Suneden Specialist School vs Westminster School
Suneden Specialist School (Mitchell Park) and Westminster School (Marion) are both independent schools in Adelaide. Both are co-educational. Suneden Specialist School teaches Ungraded (special) and Westminster School teaches R-12. Only Westminster School takes boarders. Suneden Specialist School has 72 students and Westminster School has 1,401 (ACARA 2025). They are about 1.7 km apart in a straight line.
Photos: Westminster 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 | Suneden Specialist School | Westminster School |
|---|---|---|
| Suburb | Mitchell Park | Marion |
| Region | Adelaide - South | Adelaide - South |
| Sector | Independent | Independent |
| Students | Co-ed | Co-ed |
| Year levels | Ungraded (special) | R-12 |
| Religion | Non-denominational | Uniting Church |
| Boarding | No | Yes |
| Senior years | Ungraded special school (no SACE) | SACE |
| Facilities and sport (school site) | Gym, Library | Swimming pool, Oval, Indoor sports centre, Theatre / performing arts centre, Boarding, Early learning centre, Library, Science / STEM labs, Tennis courts, Australian rules football, Soccer, Netball, Cricket, Basketball, Swimming, Athletics, Tennis, Volleyball, Badminton |
| Distance apart | About 1.7 km in a straight line | |
Facts from ACARA (2025) and each school’s own website.
Which suits whom
- Families needing boarding: only Westminster School takes boarders.
- Families choosing by faith: Suneden Specialist School is Non-denominational; Westminster School is Uniting Church.
- Size: Westminster School is the larger school, with 1,329 more students.
- Smaller ratio: Suneden Specialist School has fewer students per teacher (6.0 against 10.5, ACARA 2025).
- Listed by Suneden Specialist School but not Westminster School: Gym.
- Listed by Westminster School but not Suneden Specialist School: Swimming pool, Oval, Indoor sports centre, Theatre / performing arts centre, Boarding, Early learning centre, Science / STEM labs, Tennis courts, Australian rules football, Soccer, Netball, Cricket, Basketball, Swimming, Athletics, Tennis, Volleyball and Badminton.
History
Suneden Specialist School
Suneden was the first special school to open in South Australia, in 1943. Elsa Burridge founded it at 27 to teach children who could not get into mainstream schools.
Source: suneden.sa.edu.au
Westminster School
Westminster was the Methodist Church’s answer to growing demand for places beyond Prince Alfred College. Planning began in 1957, 25 acres of vineyard were bought at Marion, and volunteers known as “the Men of Westminster” raised $320,000.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Questions parents ask
What is the difference between Suneden Specialist School and Westminster School?
Both are co-educational. Suneden Specialist School teaches Ungraded (special) and Westminster School teaches R-12. Only Westminster School takes boarders.
Is Suneden Specialist School or Westminster School co-ed?
Both are co-educational.
Which is bigger, Suneden Specialist School or Westminster School?
Westminster School is bigger: 1,401 students against 72 (ACARA 2025).
How many students per teacher do Suneden Specialist School and Westminster School have?
Suneden Specialist School has 6.0 students per teacher and Westminster School has 10.5 (ACARA My School 2025: total enrolments divided by full-time-equivalent teaching staff).
Which is older, Suneden Specialist School or Westminster School?
Suneden Specialist School is older. Suneden Specialist School was founded in 1943 and Westminster School in 1961.
Do Suneden Specialist School and Westminster School take boarders?
Only Westminster School takes boarders.
How far apart are Suneden Specialist School and Westminster School?
About 1.7 km in a straight line: Suneden Specialist School is in Mitchell Park and Westminster School is in Marion.
How do Suneden Specialist School and Westminster 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.
Related comparisons
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