Cranbrook School is an independent Anglican day and boarding school, with multiple campuses in Sydney's eastern suburbs, within New South Wales, Australia for students from pre-school to year 12. The school was founded in 1918 with the Rev'd Frederick Thomas Perkins as the first headmaster. Cranbrook has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently caters for approximately 1,680 students from early learning (4 years old) to Year 12 (18 years old), including 80 boarders from Years 7 to 12. Cranbrook is affiliated with the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA), the Australian Boarding Schools' Association (ABSA), and the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. It is a founding member of the Combined Associated Schools (CAS) and the Independent Sporting Association (ISA).
History On 1 December 1917, the former private home and vice-regal residence, Cranbrook, was bought at auction by an agent for the businessman Samuel Hordern. He was the main financial benefactor of a group of businessmen and churchmen aiming to establish an Anglican boys' school in the Eastern Suburbs.
From December 1917 to June 1918, a provisional committee of twelve, comprising the founders and six additional men, prepared for the opening of the new school. They held meetings, ensured building renovations were completed, drew up the first articles of association and appointed the first Headmaster, Rev'd F. T. Perkins.
On 6 June 1918, the provisional committee reformed itself as the first council of Cranbrook School and organised the official opening of the school for 22 July 1918.
In July 2022, parents of students were informed that the whole senior school would be fully co-ed by 2029 with girls in Years 7 and 11 being enrolled from 2026, and other years being slowly integrated year by year. This integration method was based on Barker College's co-ed integration in 2020. In March 2024, the school was featured in a Four Corners investigation into allegations of a toxic workplace and sexist student culture, led by some former teachers. The report also raised questions around Government funding for Cranbrook School and its level of accountability for this.
In 2026, as a part of the King's Birthday Honours List, the Head of the Junior School, Michele Marquet, was awarded an Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to primary education.
Headmasters OrdinalHeadmasterTenureFrederick Perkins1918–1932Iven Mackay1933–1939Brian Hone1940–1951Gethyn Hewan1951–1963Mark Bishop 1963–1985Bruce Carter 1985–2000Jeremy Madin2001–2012Nicholas Sampson2012–2024 (Term 2)InterimMichele Marquet 2024 (Term 3)–2025 (Term1)InterimStuart Meade2025 (Term 2)Dr Anne Johnstone2025 (Term 3)–Present
Executive & School Council +School ExecutiveOfficeNameTenureHead of SchoolDr Anne Johnstone2025–PresentDeputy Head of School/Head of Senior SchoolRobert "Bob" Meakinc.2014–PresentHead of Junior SchoolMichele Marquet Unknown–PresentChief Operating OfficerDavid Porter2026–PresentDeputy Head of Senior School, AcademicsIvan Moore2025–PresentDeputy Head of Senior School, Student EngagementKate Barbat2025–PresentDeputy Head of Senior School, Operations and Co-CurricularDr Andrew Hirst2025–PresentDeputy Head of Senior School, WellbeingPamela Elliott2025–PresentDirector of Student WellbeingAngelique Sandersc.2022–PresentDeputy Head of Junior School, Student WellbeingGrant AndrewsUnknown–PresentDirector of Human ResourcesAngela Needham2025–PresentDirector of StrategyBrett Rolfec.2022–PresentDirector of CoeducationDaisy