A B Paterson College vs St Hilda's School
A B Paterson College (Arundel) and St Hilda's School (Southport) are both independent schools on the Gold Coast. A B Paterson College is co-educational; St Hilda's School is a girls’ school. Both teach P-12. Only St Hilda's School takes boarders. A B Paterson College has 1,652 students and St Hilda's School has 1,258 (ACARA 2025). They are about 6.6 km apart in a straight line.
Photos: A B Paterson College (school website) · St Hilda's School (school website)
See both schools’ full fees, ATAR results and cost to Year 12
Every year level’s fees from each school’s own schedule, the results each school publishes, and the total cost to Year 12, side by side.
Compare these schools in full →A$9.99 a year, cancel anytimeSecure payment by Stripe
Key numbers
Students, ICSEA, students per teacher and girls/boys: ACARA My School 2025 (students per teacher is total enrolments divided by full-time-equivalent teaching staff; it isn’t class size).
Fees and results
Side by side
| Fact | A B Paterson College | St Hilda's School |
|---|---|---|
| Suburb | Arundel | Southport |
| Region | Gold Coast - North | Southport |
| Sector | Independent | Independent |
| Students | Co-ed | Girls |
| Year levels | P-12 | P-12 |
| Religion | Non-denominational (Christian ethos) | Anglican |
| Boarding | No | Yes |
| Senior years | QCE | QCE |
| Facilities and sport (school site) | Gym, Theatre / performing arts centre, Early learning centre, Library, Australian rules football, Soccer, Netball, Cricket, Basketball, Swimming, Athletics, Tennis, Hockey, Volleyball, Water polo | Swimming pool, Gym, Oval, Indoor sports centre, Boarding, Early learning centre, Tennis courts, Australian rules football, Netball, Cricket, Basketball, Rowing, Swimming, Athletics, Tennis, Volleyball, Badminton |
| Distance apart | About 6.6 km in a straight line | |
Facts from ACARA (2025) and each school’s own website.
Which suits whom
- Families wanting a co-educational school: A B Paterson College is co-ed.
- Families wanting a single-sex school for a daughter: St Hilda's School takes girls only.
- Families needing boarding: only St Hilda's School takes boarders.
- Families choosing by faith: A B Paterson College is Non-denominational (Christian ethos); St Hilda's School is Anglican.
- Location: A B Paterson College is in Arundel (Gold Coast - North); St Hilda's School is in Southport (Southport).
- Size: A B Paterson College is the larger school, with 394 more students.
- Smaller ratio: St Hilda's School has fewer students per teacher (12.5 against 14.6, ACARA 2025).
- Listed by A B Paterson College but not St Hilda's School: Theatre / performing arts centre, Library, Soccer, Hockey and Water polo.
- Listed by St Hilda's School but not A B Paterson College: Swimming pool, Oval, Indoor sports centre, Boarding, Tennis courts, Rowing and Badminton.
History
A B Paterson College
A.B. Paterson College was founded in 1989 by a group of local business and community leaders who wanted an independent school grounded in strong values and an appreciation of Australian heritage. It is non-denominational with a Christian ethos and teaches Prep to Year 12 at Arundel.
Source: abpat.qld.edu.au
St Hilda's School
St Hilda’s began in 1912, when the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane bought an existing school at Southport known as Goy-te-Lea. It celebrated its centenary in 2012 and is a day and boarding school for girls from Pre-Prep to Year 12.
Source: sthildas.qld.edu.au
Questions parents ask
What is the difference between A B Paterson College and St Hilda's School?
A B Paterson College is co-educational; St Hilda's School is a girls’ school. Both teach P-12. Only St Hilda's School takes boarders.
Is A B Paterson College or St Hilda's School co-ed?
A B Paterson College is co-educational and St Hilda's School is a girls’ school.
Which is bigger, A B Paterson College or St Hilda's School?
A B Paterson College is bigger: 1,652 students against 1,258 (ACARA 2025).
How many students per teacher do A B Paterson College and St Hilda's School have?
A B Paterson College has 14.6 students per teacher and St Hilda's School has 12.5 (ACARA My School 2025: total enrolments divided by full-time-equivalent teaching staff).
Which is older, A B Paterson College or St Hilda's School?
St Hilda's School is older. A B Paterson College was founded in 1989 and St Hilda's School in 1912.
Do A B Paterson College and St Hilda's School take boarders?
Only St Hilda's School takes boarders.
How far apart are A B Paterson College and St Hilda's School?
About 6.6 km in a straight line: A B Paterson College is in Arundel and St Hilda's School is in Southport.
How do A B Paterson College and St Hilda's School fees compare?
Each school publishes its own fee schedule. Members see both schedules year by year, the results each school reports and the total cost to Year 12. Always confirm current fees with the school.
Related comparisons
- A B Paterson College vs Somerset College
- A B Paterson College vs The Southport School
- A B Paterson College vs Aquinas College
- Somerset College vs St Hilda's School
- St Hilda's School vs The Southport School
- Aquinas College vs St Hilda's School
School profiles
Get the full picture: fees, ATAR results and cost to Year 12
Every year level’s fees from each school’s own schedule, the results each school publishes, and the total cost to Year 12, side by side.
Compare these schools in full →A$9.99 a year, cancel anytimeSecure payment by Stripe
Source and date
Enrolment, ICSEA, students per teacher and girls/boys: ACARA My School 2025. Other facts: each school’s website, checked 21 October 2026. Distance is a straight line between the schools’ map points, not travel distance. Check details with the schools before deciding. Methodology