Principal's Welcome

Pembroke is a truly independent, proudly co-educational school, supported by an inclusive community of care. Our students learn and thrive by engaging in a holistic education that honours respectful relationships.

Pembroke has a proud heritage reaching back over a century, when young women were educated at Girton Girls’ School and young men at King’s College. More than 50 years ago, these two unique schools combined to form the contemporary Pembroke School, a school that fosters equality of opportunity within a co-educational context, making us stronger together.

Our students share the mantle of leadership, with girls and young women, boys and young men all taking their place at the table. They lead together, their voices are equally heard and opportunities are shared equitably.

Pembroke is a proudly non-selective school where all students are seen and valued as individuals. Our students comprise a community of learners who develop skills and attributes to support them both now and into the future. This includes academic expertise, perseverance, self-discipline, resourcefulness, collaboration, independence, eloquence, grit, spark, creative and critical thinking, adaptation to change and engagement with technology.

Our expert staff nurture these personalised journeys, from our youngest learners in the ELC all the way through to Year 12. They ensure every student is supported to develop their intellectual, social, physical, creative, emotional and spiritual nature.

Towards achieving student fulfilment and understanding, we offer an extensive array of academic programs including SACE and IB, co-curricular opportunities, and tailored wellbeing and pastoral programs in each of the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools, as well as in Boarding which we regard as our fourth Sub-School.

Our Year 12 academic results are consistently outstanding, particularly compared with state, national and international (IB) averages.

The vibe of our School is one of independence, individualism and equality, reflecting the School's Vision where we are free to be ourselves and find our place as we shape a hopeful future. This is evidenced right across our passionately engaged community of students, staff, parents and old scholars, the latter of whom provide a treasured social and professional network that lasts a lifetime.

Our exceptional Junior, Middle and Senior School campuses and Boarding Houses are located on the traditional land of the Kaurna people in Adelaide’s picturesque eastern suburbs, and our incredible Environmental Education Centre – the home base of our extensive Outdoor Education Program – is situated on the traditional land of the Ngarrindjeri people at Old Watulunga on the Finniss River.

I warmly welcome you to experience Pembroke for yourself – a school where all young people are celebrated and known as individuals, enriched by the breadth and depth of opportunities our scale allows us to offer, and who graduate ready to take their place in the wider world.

Our Open Days allow you to experience our School, and I personally look forward to welcoming you and your family to Pembroke at these events in the future.

Our wonderful Admissions Team is a great first point of contact, and I encourage you to reach out if you would like to tour the School, obtain further information or discuss the possibility of admission.

Mark Staker
Principal

Mark Staker commenced as Pembroke Principal in July 2022. He is a highly experienced and accomplished educational leader with undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in English, History, Communications and Educational Leadership.

Before arriving at Pembroke, Mark served as Senior Deputy Principal at Wenona School in North Sydney where he worked closely with the Principal and School Board of Governors on all matters of school leadership and management, with particular emphasis on leading the innovative staff culture of learning.

Throughout Mark’s extensive career, he has held leadership roles across diverse areas such as Student Wellbeing, Professional Learning, and Teaching and Learning. He is thoroughly committed to developing a school culture that values relationships and fosters personal excellence through continual improvement within a respectful and caring community.

Mark is passionate about all things Pembroke and is looking forward to further advancing the School with a community co-designed Strategic Plan to elevate Pembroke’s position as a world-class provider of quality, inclusive co-education.