From 1898 until 1930, St Peter's ran a parish school in which the state school syllabus was taught, but with the addition of specifically Anglican religious teaching, and regular services in the church. Its syllabus included commercial subjects so as to prepare students for office work in the city. Many of its students came from local working families, and there were also some children from the nearby inner-city Chinese community. The Sisters of the Community of the Holy Name, who also taught in the school, had connections with children among the Chinese community. Their presence at the school, and the presence of Father James Cheong at St Peter's, helped to attract these children.