It has been quite a year for the students, staff and families at Haileybury Rendall School (HRS) and the good news keeps coming!
We are very proud to have just been named the Northern Territory’s top-ranked private school in News Corp’s latest 2026 national school rankings.
The rigorous and comprehensive analysis by News Corp of all private schools in the NT takes into account Year 12 academic results, Years 7 and 9 NAPLAN results, student-teacher ratios, attendance rates, and the range of facilities and subjects for students.
This latest recognition follows HRS recently being named Regional School of the Year at the 2026 Australian Education Awards.
“We are very, very proud to be recognised as the leading private school in the Northern Territory in this latest survey,” says HRS Principal, Andrew McGregor.
“This recognition belongs to our whole school community – our students who work incredibly hard, the brilliant teachers and staff who support them, and the HRS families who are committed to our school and to their children’s future.”
Now in its ninth year, HRS has cemented its place in the Northern Territory as a school that pursues and celebrates academic excellence. It continues to achieve the leading NAPLAN results in the NT in Primary School and last year, over 40% of HRS students achieved an ATAR of 90 or above. The NT Dux was also an HRS student.
However, Andrew says academic results are only one part of what defines a successful school.
“At HRS, we want every student to find the pathway that is right for them and to have opportunities to discover their strengths,
develop confidence and become actively involved in their school and wider community,” he says.
That philosophy is reflected across the School’s academic, wellbeing and co-curricular programs.
HRS currently offers almost 100 activities outside the classroom, alongside a comprehensive wellbeing framework and a strong focus on building connections with families and the broader community.
Located on Larrakia Country, HRS embraces students from ELC to Year 12 who come from regional, rural, remote and international backgrounds, with almost one in five identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“Each student is seen, heard and respected, and we want every student to find the pathway that is right for them,” says Andrew.
“While academic achievement is an integral part of our school, our community is much more than that. We create opportunities for them to discover their strengths, develop confidence and curiosity, and to be actively involved in the school community and the Darwin community more widely.
“Our students are thoughtful, well-rounded young people who can explore sport, the performing arts, outdoor education, entrepreneurship and participate in social justice initiatives.
“We want HRS to be a school where students are challenged and supported, where teachers are passionate about their craft and where families feel genuinely connected to the education of their children.”
