Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne

Nurtured within a Christian environment, girls are encouraged to develop a respect and concern for others, to acquire leadership skills and self-discipline and to have a sensitive, informed understanding of other cultures. We passionately believe that for our students, every opportunity should be explored, any goal is achievable and that every girl has her own excellence just waiting to be found. We look forward to working with your daughter to encourage, inspire and help her realise her own personal excellence as she prepares to take her place as a modern woman in tomorrow’s world.

Welcome to Presbyterian Ladies’ College, located on expansive grounds in the suburb of Burwood 14km east of the CBD, in vibrant, modern Melbourne. Since its establishment as a quality Christian college for young women in 1875, PLC remains undoubtedly one of Australia’s leading Independent schools for girls. The balance of respected traditions and our rich heritage, together with a future-focused dynamic education, prepares our remarkable graduates with strong foundations and purposeful vision for good influence.

PLC girls have strength and dignity. They can smile at the days to come because they are well-prepared to face life’s challenges intelligently and with resilience. Their grace, warmth, character and positive energy provides them with an optimism and joy that is distinctive.  Our girls are encouraged to be:

Leaders and citizens who will not withhold good when it is in their power to act creative, collaborative and critical thinkers who will value add with relevant contribution honourable young women who have the skills of social agility and emotional connectedness to be authentic, courageous and capable young women with the knowledge of Christian values and understandings from which to draw inner strength For more than 143 years, PLC has played a significant role in the education of young women. Our alumnae are respected nationally and internationally as women of substance. At PLC we understand that choosing the right school for your daughter is a significant decision. We are certain that as you read the pages of our website or prospectus and make further enquiries, you will come to discover the exceptional quality that PLC offers. As a parent and educator, We understand the discernment and love that directs us to choose well for our girls.

PLC girls develop confidence in their individual potential as they learn to navigate the knowledge economies and skill sets necessary for the 21st century. Our staff are deeply devoted to quality teaching and learning. Our students are committed to achieving excellence and support one another with genuine friendship. PLC is not a selective entry school but our girls nevertheless achieve outstanding results with the significant majority consistently placed in the top 10% of all students within Australia.

We are a large school of approximately 1,600 students from ELC to Year 12. Our boarding and campus facilities are state of the art. We provide co-curricular, sporting, music and cultural excellence. We deliver both the VCE and the International Baccalaureate and provide a comprehensive, rich and engaging curriculum. Our girls have choice, opportunities and networks that enable them to find their pathways. We provide an environment of positive education for wellbeing. Specialist educators and mentors support our girls, to pursue their interests, realise their strengths and stretch themselves to develop their potential. PLC is firm in its Christian foundations and produces compassionate young women with a deep sense of conviction. We encourage authenticity, integrity and the confidence to contribute. We are inclusive. We foster respect and humility. We are proud of the happy and nurturing environment of our school. We are committed to our values.

Thank you for your interest in Presbyterian Ladies’ College. We look forward to educating your daughter, sharing with you her formative school years and nurturing her strengths. The enduring friendships and sense of belonging that exist at the heart of our school will be her experience. The right school considerably shapes the special woman your daughter will become. PLC’s Early Learning Centre (ELC) provides an exceptional educational experience of depth and quality for pre-school girls and boys from six months old to school age, and for older children, innovative kindergarten programs.

Set in the beautiful grounds of the PLC campus, the ELC is colourful and spacious, with creative design features that aligns with a child's view of the world. Our unique, enquiry-based approach embraces the many languages of childhood and encourages children to become enthusiastic participants and communicators, actively contributing to their own learning. Children’s natural curiosity is nurtured and stimulated in an environment that owes much to the Reggio Emilia approach to learning. The children are encouraged to make discoveries, develop theories, imagine, explore and interpret. Our indoor and outdoor programs promote a love of learning, independence, co-operation and confidence. Each day is filled with opportunities for sharing, laughing, running, singing, dancing, collaborating, experimenting, creating and expressing ideas.

The staff at our ELC are highly qualified in the early childhood field. They include experienced kindergarten teachers and other early childhood professionals specifically selected for their ability to develop warm, sensitive relationships with the children in their care. Access to Junior School facilities, resources and specialist staff complement the programs for the three-year-old Kindergarten and four-year-old Pre-Prep children. Music, library, computer literacy, the physical education program, swimming, guest performers and excursions further enhance the learning experience of our pre-schoolers.

It is a dynamic and vibrant learning community with a rich educational environment that helps establish strong foundations for learning and life beyond the classroom. In the Junior School we believe the best education evolves within a context of rich relationships, where students feel safe and secure and have a strong sense of belonging. It is an environment where each girl's contribution is valued and where she can develop a sustained enthusiasm for learning.

We encourage and enable girls to gain a strong understanding of their world. We support the girls as they progress on their journey to Senior School, by focusing on developing the whole person physically, academically, socially and spiritually.  Friendships are important at all ages and we foster opportunities for the girls to work collaboratively and build inclusive relationships. The Christian values of love, kindness, care and respect underpin all that we do at PLC.

PLC is an outstanding learning community for students and teachers alike. We seek to develop in our students a love of learning that will enrich their whole lives and prepare them to be active citizens of the future. In a rapidly changing, information-rich world, students need to acquire the capacity to be discerning learners: to absorb, question, challenge and reflect upon what they learn, and to appreciate the differences between information, knowledge and wisdom. We therefore encourage students to develop productive habits of mind so that they can think independently, be courageous in their consideration of new ideas and be capable of reaching beyond the set curriculum to the world outside the classroom.

Our academic results speak for themselves. In 2017, of the 172 girls who completed the VCE or International Baccalaureate, 66% achieved an ATAR of 90+, placing them in the top 10% of the country; 45% achieved an ATAR of 95+; and 10% achieved an ATAR of 99+, placing them in the top 1% of the country.  Our experience has shown that PLC’s outstanding results are achieved through the pursuit of a broad and balanced program of curricular and co-curricular activities. Students are encouraged and expected to pursue their personal interests and to develop a range of abilities. Students who achieve the highest results are invariably enthusiastically involved in activities beyond their academic program – sport, music, dance, theatre, craft, community service and outdoor pursuits. With the support and encouragement of staff, peers and parents, PLC girls flourish academically and personally in a learning community that is diverse, challenging, celebratory and life-affirming.