About Us
Welcome from our Leaders
Leaders’ Welcome
From Chris Riemann (Principal) and Racha H. Makki (Deputy Principal)
Welcome to Playford College
Playford College is an impressive coeducational Foundation to Year 12 school in Elizabeth, which has grown on average by over 100 students each year since its opening in 2017. Families are attracted to our College by our education about, and celebration of, the Islamic faith and our strong teaching and learning program focussing on the Australian Curriculum and South Australian Certificate of Education. Students appreciate the kind-hearted and dedicated staff who strive to nurture the emotional, physical, academic, social and spiritual needs of each child.
Playford College was blessed to commence with 78 students on an existing school site. By Census Day in 2018 we had 241 students and by Census Day in 2019 we had 307 students from Foundation to Year 9. The growth has continued as we progressed to over 580 students from Foundation to Year 12 by 2023. We were thrilled with the results of our first Year 12 class, where each student gained their South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and the Dux of the College received an impressive ATAR of 96.15.
Playford College introduced a Middle School for Year 6 to Year 9 students in 2019 involving specialist teachers, school provided laptops for each student and a student popular elective offering. By 2023, a Senior School comprised of Year 10 to Year 12 students was effectively providing a high standard of teaching and learning, as noted by our first Year 12 results. Our students are blessed to have such an impressive teaching team. Our Middle School of Years 7, 8 and 9 continues to progress in academic results and a strong learning culture.
We are a good school getting better every day as we celebrate the Playford Way of ‘Look after yourself’, ‘Look after others’ and ‘Look after this place’.
We would be delighted to meet you should you be interested in visiting Playford College as you consider schooling options for your family.
Our Identity
Our Motto
Our Aim
Our Story
History of Playford College
Located in Elizabeth, South Australia, Playford College is a young Islamic Independent co-educational school that has a focus on Muslim Australians of the Jaafari School of Thoughts but is open to all. Playford College opened in February 2017 with 78 students from 26 different schools and has grown to over 580 students by 2023.
Before Playford College, there were only two schools catering for the Jaafari School of Thoughts, both in Sydney. Islamic education is very important to families from this School of Thoughts and many were relocating from South Australia to Sydney to access them. Muslim families have a diverse cultural background, and by coming together, they gained a greater sense of community. With support and direction from one of those Sydney schools and dedicated planning by local leaders, the result was the procurement of an old vacant government school site in the northern part of Adelaide and Playford College was born. Muslims are taught to love their country and our first Sheikh was quick to point out that their country is now Australia, and that they should love their new home. So, the school was named in honour of its local council area – the City of Playford.
So many volunteer hours and skills from the community were offered to weed, plant, build, refurbish, paint and make the school ready for students and the current staff and families are grateful for that commitment and vision. As the student population grew rapidly, other learning spaces had to be created in haste but they were always ready just in time. As with every new school, finances were tight but the College continued to grow and prosper. The identity of the new College was a sense of a family with an emphasis on “Respect for God, for self, for others and for property”. Students felt safe and they felt like they belonged.
In choosing the motto of ‘Wisdom through Faith and Knowledge’ and the new uniform, the College’s identity became more focussed. The inaugural Directors of the Board led by Dr Abdul-razak Musa, the wisdom of religious leader Sheikh Idress Ul Hassan and the enthusiasm of foundation Principal, Rainer Mayer, transformed an idea into a reality.
With registration approved to Year 12, the College created a successful Middle School in 2019 under the leadership of the current Principal, Chris Riemann and Deputy Principal Racha Makki, with Year 12 students commencing in 2022. Playford College has a comprehensive Master Plan for extra learning spaces to cater for the increasing year levels and enrolment growth.
Playford College is a good story and the whole community has an optimistic belief that the College will continue to prosper into a double stream Foundation to Year 12 College InshaAllah.
The Master plan has included:
2018- Addition of 4 new/ refurbished Primary classrooms.
