Penrhos College

This notion of ‘extraordinary’ means helping support each girl to become the best she can be, as she grows in character and uses her unique gifts, talents and passions to their full potential. Our ethos is grounded in the belief that each Penrhos student will graduate equipped to make a meaningful contribution in the world, at whatever level and in whatever particular way she can. The verb ‘to inspire’ means to ‘breathe life into’ – Penrhos is committed to providing an exceptionally stimulating learning environment and an array of exciting opportunities to ensure each student is inspired to achieve her personal goals and to realise her ambition. As one of the top independent girls’ schools in Perth, the Penrhos educational philosophy acknowledges student phases of development, across which we provide a balanced and diverse learning experience. A Penrhos girl is independent and resilient. She is the girl of today, well-prepared and equipped for the challenges of tomorrow. Penrhos College is an all-girls’ school, in the faith of the Uniting Church. We are committed to educating our students for respectful and responsible participation in an increasingly diverse and fast-evolving global community. Equally, we are committed to the promotion of justice and equity in learning, working and social environments that are affirming and inclusive, where each individual feels safe and valued. Girls of all religious, cultural and gender identities are warmly welcomed here. Our community respects and honours diversity, including (but not limited to) age, ethnicity, family structure, identity, race, culture, physical ability and religion. The Penrhos learning experience is designed to empower each girl to be true to herself, kind to others and bold in the pursuit of her dreams. We are proud that our college brings together people of diverse backgrounds in a vibrant community that supports each student on her individual journey; together, we strive for the highest and become the best we can be. Penrhos students consistently achieve excellent academic results, and our record speaks for itself. Our inspirational teaching staff, academic opportunities and outstanding facilities combine to create an environment in which every girl is encouraged to shine. We are consistently recognised for our comprehensive and integrated STEM program, as well as for growing leadership and engagement in STEM matters across the education sector. The Penrhos College co-curricular program is a comprehensive range of sporting, academic, cultural and performance arts activities that align with the Penrhos Whole Person Paradigm (Mind, Heart Body and Spirit) as well as the Round Square IDEALS. Penrhos is proud to be a member of Round Square, an internationally diverse network of 200 like-minded schools in 50 countries on six continents. Round Square schools connect and collaborate to offer world-class programmes and experiences, developing global competence, character and confidence in students. With more than 60 co-curricular programs and activities hosted at our Perth all-girls school campus or offsite in conjunction with some of WA’s leading sporting institutions, every student is encouraged to thrive in a way that suits their individual strengths and interests. In this fast-changing and increasingly complex world, Penrhos is proud to nurture positive rebels and change makers. We prepare girls with the confidence they need to stand up for themselves and for others — to collaborate and problem-solve, to innovate and drive positive change. Research shows girls benefit from learning environments without traditional gender stereotypes, in which they develop the ‘mental toughness’ they need to achieve their personal best. Findings which are regularly released by the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia (AGSA) show girls feel more able to compete without social pressure from boys, to perform at higher levels in sport and physical education, and to become generally more confident and assertive. Girls-only education leads to higher academic achievement, greater diversity of subject choice and enhanced career progression. When education is tailored to their learning needs and preferences, there is no doubt that girls are empowered to reach their full potential. Today’s young people are growing up through economic turbulence, pandemic and rapid technological advancement. The challenges they face are real, complex and thought-provoking. It’s not surprising our students want to learn to problem-solve in the context of impactful real-world projects — they want the skills they need to become effective critical thinkers, together with the mental toughness to calculate risks and act decisively. The concept of ‘mental toughness’ is explained by psychometrics consultancy AQR International as a mindset that is closely related to character, resilience, grit and learned optimism; it strongly correlates with performance, wellbeing, positive behaviours, aspirations and employability. Like a growth mindset, mental toughness can be nurtured, learned and developed over time — at Penrhos, it’s integral to our learning environment.