At a glance
Carey Baptist Grammar opened in 1923 and has grown into one of Melbourne's larger co educational independent schools, spread across five sites with its main campus in Kew and a junior campus at Donvale. It is a Baptist school, registered with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority, and an authorised IB World School. What most distinguishes Carey in the senior years is choice: since 1997 it has offered the IB Diploma Programme as an alternative to the Victorian Certificate of Education, so families do not have to pick a school and a pathway separately. Sport and the wider co curriculum run deep, supported by dedicated complexes at Bulleen and Kew and an outdoor education site at Carey Toonallook in eastern Gippsland. Our hub on IB schools in Melbourne sets Carey alongside its peers, and the wider Melbourne city hub places it in context for relocating families.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and programmes | Victorian curriculum to middle years; IB Diploma Programme or VCE in the senior years |
| Stages | Early learning to Year 12 (ages 3 to 18) |
| Founded | 1923 |
| Accreditation | Registered with the VRQA; authorised IB World School |
| Fee band | Premium (see the Melbourne fees guide) |
| Campus | Kew (senior) and Donvale (junior), inner eastern Melbourne |
Curriculum and academics
The academic path at Carey follows the Victorian curriculum through the junior and middle years, building literacy, numeracy and inquiry before the senior choice opens up. In Years 11 and 12 students elect either the VCE or the IB Diploma Programme, and the school has run the Diploma since 1997, which makes it one of the more experienced IB providers in the city rather than a recent adopter. That dual offer matters for relocating families: a child who has been in an IB system overseas can continue on the Diploma, while a child aiming at a Victorian or interstate university can sit the VCE, all within the same school community. Teaching is in English throughout, and the senior programme is backed by careers and tertiary guidance that covers both Australian and international university entry. Families weighing the Diploma route should read our guide to the IB schools in Melbourne for the wider field and how Carey compares on stage and intake.
Carey Baptist Grammar fees
Carey fees sit firmly in the premium band for Melbourne independent schools, with annual tuition rising by year level and the senior years priced at the top of the schedule. We do not publish a single headline figure here because the school revises fees each year and lists the current schedule on its own admissions pages; you can sense check the band against our guide to international school fees in Melbourne. Beyond tuition, plan for an application fee, a refundable enrolment deposit, a building or capital levy and optional extras such as bus travel, camps and the outdoor education programme. These first year costs are standard across premium Melbourne schools and are worth modelling before you commit, since the levy and deposit can add a meaningful sum to the first invoice.
Work out the real cost of a place
Use our fee calculator to estimate tuition, levies and the one off charges across Melbourne schools, then compare your shortlist side by side. Free and independent.
Admissions
Admission to Carey runs ahead of the Australian school year, which starts in late January, and the school encourages families to register interest early because the most popular entry points fill well in advance. The main intakes are the early learning years, Prep and Year 7, with places at other year levels offered as they become available. Assessment is age appropriate: a settling visit and observation for the youngest children, and a review of previous school reports, references and, for some year levels, an entry assessment for older applicants. Entry into the senior years takes account of a student's prior subjects and results, particularly where a child intends to take the IB Diploma, since the Diploma requires study across subject groups. The school asks for school records and usually meets the family before confirming a place.
Location and who goes there
Carey's senior campus sits in Kew, one of Melbourne's established inner eastern suburbs, with the junior campus a short drive east at Donvale. The catchment is the leafy eastern arc of the city, from Kew and Hawthorn out through Balwyn, Doncaster and the surrounding suburbs, well served by arterial roads and the school's own bus network. The community is broad and largely local, with a steady thread of relocating and returning families drawn by the dual IB and VCE offer and the strength of the co curriculum. For families weighing a Kew base against the bayside or northern suburbs, and for the full picture of where relocating families settle and what each area costs, return to the Melbourne city hub.
Reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish parent reviews only once they are verified. If your child attends or has attended Carey Baptist Grammar, you can submit a review to help other relocating families. We never display a star rating without real, checked reviews behind it.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Carey Baptist Grammar fees?
Carey Baptist Grammar fees sit in the premium band for Melbourne independent schools, rising by year level with the senior years priced at the top of the schedule. The school publishes its current fee schedule each year. Budget separately for an application fee, an enrolment deposit, the building or capital levy and optional bus travel.
Is Carey Baptist Grammar a good school?
Carey is an established co educational IB World School founded in 1923, offering both the IB Diploma and the VCE across five campuses. Whether it suits your child depends on stage, budget, the Kew or Donvale location and your view of the IB Diploma against the VCE.
What curriculum does Carey Baptist Grammar follow?
Carey follows the Victorian curriculum through the junior and middle years, then offers senior students a choice between the IB Diploma Programme and the Victorian Certificate of Education. It has offered the IB Diploma since 1997.
When do Carey Baptist Grammar applications open?
Carey takes enrolment applications well in advance of the late January start of the Australian school year, and popular entry points such as the early learning years, Prep and Year 7 fill early. Families relocating to Melbourne should register interest as soon as possible.
Where is Carey Baptist Grammar located?
The senior school is in Kew, an established inner eastern suburb of Melbourne, with a junior campus at Donvale and sports facilities at Bulleen and an outdoor education site in eastern Gippsland.