2019- Addition of 4 new/ refurbished transportable classrooms
2020- Construction of new Covered Outdoor Learning Area (COLA) and junior Primary Nature Playground.
2021- Construction of new Secondary School- Prophet Muhammad Building.
2022- Opening of Barakaland; New Primary School Playground.
During the Master Plan, every learning space has been refurbished with new carpets and repainting and the grounds improved with artificial turf, new plantings, garden beds and new fencing.
The introduction of the Playford College Community Hub has been a wonderful success with playgroup for our preschoolers and English, computer, sewing, cooking, and parenting sessions with the Sheikh and School Counsellor for our mothers. The College is delighted to host a Community Hub and pleased to see so many families supporting the program.
Why enrol your child at Playford College?
There are many good reasons including:
- Students learn about their Islamic faith and traditions
- Students pray each day in classes or in the prayer hall
- There are supportive adults in the College who understand the difficulties and challenges for Muslim young people to grow up in an Australian culture
- Staff members are keen to teach and assess the Australian Curriculum and the South Australian Certificate of Education(SACE) content in a positive learning environment
- Students are cared for and nurtured by good hearted and dedicated adults
- There is a strong commitment to the acquisition of English and the College employs many extra staff to support intensive and personalised reading, spelling and writing programs like MiniLit and MacqLit
- The College has excellent Information technology and computer facilities including a 1:1 laptop program in the Secondary School and laptops and iPads are provided in the Primary classrooms as needed
- Many sports are introduced through the Sporting Schools program and the College provides opportunities to participate in inter-school sporting competitions such as South Australian Primary School Association of SA (SAPSASA) , The Bachar Houli Cup Program, and many other competitions
- Students learn the Arabic language, which helps them read the Quran
- Students have access to the large Playford Council ovals and playground across Woodford Road
- The College has good facilities, which are improving all the time. The Board has commissioned a thoughtful Master Plan that includes impressive Secondary School modern facilities and other renovated learning and teaching spaces. The students appreciate our new Covered Outdoor Learning Area where basketball, volleyball, badminton and other activities are flourishing.
Key Documents
Annual Report 2022
(PDF, 4.9MB)
Annual Report 2021
(PDF, 4.9MB)
Annual Report 2020
(PDF, 39MB)
Annual Report 2019
(PDF, 8MB)
Annual Report 2018
(PDF, 2MB)
New Playground Plans
(PDF, 2MB)
Master Plan Stages 1 and 2
(PDF, 4MB)
Anti-Bullying Policy
(PDF, 633KB)
Grievance Policy and Procedure
(PDF, 634KB)
Bus Fees
(PDF, 208KB)
School Fees
(PDF, 1MB)
12. Students are able to commence their schooling in the Foundation class as a 5 year old and graduate from Year 12 as a 17 or 18 year old, having their whole schooling experience in a school which understands their faith, culture, traditions and family life
- A central location in Elizabeth, which is close to facilities and public transport
- A safe ‘Kiss and Drop’ which is supervised by staff
- The wider community is very supportive of the College including the local Lutheran Church, the local Lions Club, the Northern Adelaide Senior College, Playford Council and our local members of Parliament
- Electives provide a different learning experience that our Year 7-10 students enjoy and benefit from
- The behaviour at the College is well maintained by all our staff and particularly our 3 wellbeing coordinators
- Our fleet of buses enable over 200 students to access the College from many suburbs of Adelaide
- Literacy and Numeracy standards are improving all the time.
- Our first Year 12 class all graduated with their SACE, while the 2022 Dux of the school achieved an ATAR of 96.15 and the proxime accessit achieved an ATAR of 90.75. 28% of the students achieved in ATAR over 90, and 70% of all grades were either in A or B mark. A first result like this gives our families confidence in calibre and dedication of our teachers.
Why not book a tour?
VISIT US TODAY
School tours are the best way to gain an understanding of all the opportunities offered at Playford College. Our tour for prospective families gives insights into daily school life and how we support Islamic faith. Farsi and Arabic speakers are available to assist with the tour.