TL;DR

• Ultra-convenient inner-city campus (about a one-minute walk from Victoria Cross Metro in North Sydney) with a “cool to be kind, cool to be clever” culture.
• Strong academic and performing arts focus, with weekly cycle tests from Year 3 that make progress easy to track.
• Modern building with limited on-site green space; many activities run off-site.
• High demand popular school, but the “waitpool” (not necessarily first-come, first-served) means it’s still worth applying.

Snapshot

• Years: K–10 now; growing to Year 12 in time
• Co-ed: Yes
• Religion: Non-denominational
• Location: North Sydney (near Victoria Cross Metro; close to North Sydney trains & buses)
• Year 12 fees: ~A$43k
• Typical intake points: Not discussed on tour – check with Admissions especially as the school is newly opened
• Notable programs: School Musicals; extensive opportunities for international exchanges, holiday camps, and study trips
• Uniform: Flexible everyday wear (polos/hoodies/unisex) with formal Wednesdays for assembly; blazers with badges/ribbons recognising achievements

Overview

I visited in July 2025, starting with a walk through the campus before sitting down with the Principals.

My first impression was how bright and airy the whole place feels. The building is brand new and purpose-built, with both Primary and High School housed in the same vertical campus. Natural light pours through the windows, and the use of internal glass between classrooms gives a sense of openness rather than closed-in rooms.

Getting there couldn’t be easier. I took the Metro to Victoria Cross and it was literally about a one-minute walk to the entrance — you can see the school gates from the station exit. I’d feel comfortable with my own kids making this commute independently at the right age. For families coming from further afield, buses and North Sydney train station are also close by (around five minutes’ walk). Overall, it’s a very convenient location.

The entry felt secure, with fencing and an intercom system in place. The street itself is relatively quiet for North Sydney, lined with a mix of residential buildings and offices, plus a hotel and restaurant directly opposite.

Meeting Principals Dave and Dee Pitcairn set the tone for the school. They were warm, quick to laugh, and very clear about what Reddam stands for. Dave summed it up as a culture of academic excellence where “it’s cool to be kind and cool to be clever,” while Dee described it simply as “a happy school.” They also talked about a culture of inclusion and tolerance for individuality. 

Both bring deep experience, having previously led at Reddam Woollahra and before that at Reddam in South Africa, and their energy was infectious –  you could tell they’re genuinely passionate about this campus.

While waiting in reception to meet the Principals, I noticed how friendly and professional the staff were. They seemed relaxed and happy. And pleasantly they seemed to know every child’s name who came into the reception area – a small detail, but one that spoke volumes about the kind of community the school is building.

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Few things I learnt: 

• Junior school is setting up a weekly bush school program. To enable the younger students to have more outdoor time. 
• The school runs on an award system with a clear points framework to show points being allocated for different tasks e.g. helping with AV for an assembly 50 points, participating in a ballet recital 75 points, representing the school internationally 1000 points etc. 
• Saturday sport is not compulsory but any achievements that happen outside school are celebrated in assembly which I thought was a nice touch. 
• The school has only been open for 6 months and has about 500 pupils currently. 
• They do weekly tests from year 3 upwards with one subject tested per week so you have to get to school a bit earlier on a Friday to allow for that to happen (8.45am from memory). 

Facilities & Day-to-Day

• A modern purpose built  building with generous terraces and balconies but no natural on-site ovals/green fields. 
• Sport and some activities run off-site via buses.
• The school has drama studios, a multi-purpose sports gym, art and design studios, lots of music rooms and unusually a metaverse room for virtual reality learning!
• Saturday sport isn’t compulsory, and achievements outside school are celebrated in assembly. Wednesdays bring a sense of occasion: formal uniform and the school song at assembly.

Extracurricular Activities

Primary (included):
Singing • After-School Sports • Tennis Training • Ballet • Touch Football Competition • Primary Jazz Band • Science Club • Rock Band • Watersports • Basketball • Art Club • String Orchestra • Music Ensembles • Fencing

Primary (extra cost):
Drama • Taekwondo • Computer Coding • Cartooning • Robotics • Debating • Tap & Jazz Dancing • Musical Theatre • Chess • Film Making

Senior (included):
Jazz Band • Basketball • Rock Band • Netball • Football • Senior Choir • Concert Band • String Orchestra • Volleyball

Senior (extra cost):
Studio Art • Fencing Training • Debating • Chess • Table Tennis • Coding • Filmmaking • Theatre Sports

Programs can change; confirm the latest offerings and fees.

Who This Suits

• Families who want strong academic structure with frequent, clear feedback from the weekly tests.
• Families who want their kids to grow up in an environment where they are encouraged to be themselves, develop self confidence and achieve their best. 
• Kids who’ll enjoy getting involved in performing arts 
• Families who value location convenience and are comfortable with an urban campus.
• Students motivated by recognition frameworks (house points, awards).

Might not suit if… you’re seeking on-site playing fields and a lot of natural space, minimal testing, or mandatory school Saturday sport.

Enrolment Tips

1. Enrolments: the school uses a waitpool (offers based on criteria, not sign-up order). Factors include siblings, Reddam preschool alumni, and academic achievement or academic potential.
2. Effort matters: They indicated they place real weight on effort ratings in prior school reports, not just academic results.
3. Current mix: at the time of my visit, the team mentioned they would like to enrol more girls.

FAQs – Reddam House North Shore

Sources & Timestamp

• Source: EdScout school tour notes (July 2025 meeting with Principal Dave Pitcairn and Junior School Principal).
• Updated: August 2025.
• Note - EdScout was not paid or incentivised for this review. The views and observations are EdScout’s own. 

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