At a glance
Geelong Grammar School was established in 1855 under the Anglican Church and is one of the longest running independent schools in the country. It educates students from early learning to Year 12 across four distinct campuses and operates as a coeducational day and boarding school. Its senior and main boarding campus sits on a large estate at Corio, north of Geelong, while the Toorak campus serves families inside Melbourne. The school is widely known as the place where Positive Education, a structured approach to student wellbeing, was first embedded across a whole school. You can place it within the wider market of international schools in Melbourne through our city hub.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and pathways | IB Primary Years Programme, Victorian Certificate of Education, IB Diploma Programme; Anglican |
| Stages | Early learning to Year 12 (ages 3 to 18) |
| Founded | 1855 |
| Accreditation | IB World School since 1997, member of Independent Schools Victoria, registered with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority |
| Fee band | Premium (see the Melbourne fees guide) |
| Campuses | Corio (senior and boarding), Bostock House (Geelong), Toorak (Melbourne), Timbertop (high country, Year 9) |
Curriculum and academics
Geelong Grammar teaches the IB Primary Years Programme in its early and junior years, giving younger pupils an inquiry led foundation before they move into the middle school. In the senior years the school runs two parallel pathways, the Victorian Certificate of Education and the IB Diploma Programme, so families can choose the route that best fits a child's strengths and university plans. The Year 9 programme is distinctive: students spend the year at Timbertop in Victoria's alpine country, combining academic study with hiking, community living and outdoor challenge. Beyond the timetable, the school is recognised internationally for pioneering Positive Education, which weaves wellbeing and character into everyday teaching. Progression to Australian and overseas universities is strong, though families should ask the school for current destinations data rather than relying on summary claims.
Geelong Grammar School fees
| Stage | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| ELC / Prep (5 days) | AUD 34,280 |
| Day, Years 7 to 8 | AUD 57,840 |
| Senior day, Years 10 to 12 | AUD 67,500 |
| Full boarding, Years 10 to 12 | AUD 113,560 |
Source: Geelong Grammar School (ggs.vic.edu.au). Overseas (international) schedule; domestic fees are lower. Day and boarding shown. Excludes enrolment and application fees. Fees are the most recent published figures and exclude one-off costs such as registration, deposits and capital levies. Always confirm current fees directly with the school.
Geelong Grammar School fees sit firmly in the premium band, among the highest of any Australian independent school, and boarding adds a significant sum on top of day tuition. Annual tuition rises by year level, with the senior years the most expensive stage. We do not publish a single headline figure here because the school revises fees each year; the school office issues the current schedule on request, and you can sense check the band against our guide to international school fees in Melbourne. Beyond tuition and boarding, budget for an application or registration fee, an acceptance deposit, a building or capital levy, uniform, and the cost of camps and the Timbertop year. These line items are standard across premium Victorian schools and can add a meaningful amount in the first year.
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Admissions
Admission is managed well ahead of entry, and waiting lists form for the main intake points of Prep, Year 7, Year 9 and Year 11. The Australian school year runs from late January to December across four terms, so families relocating from overseas should map their timing onto that calendar. Assessment is age appropriate and usually combines a family interview, previous school reports and references, with an entrance assessment for some year levels. Boarding places are limited and in demand, so boarding applications should be lodged as early as a place is foreseeable. The school asks for academic records and may request a visit to one of its campuses before confirming an offer.
Location and who goes there
The school spreads across four sites. The Corio campus, the senior and main boarding base, occupies a large estate north of Geelong, roughly an hour from central Melbourne, with extensive sports, performance and boarding facilities. Bostock House is a junior campus in Geelong, the Toorak campus serves day families in inner Melbourne, and Timbertop sits in the high country for the Year 9 year. The community blends established Melbourne and Geelong families, boarders from regional and interstate Victoria, and a steady international cohort including diplomatic and expatriate families drawn by the boarding offer. For the broader picture of where families settle, 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 Geelong Grammar School, 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 Geelong Grammar School fees?
Geelong Grammar School fees sit at the premium end for Victoria, among the highest of any Australian independent school, and boarding adds a substantial amount on top of tuition. Tuition rises by year level and the senior years are the most expensive. The school publishes a current schedule on request and revises it annually, so confirm figures directly and budget for registration, an acceptance deposit, a building levy and camps.
Is Geelong Grammar School a good school?
Geelong Grammar is one of Australia's oldest and most established independent schools, an IB World School since 1997, and the birthplace of its Positive Education wellbeing approach. It offers both the IB Diploma and the VCE and has a strong record of university progression. Whether it suits your child depends on stage, budget, and whether day or boarding fits your family.
What curriculum does Geelong Grammar School follow?
The school teaches the IB Primary Years Programme in the early and junior years and offers two senior pathways in Years 11 and 12, the Victorian Certificate of Education and the IB Diploma Programme. Year 9 students complete an experiential year at the Timbertop alpine campus.
Does Geelong Grammar School offer boarding?
Yes. Boarding is available from Year 7 at the Corio campus, and a large share of middle and senior students board. Year 9 students live and learn at the Timbertop campus in Victoria's high country. Boarding places are limited and fill early.
When do Geelong Grammar School applications open?
Registration is open well ahead of entry and waiting lists form for the main intake points of Prep, Year 7, Year 9 and Year 11. The Australian school year runs from late January to December across four terms, and boarding applications in particular should be lodged early.
Where is Geelong Grammar School located?
The main senior and boarding campus is at Corio, on a large estate north of Geelong about an hour from central Melbourne. The school also runs Bostock House in Geelong, the Toorak campus in inner Melbourne and the Timbertop campus in the high country.
