The Armidale School

The Junior School follows the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme within the Australian curriculum. Older students follow the NSW curriculum, with elective courses in Years 9 and 10 and the Higher School Certificate in Years 11 and 12, including vocational options such as Primary Industries with a Certificate II in Agriculture. Membership of Round Square brings international conferences, service projects and exchanges with partner schools.

TAS has three schools on one campus. The Junior School covers Pre-Kindergarten to Year 5 and teaches the IB Primary Years Programme. The Middle School (Years 6 to 8) bridges the move to secondary study, and the Senior School (Years 9 to 12) offers electives in Years 9 and 10 and then the NSW Higher School Certificate, with academic and vocational pathways.

TAS describes its vision as excellence inspired by character and built through challenge, with the aim of developing graduates who are kind, capable and confident. Its community values are courage, commitment and connection, and it draws on Christian values from its Anglican foundation. Character education is pursued through academic effort, adventure, service and leadership as well as the classroom.

The 25-hectare campus has six renovated science laboratories, specialist spaces for music, art, agriculture, robotics and engineering, and the Michael Hoskins Creative Arts Centre with a 240-seat theatre, art and drama rooms and a recording studio. The Sports Centre includes a heated indoor 25-metre pool, a gymnasium with a basketball court and climbing wall, and a weights room. Outdoors there are five ovals, seven tennis courts, netball and basketball courts, a cross-country course and a dam, plus a Trade Training Centre, two more ovals and an agricultural precinct nearby.

A Medical Centre staffed by registered nurses works with local doctors, who visit boarders three times a week, and a full-time psychologist is on site. The Diverse Learning Department supports students who need help with literacy, numeracy or other learning needs, while extension classes challenge able students. Day students can buy lunch in the historic Dining Hall. Scholarships for academic, all-round, creative arts and regional boarding students, as well as needs-based bursaries, are available.

Boarding is offered from Year 6 to Year 12, either full-time or as casual boarding. About 240 boarders live in separate boys' and girls' houses: a Junior Boarding precinct for Years 6 and 7, three historic senior boys' houses and two modern girls' houses for Years 8 to 12. Rooms range from small dormitories to twin rooms, and Year 12 students have their own room. Each house has a Head of House and common areas, with supervised study and a recreation programme.

Every student from Year 3 plays a summer and a winter sport. Summer options include basketball, cricket, futsal, golf, mountain biking, rowing, tennis, touch football and volleyball; winter options include equestrian, football, hockey, netball, rifle shooting and rugby. Younger pupils start with learn-to-swim and gymnastics. Music groups range from junior choirs and strings to a concert band, jazz band and rock bands, and the school stages three productions a year. Outdoor education, cadets, service and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award are also offered.