About the school
Fort Street Public School enjoys a unique geographical location at the top of Observatory Hill, benefiting from the natural and historical features of Millers Point and the Rocks, along with a multitude of learning opportunities within Sydney’s CBD. This co-educational school of 300 students, K to 6, serves a culturally diverse and educationally aware community. Established in 1842 as one of Australia’s first public schools, Fort Street Public School has a strong tradition of pursuing academic excellence and nurturing critical, creative communicators.
Academic Programs
The school offers high-interest programs in the arts, sport, public speaking, chess, debating, and a rich STEM curriculum. Students benefit from an innovative and diverse music curriculum from Kindergarten through to Year 6. The staff focus on providing a supportive learning environment that encourages personal and collective responsibility, positive behaviour, and student recognition through a classroom merit system and regular celebrations of success.
Student Welfare and Leadership
A thoughtful student welfare policy actively recognises positive behaviour through meaningful teacher and peer feedback. The highly valued Student Leadership Team plays a vital role in mentoring and boosting student wellbeing across the school. Fort Street Public School is dedicated to fostering a safe, happy, and stimulating educational environment where all members feel known, valued, and successful.
Community Engagement
The school maintains strong partnerships with Sydney's business and cultural centres and engages proactively with its multicultural community. This commitment enhances the school's ability to support high levels of learning and enriches the experiences of students and families alike.
Mission
Fort Street Public School's vision centres on fostering a diverse, inclusive, and high-expectation environment where students become confident, resilient learners, developing deep understanding, critical thinking, and independence through rich, challenging experiences that value individual needs, interests, and cultural backgrounds to prepare them for success in a global community.
Location & Catchment Area
- Fort Street Public School
Nearby or Connected Schools
- A Observatory Hill Environmental Education Centre 49 m
- B Conservatorium High School 913 m
- C Nicholson Street Public School 1.2 km
- D Plunkett Street Public School 1.8 km
- E Sydney Distance Education High School 1.9 km
- F Balmain Public School 2.0 km
- G Ultimo Public School 2.1 km
- H Sydney Secondary College Blackwattle Bay Campus 2.2 km
- I Crown Street Public School 2.6 km
- J Darlinghurst Public School 2.6 km
- K Birchgrove Public School 2.7 km
- L North Sydney Public School 2.8 km
Profile (2025)
- Total enrolments
- 284 (136 girls, 148 boys)
- Enrolments (FTE) What does this mean?
- 284
- ICSEA What does this mean?
- 1094 (percentile 83)
- SEA quarters What does this mean?
- 8% / 19% / 34% / 39%
- FOEI What does this mean?
- 26
- LBOTE What does this mean?
- 84%
- Teaching staff (FTE) What does this mean?
- 18.1
- Non-teaching staff (FTE) What does this mean?
- 2.5
Enrolments by grade (2025)
| Grade | Headcount |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten | 40 |
| Year 1 | 47 |
| Year 2 | 48 |
| Year 3 | 36 |
| Year 4 | 37 |
| Year 5 | 41 |
| Year 6 | 35 |
| Total | 284 |
Year by year
Attendance data for 2020 is unavailable — NSW schools were disrupted by COVID-19 and the Department of Education did not publish figures for that year.
| Year | Enrolments | Girls | Boys | Attendance % | ICSEA | Teaching staff (FTE) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 284 | 136 | 148 | - | 1094 | 18.1 |
| 2024 | 292 | 141 | 151 | 93.3 | 1104 | 18.4 |
| 2023 | 280 | 142 | 138 | 94 | 1103 | 17.7 |
| 2022 | 248 | 116 | 132 | 89.1 | 1105 | 15.1 |
| 2021 | 242 | 113 | 129 | 94.6 | 1101 | 14.5 |
| 2020 | 215 | 101 | 114 | - | 1112 | 13.6 |
| 2019 | 215 | 97 | 118 | 92.3 | 1118 | 13.2 |
| 2018 | 220 | 101 | 119 | 94.2 | 1106 | 12.6 |
| 2017 | 181 | 81 | 100 | 94.1 | 1118 | 11.2 |
| 2016 | 177 | 82 | 95 | 95 | 1121 | 10.5 |
| 2015 | 157 | 78 | 79 | 94.1 | 1118 | 10 |
| 2014 | 151 | 69 | 82 | 92 | 1118 | 9.8 |
| 2013 | 123 | 57 | 66 | 93.1 | 1108 | 6.4 |
| 2012 | 99 | 49 | 50 | 94.9 | 1139 | 5.4 |
| 2011 | 88 | 48 | 40 | 93.3 | 1096 | 5.4 |
| 2010 | 86 | 43 | 43 | - | 1096 | 5.1 |
| 2009 | 78 | 38 | 40 | - | 1095 | 5.3 |
| 2008 | 91 | 46 | 45 | - | 1095 | 4.8 |
Attendance data for 2020 is unavailable — NSW schools were disrupted by COVID-19 and the Department of Education did not publish figures for that year.