The Scots School has become the first Albury-Wodonga educational institution to shut due to the coronavirus crisis despite the Prime Minister and two state premiers imploring schools to remain open.
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Face-to-face teaching will cease on Thursday at the school's senior and junior schools until further notice as Scots follow the lead of other private schools in closing.
Its boarding house will shut on Friday as the school switches to online, off-site teaching from Tuesday.
The decision was made on Tuesday night ahead of the release of further nationwide measures to combat COVID-19, but didn't include school closures for the "foreseeable future" on advice from government health experts.
Mr Morrison repeated his view closures would make the coronavirus fight harder with health professionals forced to stay home to look after school children for up to six months.
"That will put people's lives at risk. Let's keep our heads as parents when it comes to this," he said.
His stance was supported by the Victorian and NSW Premiers, Daniel Andrews and Gladys Berijiklian.
"If we were to close them now, across the board, that could make a very difficult set of circumstances even worse," Mr Andrews said.
In a letter to parents, Scots principal Peggy Mahy said the school was infection free.
"This decision gives families the time to prepare calmly and to prepare for learning at home," she said.
"The health, well-being and safety of students and staff remains paramount."
Ms Mahy said the school planned to recover lost face-to-face teaching days "over the year" with term dates subject to change.
Term one will conclude on April 9.
"Our decision-making has been contemplated deeply, and with due consideration of what is in the best interests of our community, especially given its distinctive regional characteristics," she said.
"Other leading independent boarding schools have taken this approach.
"Additionally, our social responsibility to play a role in protecting our wider community also is an important influence in our decision.
"We know that this is a challenging time for school, families and all Australians and as a supportive community, we will work to find solutions that best meet the needs of our students."
In a social media post to parents, Trinity Anglican College confirmed it was staying open, but putting plans in place in the event schools were closed.
"We know at this time people are feeling apprehensive, but as a school our biggest priority is taking care of the well-being of kids," principal Justin Beckett said.
"We've been putting all sorts of precautions in place.
"We don't want anyone's learning to be disrupted and we're putting really intentional plans in place as a school that is already a great leader in technology."
