Canberra Grammar School: an opportunity for the brightest future

Posted on 28 April, 2023

There are few investments a parent can make which will have as big an impact as the investment they make into their child’s education.

At Canberra Grammar School, the focus is on nurturing students to embody the school’s five core values: Curious, Creative, Confident, Compassionate, Citizens of the world.

Established in 1929, Canberra Grammar School has been instrumental in producing students who have made an impact on Canberra and the nation—from former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, to businessman and philanthropist Terry Snow, to ACT Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury.

You only need to step onto the 22-hectare campus in Red Hill to sense the purpose, energy, enthusiasm and pride of students and staff as they go about their day. CGS is a co-educational Independent Anglican School from Pre-School to Year 12 that also offers boarding from Year 7.

A place of academic rigour, Canberra Grammar School takes a student-centred and globally-minded approach to all learning, with strong pastoral care to support each student’s individual journey.

It is an International Baccalaureate World School and the only school in the ACT to offer the NSW Higher School Certificate, with students consistently performing at the top level.

But school should not be confined to a purely academic journey. CGS values a holistic education and offers an exceptional music, creative and performing arts programme. The School will showcase their upcoming production of Chicago: The Musical, which will run between 18 May and 27 May, and tickets are on sale.

The School has undergone significant campus development in recent years, most notably the opening of The Snow Concert Hall with an acoustically tuned auditorium.

The Concert Hall is part of the new complex which serves as the School’s centre for music and learning. It has a new library atop the atrium, music tuition rooms, rehearsal/classrooms, and multiple meeting spaces. The new music performance venue is launching the International Series on 20 May for the broader community to enjoy.

Student interests are catered for across a huge array of sports and co-curricular activities such as Code Cadets, Chess Club, and Sustainability Club, to name a few. They have ample opportunities for personal growth, leadership development, and global engagement.

With diverse student populations and international exchange programmes, students are encouraged to engage with and understand other cultures deeply, discuss global issues and develop the skills and competencies needed to succeed in an interconnected world.

On Thursday 11 May, Canberra Grammar School is hosting a whole school Open Day, and if you’ve ever wanted a chance to experience this school for yourself then now is the time.

From 9.15 am – 11 am, across both the sprawling Red Hill Campus and the more intimate satellite Northside Campbell Campus (Pre-K to Year 2), visitors are welcome to come and take a look around on student-led tours to get a real taste of the CGS culture.

According to Head of Senior School Oliver Thompson, “Visiting a school to understand the place and space that your child will learn, and grow is essential in choosing the right school for parents.”

“Visiting the campus and seeing our Canberra Grammar School students move through the campus will provide invaluable insight for your family in making such an important decision. It is a privilege that families consider our school and I look forward to meeting with our prospective families.”

According to Dr Sandra Webster, Head of Primary School, “Our greatest asset is our students and we are incredibly proud of them. We aim to nurture motivated, enquiring, caring and happy individuals who are curious about the world around them and develop a love for lifelong learning.

“We use the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) as a framework to deliver an inquiry-based approach to learning. We work hard to ensure a high standard of curriculum delivery, our staff come from around the globe and our facilities are world class.”