Our History

Inner Sydney Montessori School (ISMS) has a rich history dating back to 1981. The school was founded by a group of parents in Sydney's inner city areas who formed the Inner City Montessori Association (ICMA). The first Children's House class was established in Annandale in the same year.

According to school records, the school quickly expanded to other inner city locations, including a church hall in Drummoyne (1982), our Lilyfield campus (1983), and later in the 1980s at Burwood and Hunters Hill, adding more Children's House classes. By 1988, ICMA had established its first Lower Primary (6 to 9 years) class followed by the first Upper Primary (9 to 12 years) class in 1990. 

In 1992, most of the existing classrooms were consolidated under one roof at Jane Street in Balmain, and the school was named Inner City Montessori School.

In 2001, the school moved to its current premises at 44 Smith Street, Balmain. The building was originally the Smith Street Superior Public School, erected in 1880. Evidence of the Smith Street Superior Public School remains in the Smith Street building, near the original internal staircase, in the form of a beautiful Roll of Honour board, honouring those from the school who served in the Great War (1914-1918) and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Balmain Teachers College was opened on the Smith Street site in 1946, to help meet the increasing post-war demand for teachers. In the early years of the College, some infant school classes remained on site. In 1977, the Smith Street building would become Sydney College of the Arts, whose name still features high on the Smith Street facade. The Lilyfield campus, which had been operational since the early days, continued to function with one Children's House classroom.

The school introduced a Parent Toddler Program (PTP) in 2004, catering to children from 18 months to three years of age. This program expanded in 2005 to include children from birth to 18 months (Nido) and expectant parents. 

In 2009, the school changed its name to Inner Sydney Montessori School (ISMS).

Today, ISMS has a vibrant community. Its largest campus in Balmain hosts the Parent and Child Program, one Transition to Children's House class for children from 26 months to three years, three Children's House classes for three to six year olds, and three Primary classes for children aged six to nine and nine to twelve. The Lilyfield campus continues to operate with one Children's House class and a Transition to Children's House class. The school offers a range of programs, including Drama, Art, Music, Spanish, and Physical Education, as well as Outside of Hours Care and Holiday Care.

It is wonderful to see how the school has grown and evolved over the years!