The outgoing captain of an elite Sydney private school has delivered a controversial graduation speech, speaking out against the hierarchy of the prestigious institution.

Ravenswood School for Girls captain Sarah Haynes, 18, accused the school of putting financial concerns over everything else, explaining she felt “hurt and betrayed”.

“I don’t know how to run a school but it seems to me that today’s schools are being run more and more like businesses where everything becomes financially motivated, where more value is placed on those who provide good publicity or financial benefits,” Ms Haynes said.

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She explained a “cruel and unjustified” decision was made to remove her sister from the school halfway through the year.

“There were a lot of flaws in the whole procedure … I would have felt insincere if I had to get up today and pretend like I still loved everything about the school,” she said.

“There is nothing wrong with realising that what you love [the school] isn’t perfect.”

She went onto explain how numerous times throughout the year her speeches were censored by those above her in the school administration.

“I sent this [a speech] to those in charge of me and received a reply: ‘Great speech but change the ending. No parent wants to hear that the school isn’t perfect’,” she said.

“If the school can’t admit it isn’t perfect how can they expect adolescent girls to realise perfection is unattainable.”

It costs up to $28,000 a year to send a child to the school, according to Fairfax Media.

The speech has received more than 6,000 views on YouTube and got a standing ovation from students and some parents in the venue.

“The image (the school) tries to project isn’t real and I think it can be unhealthy,” Ms Haynes said.

“I fell for this image that the school presented to me. I thought the school was absolutely perfect.

“To be valued within the school a lot of people feel they have to present the same image of perfection that the school does. It’s important to know that to be valued within a school you don’t have to be a model student.”

Watch the full speech below: