When Ebenezer Church was built in 1809 one half of the building was designated as a schoolroom. With the appointment of John Youl as teacher in 1810, classes commenced for local children. This denominational school continued until 1874 when control of the school moved from church to state with the establishment of a provisional school.

It was known as Portland Head Provisional School. Classes were still held in the church until the new school, Ebenezer Public School, was built in Coromandel Road in 1887.

Ebenezer Church is recognized by the NSW Department of Education and Communities as the oldest existing school building in Australia. This photograph was taken in 1879. It shows the teacher, Mr Walter McFetridge (second from the left), sitting with his pupils outside the classroom.