For families across regional Australia, choosing the right boarding school is about more than academic results, it is about finding a place where their daughters feel supported, inspired and, above all, truly at home.
At St Scholastica’s College in Glebe, affectionately known as Schols, that balance between opportunity and care is not only understood but also intentionally nurtured.
Nestled in leafy Glebe Point, just minutes from Sydney’s CBD, the College offers a peaceful and nurturing environment where students thrive academically while building independence and confidence.
For the Lawson family, that sense of belonging was apparent from the beginning. Parents Julie and Simon Lawson describe their first interactions with the College as both reassuring and genuine.
“It was the school’s strong sense of community, values and instant support,” they said. “From the moment we walked through the gates we could see that students were encouraged to challenge themselves while being supported in a nurturing environment.”
Sisters Emily, Clare and Abbie Lawson. Photo credit: St Scholastica’s College.
For the Lawson family, whose three daughters, Emily, Clare and Abbie, have all embarked on the boarding journey, this sense of home has been important and comforting.
“We were extremely reassured by the boarding community,” Julie said. “From the welcoming atmosphere to the strong pastoral care, we felt confident our daughters would be safe, supported and able to thrive.”
By its very nature, boarding requires young people to step into independence much earlier than many of their peers. For Emily, who began at age 12, the move from the regional New South Wales town of Bourke to Sydney, more than ten hours away, was both daunting and exciting.
“Starting boarding school as the first of my sisters was both exciting and overwhelming,” she said. “But from the orientation sleepover, I felt welcomed. The supervisors and the girls made it easier to settle in.
“Boarding school taught me independence from a young age and gave me the confidence to step outside my comfort zone and adapt to new and often challenging environments.”
Boarding school assists students to develop valuable life skills, to learn to manage time and to take on responsibility. Julie and Simon have seen this growth firsthand. “Since commencing at boarding school, we have seen all three of our girls grow significantly in independence, maturity and confidence.
“Being away from home and at such a young age they have had to adapt to a more structed routine. Our girls have become more self-reliant and resilient. They’ve learned to organise themselves, make decisions and step outside their comfort zones.”
It is precisely this growth, which is quiet and less visible than academic results, yet equally significant, that defines the boarding experience at Schols. Students are given the space to discover who they are, while supported by a network that ensures they never feel alone.
Friendship is an important aspect of the boarding experience. Living, studying and growing alongside peers creates bonds that extend far beyond the classroom. These relationships are often described as lifelong, built on shared challenges, late-night conversations, sisterhood and the familiarity of daily life together.
For the Lawson sisters, boarding has also strengthened their own family connection. Abbie is now in Year 9 and said having her sisters with her had been really special. “They’ve supported me through homesickness and reminded me I’m never alone,” she said.
Yet boarding is not without its challenges. Homesickness, particularly in the early days, is a reality for many students. Abbie recalled watching her parents drive away for the first time.
“It was really hard,” she said. “All I wanted was to go home with them. But over time, the girls became like a second family. Now I couldn’t imagine my life if I hadn’t come to Schols.”
This balance, between the familiarity of community and the excitement of a city, is central to the Schols experience. It allows students to grow in confidence while remaining grounded in values.
Those values are embedded in the College’s Benedictine tradition, expressed through its motto: PAX (peace). Respect, compassion and community responsibility are not simply taught but they are lived. They influence and shape the culture of the school, influencing how students interact, learn and lead.
Boarder Abbie Lawson is now in Year 9. Photo credit: St Scholastica’s College.
Diversity also plays a key role in shaping the Schols experience. Coming from regional Australia, metropolitan areas and overseas, boarders represent diverse nationalities who bring a wide range of gifts and learning experiences. This exposes students to different perspectives and ways of thinking, giving them a broader outlook on life.
Julie and Simon said the boarding experience had broadened their girls’ horizons and encouraged them to think beyond what they might have otherwise considered possible.
Ultimately, what sets St Scholastica’s College apart is not any single program or opportunity but the way each of these elements come together: care, community, education and independence. They create an environment where students feel both supported and inspired.
And for those who walk through its gates, often with a mix of nerves and hope, it becomes something more enduring. It is a place where they discover not only their potential but their place in the world.
For more information about boarding at St Scholastica’s College, click here.
St Scholastica’s College continues in the tradition of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan and belongs to the community of 10 schools across Australia called Good Samaritan Education.
