130 years of teaching, one founding idea

Wesley College was founded in 1894 on the belief that a good education builds character as deliberately as it builds knowledge. That idea still runs the school today.

Our Mission

Knowledge, character, service

We exist to educate the whole student — academically rigorous, personally disciplined, and genuinely engaged with the world beyond the school gates. Every student who leaves Wesley should be able to think clearly, work hard, and treat people well.

We measure success not only in results, but in the habits students carry into adulthood: curiosity, resilience, and a sense of responsibility to others.

Students in a Wesley College classroom

Our Values

What we ask of every student — and ourselves

D

Discipline

Clear routines, met deadlines, and the daily habits that make ambitious work possible.

C

Curiosity

We reward students who ask the next question, not just the ones who answer the first one correctly.

I

Integrity

Honesty in small things — homework, sport, friendships — builds the trust that matters in big ones.

S

Service

Every senior student contributes to the school or wider community through a structured service program.

Our History

From a single classroom to a full campus

A condensed timeline of how Wesley College became what it is today.

1894

Founded by Reverend Thomas Wesley

Opened with 23 students in a single classroom, teaching mathematics, scripture, and classics.

1921

The Main Quadrangle is built

The school outgrows its original building; the Quadrangle remains the heart of campus today.

1958

Boarding house opens

Wesley begins accepting boarding students from across the region for the first time.

1985

Co-education introduced

Wesley admits its first cohort of female students, reaching full co-education within five years.

2012

Sciences & Technology Centre opens

A purpose-built facility for the sciences, design technology, and computing.

2026

130th year of teaching

Wesley today educates over 1,100 students across Years 7 to 12.

Leadership

From the Principal's office

Portrait of Margaret Ashworth, Principal of Wesley College

Margaret Ashworth — Principal since 2019

Margaret joined Wesley after fifteen years in school leadership, including a decade as Head of Senior School at a leading independent school. She holds a Master of Education and has taught English and History throughout her career.

"Good schools don't chase trends. They get the fundamentals — teaching, care, and standards — right, year after year, and trust that to be enough." — Margaret Ashworth, Principal

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