Turnbull2022–PresentDirector of Communications, Community, and EngagementHayley Blumenthal2025–PresentHead of Risk and Compliance, Training and SupportJoanne Lee2025–PresentHead of Staff Engagement and Special ProjectsAmanda Smith2025–PresentPre-schools CoordinatorAbagail McFarlane2025–PresentDean of Students, Year 7 and 8Chris Aynsley2025–PresentDean of Students, Year 9 and 10Matthew Banes2025–PresentDean of Students, Year 11 and 12Elizabeth Fletcher2025–Present +De facto Members of the School Executive, Heads of Department, Heads of Co-CurricularOfficeNameTenureExecutive Assistant to Head of Senior School and Deputy HeadmasterStephanie Honeyc.2014–PresentStudent Services OfficerShane Darshana2025–PresentHead of the Year 12 CollegeStephen Henriques2025–PresentHead of the Year 11 CollegeThomas McDonnell/Dean Papandreas2025–Present, 2026–PresentDirector of ServiceAaron NolanActing 2023–2025, 2025–PresentDirector of Curriculum & Academic OperationsAdrian HarrisonUnknown–PresentIB CoordinatorNicholas Hanrahan2021–PresentHead of EnglishKate Broadley2026–PresentAssistant Head of EnglishCaroline UsaszUnknown–PresentHead of MathematicsRyan SadlerUnknown–PresentHead of Social SciencesVictoria Hounslow2025–PresentHead of MusicPhillip Beverley2017–PresentAssistant Head of MusicKate Stewart2026–PresentHead of DramaAndrew Benson2023–PresentHead of ScienceRukevwe Bateren2025–PresentHead of SportMatthew Grice2022–PresentHead of LanguagesFabian Navarro2024–PresentHead of Visual ArtsGeorgia Neesonc.2023–PresentHead of Debating and Public SpeakingJames Clifton-Bligh2026–PresentHead of Model United NationsMurat Korkut2026–PresentHonours Curriculum CoordinatorRhys Briscoe-Hough2025–Present +School CouncilOfficeNameTenureDirector of the School Council, and President of the School CouncilGeoff LovellDirector: 2023–Present, President: 2023–PresentDirector of the School Council, and Vice President of the School CouncilAmelia Hill SalterDirector: 2023–Present, Vice President: 2023–PresentDirector of the School Council, and Vice President of the School CouncilJames ShellerDirector: 2023–Present, Vice President: 2023–PresentDirector of the School CouncilMatthew Aroney2025–PresentDirector of the School Council, and Member and Former Chair of the Cranbrook FoundationVanessa Cardonnel2023–PresentDirector of the School Council, and President of the Old Cranbrookians' AssociationMartyn Cayzer2023–PresentDirector of the School Council and Chair of the Building and Development CommitteeAri Droga2023–PresentDirector of the School CouncilClaire Fern2023–PresentDirector of the School Council, and President of the Cranbrook School Parents' AssociationAngelique Haritos2025–PresentDirector of the School CouncilKatia Khvatova2023–PresentDirector of the School Council, and Chair of the Finance and Risk CommitteeJP Moorehead2023–PresentDirector of the School Council, and Member and Chair of the Cranbrook FoundationSamantha Roberts2023–PresentDirector of the School CouncilJulie Soon2023–PresentDirector of the School CouncilRev'd Anthony Weiss7 May 2024–Present
Campuses Cranbrook School is situated over five campuses; the Senior School (Years 7 to 12) are located on the main campus in suburban Bellevue Hill, while the Junior School, for students from Kindergarten to Year 6, is located in nearby Rose Bay. There are 2 pre-schools that Cranbrook offer: St Mark's in Darling Point and St Michael's in Vaucluse. The final campus is Wolgan Valley. This campus is a residential education site with an emphasis on experiential learning.
