I’ve never looked at a big independent school in an established suburb and thought ‘that’s not fair’ … I look at a big independent school in an established suburb and think ‘that’s a great example’.

Julia Gillard

If Julia Gillard were to drive past the main campus of the Methodist Ladies’ College (MLC), a big independent school in the inner-eastern Melbourne suburb of Kew, she would undoubtedly remark that MLC is a ‘great example’ of educational excellence. Despite recent controversies, the school still has top-class facilities, quality teachers, and high-performing students, many of whom will move into influential positions within society.