Some independent schools in Sydney have broken ranks with government advice by shutting down buildings and holding lessons online.

Key points: Gladys Berejiklian urged private schools to reconsider closing because of coronavirus

Gladys Berejiklian urged private schools to reconsider closing because of coronavirus Students at Knox Grammar School have been given the choice of online or onsite learning

Students at Knox Grammar School have been given the choice of online or onsite learning Sydney Catholic Schools urged the State Government to close school buildings

Pymble Ladies College, Kambala School and Knox Grammar School were among a number of private schools to defy government advice by moving classes online because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Asked if some private schools were being hysterical, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said: "We would hope that any school considering acting alone on this, reconsider."

Kambala in Sydney's east will operate remotely from Monday for kindergarten through to Year 10, while Year 11 and 12 students will remain on campus until the end of term.

Principal Shane Hogan said his focus was on Kambala's school community and their wellbeing.

"It's difficult because there is an inequality in resources and not every school is as ready to move remotely," he said.

"We want to give certainty to families … to plan moving forward."

Mr Hogan said 25 per cent of students were being kept home already by parents.

Knox Grammar School will give parents a choice. ( Google Maps )

From next week, children from kindergarten to Year 10 will work on school-issued iPads with one-third of classes delivered through Zoom video call, and the remainder through set coursework.

Knox Grammar School is giving students the option of online or onsite learning from Thursday.

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Pymble Ladies College will cease face-to-face learning from Thursday, but the campus will remain open for students who require supervision.

Headmistress Kate Hadwen said the approach was more "fair and equitable" for students who were choosing to stay home because of concerns over the virus.

Pal Buddhist School in Sydney's south-west is closing campus on Thursday, to move to online classes.

Founding Principal Panha Pal said he believed it was "not wise for [the government] to wait for an increase in infection rate to have a school shut down".

He said he would advise parents who are healthcare workers to lean on community support and relatives to supervise children learning remotely.

Sydney Catholic Schools increased pressure on the State Government to close school buildings "as a matter of urgency".

Executive director Tony Farley, whose organisation oversees 150 schools in Sydney, said preparations were being made to deliver education remotely.

Greg Whitby, Executive Director of the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta, which manages 80 schools across Western Sydney, said the community wanted an urgent government decision "sooner rather than later" on school closures.

However, the National Catholic Education Commission said Catholic schools would adhere to the government's advice to remain open and operational.

The state and federal governments have said there is no rationale for closing down schools from advice from health experts.