School Operation House System Cranbrook has a system of houses across the campuses. This system was created in 1931 as a way to organise students for a variety of sporting and intellectual competitions. It continues to this day as a way for students to socialise better between different year groups, where senior students would be acting as leaders to junior students within the House. In the Senior School there are a total of 14 houses. There are 12 day-houses, with about 80-150 students in each, and also two boarding houses with around 40 students each. The students attend a pastoral period every day where they engage with mentors and other peers in their house. +Senior School HousesHouseColourDay or Boarding HouseHousemasterTenureChelmsfordDay HouseFiona Burgess2023–PresentCutlerDay HouseMichael Condiec.2018–PresentDavidsonDay HouseSimon Pardeyc.2018–PresentHarveyDay HouseDean Michniewiczc.2022–PresentHewanDay HouseDean Papandreas2022–PresentHoneDay HouseDane Drivas2023–PresentNorthcottDay HouseChelsea Slender2025–PresentPerkinsDay HouseHannah Bamford2024–PresentRawsonBoarding HouseEwan Uncles2025–PresentStreetBoarding HouseBradley GillUnknown–PresentStricklandDay HouseNick Tsoukatos2025–PresentThomasDay HouseKelly O'Shea2024–PresentWakehurstDay HouseRobert Messiter2014–PresentWoodwardDay HouseJosie Ableson2026–Present +Junior School HousesHouseColourDangar HouseHordern HouseIngram HouseMoyes HousePotter HouseWarry House
Student Leadership Structure
Pre-2025
Senior Prefects: Head Boy and Second Head Boy 12 Heads of Houses (14 since 2024) 3-6 Prefects per House (including the Head of House and Senior Prefects)
2025–2026
Senior Prefects: Head Boy, Second Head Boy, Academic Prefect, Community Prefect, and Co-Curricular Prefect 14 Heads of House 5-6 Prefects per House, divided into (including the Head of House and Senior Prefects)
2027–Present
Senior Prefects: Head Boy, Head Girl, Second Head Boy, Second Head Girl, Academic Prefect, Community Prefect, and Co-Curricular Prefect 28 Heads of Houses (one male and one female) 5-6 Prefects per House (including the Head of House and Senior Prefects)
+Senior Student Leadership since 2020YearHead BoySecond Head BoyAcademic PrefectCommunity PrefectCo-Curricular PrefectHead GirlSecond Head Girl2020Caspar BUnknownN/A2021Asher LUnknown2022John CHugo W2023James PDan O'R2024Theo WAngus M2025Huon GMatthew DFelix MSam CNoah TN/A2026Max SCharlie HJames MSlade KEddy C2027Remy MMax AMakenzie DEdwin AEdward J-O'BNia DRosie P2028TBATBATBATBATBATBATBA
Curriculum Starting from Pre-Schools, the school uses the IB framework to teach the NSW curriculum through to Year 12. Cranbrook School offers the IB Diploma Programme as an alternative pathway to the HSC credential. It uses the International Baccalaureate MYP program in years 7-10 as well as the PYP program in the Junior School.
Sport Cranbrook School is a member of the Combined Associated Schools (CAS).
CAS premierships Cranbrook School has won the following CAS premierships.
Athletics (7) – 1930, 1934, 1936, 1943, 1951, 1952, 1965 Basketball – 2007 Chess - 2001 Cricket (8) – 1935, 1989, 1998, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Cross Country (9) – 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023 Debating - 1995, 1999 (joint), 2001 (joint), 2013, 2018 (joint), 2024 (joint), 2025 (joint) Rugby (13) – 1930, 1931, 1933, 1943, 1960, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1994, 2014 Swimming (8) – 1942, 1944, 1945, 1949, 1950, 1955, 1974, 1976
Notable alumni
Alumni of Cranbrook School are known as "Old Cranbrookians" and may elect to join the school's alumni association, the Old Cranbrookians' Association (OCA).
Controversies and criticisms Antisemitic incidents In 2022, there were reports that three students were the targets of antisemitic behaviour by fellow students. Later, video footage of a student doing a Nazi salute emerged. In September 2022, the school announced an internal review to look into it. Cranbrook has said it had built an improved and centralised incident behaviour register and strengthened its alliances with organisations including the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies.
Mass resignation from the School Board In November 2022, 10 of the 11 members of Cranbrook School's council announced their resignation due to a deteriorating relationship between headmaster and school council president, as well as disagreement over plans to admit girls to the century-old boys’ school from 2026. Subsequently, on 25 November, former School Presidents, Helen Nugent AC and Roger Massy-Greene AM, formed an independent Nominations Committee to make recommendations to the current Council on nominations for new members of Council. 13 new Councillors were subsequently appointed.