rowing.
- Listed by St John's Grammar School but not Scotch College: Indoor sports centre and Science / STEM labs.
History
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
St John's Grammar School
St John’s Grammar School was founded in 1958 at Belair in the Adelaide Hills. Its Junior School sits beside Belair National Park and the Belair railway station.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Questions parents ask
What is the difference between Scotch College and St John's Grammar School?
Both are co-educational. Both teach R-12. Only Scotch College takes boarders.
Is Scotch College or St John's Grammar School co-ed?
Both are co-educational.
Which is bigger, Scotch College or St John's Grammar School?
Scotch College is bigger: 1,213 students against 1,009 (ACARA 2025).
How many students per teacher do Scotch College and St John's Grammar School have?
Scotch College has 11.0 students per teacher and St John's Grammar School has 12.3 (ACARA My School 2025: total enrolments divided by full-time-equivalent teaching staff).
Which is older, Scotch College or St John's Grammar School?
Scotch College is older. Scotch College was founded in 1919 and St John's Grammar School in 1958.
Do Scotch College and St John's Grammar School take boarders?
Only Scotch College takes boarders.
How far apart are Scotch College and St John's Grammar School?
About 2.2 km in a straight line: Scotch College is in Torrens Park and St John's Grammar School is in Belair.
How do Scotch College and St John's Grammar School 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