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See the Difference
Girls have been succeeding in single-sex schools for generations. Many of the brightest, most impactful women of our time were educated in girls’ schools. At St Dominic’s Priory College, our carefully developed curriculum offers a broad and challenging learning experience designed to equip girls to think deeply, act confidently, and lead with purpose.
Girls’ schools expand what feels possible, by cultivating safe risk-taking, and coaching in areas of leadership and ambition. Girls’ schools make space for students to see themselves as scientists, public servants, artists, engineers, advocates and more.
When we raise a girl’s voice, we raise the horizon for all.
Our Experience
Teachers at girls' schools are engaged, flexible, enthusiastiic, and encouraging.
For over a century, St Dominic’s Priory College has supported the learning and development of thousands of young women. As a member of the Alliance of Girls Schools Australasia, and connected globally through the International Coalition of Girls' Schools, we remain focused on creating opportunities that allow every girl to grow academically, personally and spiritually.
This experience shapes how we teach, how we lead and how we invest in each student.
Why a Girls’ School?
For her learning
Classrooms at girls' schools are less disruptive and students see a clearer correlation between effort and future opportunities.
In a single-sex classroom, girls are free to pursue academic excellence on their own terms.
Research from the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools shows that girls’ school graduates are:
- Six times more likely to consider majoring in mathematics, science and technology in higher education
- Three times more likely to pursue a career in engineering.
While women are still underrepresented in STEM fields globally, girls’ schools are helping close the gap. At St Dominic’s, our tailored curriculum supports strong engagement across the Arts, Humanities and STEM, laying early foundations for girls to enter and lead in traditionally male-dominated fields.
High expectations, personalised support and a culture that celebrates achievement, contributes to consistently strong academic outcomes.
For her personal growth
Wellbeing was noted as a strength at girls' schools, with fewer incidences of bullying; that students were less likely to feel like an outsider and that they belonged, making friends easily.
Adolescence can be a complex and formative time. A girls’ school provides a supportive environment where students are known, heard and valued.
At St Dominic’s, relationships matter. Our community intentionally fosters:
- Respect — for self, for others and for difference
- Resilience — the confidence to navigate challenge and grow through it
- Regulation — the ability to manage emotions and respond thoughtfully
- Relationships — strong connections built on empathy and trust
- Responsibility — ownership of choices and actions
- Resourcefulness — the capacity to adapt, problem-solve and persevere
In an environment designed specifically for girls, students are supported to develop both inner strength and social confidence. These are foundational in shaping not only who they are at school, but who they become beyond it.
For her leadership
Students at girls' schools found greater satisfaction and enjoyment in working hard towards a goal, preferring to persist until mastered.
Leadership is cultivated in every girl.
Students at St Dominic’s take on formal Student Leadership roles, while also building leadership capacity through sport, co-curricular programs and classroom collaboration.
Our students are encouraged to think bigger, aim higher and push further.
For her future
75% of students at girls' schools say that they have developed a sense of purpose and meaning, and that they have a clear sense of what gives meaning to their life, compared to 69% of coed students.
The benefits of girls’ education extend well beyond graduation.
Research shows that graduates of girls’ schools demonstrate high levels of civic engagement and strong participation in fields where women have historically been underrepresented. They are more likely to back themselves, pursue ambitious pathways and contribute confidently to their communities.
From their first day at St Dominic’s, our students are encouraged to aim high and think broadly about their future. They graduate ready to step forward with capability, integrity and purpose.
When girls are given space for success, the possibilities extend far beyond the classroom.
All quotes were sourced from The Positive Effects of the Girls’ School Environment: An Analysis of PISA Data · ICGS Research Library · research.girlsschools.org 2026, Girlsschools.org, 2023, <https://research.girlsschools.org/s/home/item/869>.
Link to 2023 report: https://www.girlsschools.org/research/quick-facts