Geelong Grammar School - Corio Campus 50 Biddlecombe Avenue, Corio, VIC 3214, Australia +61 3 5273 9307

admissions@ggs.vic.edu.au www.ggs.vic.edu.au

School type	Co-educational Day & Boarding
Founded	1855
Status	Private
Principal	Ms Rebecca Cody
Language of Instruction	English
Co-ed Age Range	3-18 years
Authorised IB Programmes	IBDP, IBPYP
Diploma Coordinator	Mr. Steven Griffiths
PYP Coordinator	Mr. Michael Stafford
Associations	IB

Australia's largest coeducational boarding community

For families seeking a world-class education that extends beyond academic achievement, Geelong Grammar School (GGS) offers a transformative experience rooted in wisdom, character and purpose. Founded in 1855, GGS champions a holistic approach to education that recognises the importance of nurturing young people athletically, creatively, emotionally, intellectually, morally, socially and spiritually.

A Global Education

With over 1,500 students from across Australia and more than 15 countries worldwide, GGS is the nation's largest coeducational boarding school. This rich diversity creates a dynamic learning environment where students develop the cultural intelligence and global perspective essential for thriving in our interconnected world.

The School operates across three specialist campuses, each designed to meet the developmental needs of different age groups. Corio Campus, set on 262 hectares of landscaped grounds and native grasslands near Geelong, serves as the School's heart, home to Junior School (early learning to Year 4), Middle School (Years 5–8) and Senior School (Years 10–12) students. Toorak Campus, located in Melbourne's inner east, provides an exceptional environment for students from early learning to Year 6. The third campus, Timbertop, offers one of the world's most distinctive Year 9 programmes in the rugged beauty of Victoria's High Country.

The Transformative Timbertop Experience

During Year 9, all students embark on the Timbertop programme, a year-long immersion that has shaped generations of GGS students since 1953. Five days each week, students engage in a rigorous academic curriculum in this isolated mountain setting. Weekends are dedicated to challenging outdoor pursuits, including hiking, running, skiing and community service.

Living in rustic Units of 15–16 students, sharing domestic responsibilities and experiencing life free from digital distractions, young people develop profound self-knowledge, genuine friendships and an appreciation for simplicity. The Timbertop Marathon, a 33-kilometre run that crowns the year, stands as a powerful metaphor for the grit, determination and sense of achievement students carry forward into their senior years.

Academic Excellence and Global Pathways

GGS has been an International Baccalaureate World School since 1997, implementing the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for students aged 3–12 and offering the IB Diploma Programme (DP) alongside the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) as tertiary pathways in Years 11 and 12. This dual offering ensures students can choose the qualification that best aligns with their strengths and university aspirations.

GGS graduates gain entry to prestigious universities worldwide, including Harvard, Princeton, Stanford and Yale in the United States; Oxford, Cambridge, Central Saint Martins and Edinburgh in the United Kingdom; and Melbourne, Sydney, Monash and the Australian National University in Australia. As a member of the Melbourne Schools Partnership International (MSPI), the School provides additional support for high-achieving international students, helping them maximise their potential and navigate future study opportunities.

Three Pillars of Exceptional Education

A GGS education is distinguished by three foundational pillars that inform every aspect of school life:

• Adventure Education provides experiential learning through and with nature, developing resilience, self-reliance and environmental awareness through authentic experiences in the natural world.
• Positive Education places wellbeing at the heart of learning. GGS pioneered this evidence-based approach in collaboration with Professor Martin Seligman and the University of Pennsylvania from 2006–2009, integrating positive psychology into education.
• Creative Education cultivates essential skills including communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creative problem-solving, equipping students to think creatively and work collaboratively across all areas of learning.

Living and Learning Together

At Corio Campus, approximately 70% of Middle and Senior School students are boarders, with the remaining 30% attending as day students or day boarders. All belong to one of 14 houses that form the foundation of pastoral care and community life. Nearly 100 staff members and their families live on or near campus, creating an authentic residential community where students are genuinely known, valued and supported.

This commitment to genuine human connection extends across all campuses. Small class sizes and dedicated educators ensure every student receives personalised attention. Teachers serve not only as academic mentors but as coaches, house supervisors and trusted guides throughout each student's journey.

Values That Endure

As an Anglican school welcoming students from various Christian denominations and other faith traditions, GGS grounds its community in enduring values: courage, compassion and curiosity. These principles, along with Christian values of kindness, inclusivity, integrity, respect and generosity, shape daily interactions and lifelong character.

Beyond the Classroom

The Student Experience and Engagement Co-Curricular (SEECC) Programme offers extraordinary breadth: competitive sport across three seasons, world-class arts facilities and instruction, the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme, debating, robotics, environmental action and numerous opportunities for service and leadership. These experiences help young people discover their passions and develop the confidence to pursue them.

A Lifelong Connection

When a child joins GGS, their family becomes part of a distinctive light blue community that extends across generations and continents. The connections forged here between students, families and staff endure well beyond graduation through the active Old Geelong Grammarians Association and Past Parents' Network.

For more than 165 years, Geelong Grammar School has been pioneering transformative educational experiences. We invite you to discover how a GGS education could shape your child's future.

To learn more, please visit www.ggs.vic.edu.au