Pembroke School

Pembroke School is a co-educational, denominationally neutral private school with boarding facilities and is located in a very well established and beautiful part of Adelaide, only seven minutes from the city centre. The school prepares its graduates for both local and international school qualifications, offering both the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma.

1,700 students attend Pembroke School, but the school has a very personal atmosphere as it consists of three different campuses for primary, middle and high school. The school attaches great importance to the holistic care of each individual student. Students are supported in their academic and personal development, including social skills, by the school’s support staff.

The choice of subjects is very wide and the classes are well equipped with modern facilities. There are opportunities to do practical metal or woodwork and even work with 3D printers. The school has its own theatre and an outstanding Film Making Program where students can shoot their own documentaries, music videos and short feature films. These films are often submitted to local, national and international competitions. Films by Pembroke students have already won prizes at major festivals.

A main focus of the Pembroke School is languages. French, German, Spanish and Mandarin (Chinese) are taught. For other languages there is a very good language school in Adelaide. Courses attended there are recognized by the Pembroke School as regular lessons.

An extensive music programme enables all students, from absolute beginners to talented musicians, to take instrumental lessons during their school years. There is also the opportunity to play in one of the many orchestra, choirs, rock bands or in the brass band.

The range of leisure activities on offer is incredibly wide. Students go to all the “festivals” in Adelaide such as the Arts Festival, the Spring Festival and many more. There are even small marathons for social purposes. You can go surfing at the nearest beach and in December go on a week-long surf camp in Victoria near Melbourne.

Other activities on offer include horse riding, motor boating, skiing, wake boarding and sailing. You can also take dancing lessons, go to vintage markets and do shopping and beach picnics.

Pembroke School can accommodate 120 boarders, 60 boys and 60 girls. Boarding students in 11th and 12th grade get their own room. In the lower classes the rooms are occupied by two students, with the composition changing every three months.

The Australian boarders come mainly from rural and remote areas of the country. All boarding students have the opportunity to spend their school holidays with Pembroke families or their friends and their families in Adelaide. Visits to outback farms or other Australian states are sometimes possible.

At weekends, students can go to the 17-hectare school farm, which is located on the Finniss River, 75 kilometres south of Adelaide between the sea, several lakes and a river. The school has a number of its own sailing boats located there. The area is ideal for mountain biking, kayaking and other outdoor education sports such as abseiling, bushwalking, rock climbing and surfing.

At this school, each student is encouraged according to their abilities. Walking through the school and classrooms during a personal visit, all students seemed very happy and engaged. Many worked in motivated groups while outside the koalas were sitting in the trees.