International Grammar School

International Grammar School, Sydney
Latin: Concordia per Diversitatem ("Unity Through Diversity")
Location
Ultimo, New South Wales Australia
Coordinates
Information
Type	Independent, coeducational, day school
Denomination	Secular
Established	1984
Principal	Shauna Colnan
Key people	Reg St. Leon (Founding Principal)
Enrolment	~1,100 (P-12)
Colour(s)	Green & Blue and Gold>
Website	www.igssyd.nsw.edu.au

International Grammar School (IGS) is an independent, coeducational, secular, day school, located in Ultimo, an inner city of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Established in Randwick in 1984, International Grammar focuses its curriculum on languages, and to a lesser extent music, and currently caters for approximately 1,200 students from preschool to Year 12. The school provides an alternative to a 'traditional private school' education.

International Grammar School is affiliated with the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA), and the Association of Independent Schools of New South Wales (AIS NSW).

History

International Grammar School was established on 3 February 1984 at Stanley Street, Randwick, formerly the premises of the Little Sisters of the Poor. At its foundation the school's educational objective was to provide bilingual education from preschool onwards, and to promote internationalism, music and racial tolerance.

By 1985 the school had an enrolment of around 120 students, however by the following year the school's future was in doubt due to its failure to gain government recognition, thus making its students ineligible to sit Year 10 and Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations, IGS was subsequently forced to battle through eight court cases. The school was also facing crippling losses of money and enrolments had fallen by 60 per cent to around 40 students. In May 1986, the school won its registration appeal, and by the end of the school year of 1988 enrolments had grown to 130.

As student numbers continued to increase and the need for specialised High School teaching facilities was identified, it was determined that an additional site was required for the school. From 1990 to 1994, a new premises in Balmain was utilised as a Senior High School, accommodating Years 11 and 12.

In 1994, leasing arrangements were negotiated with South Sydney Council in terms of which the school was to move progressively to a new site in Ultimo. During this time, temporary accommodation was provided for years 7 to 12 in a refurbished woolstore. This arrangement with Council was for a new school to be constructed on the historical site of the Dalgety Woolstore in Kelly Street, Ultimo. The school was officially established on this, its current site, in July 1997.

Curriculum

The school's main emphasis is on languages and it offers a wide range of language courses for study from Preschool through to the HSC. Students are required to learn a second language from when they start at the school until the end of Year 10, and in Years 7 and 8 are required to learn a third language. Either of these may be continued to HSC level. The school also offers to students in Years 10 and 11 an exchange program to its overseas sister schools in Italy, France, Germany and Japan, as well as exchanges to Spain and China provided for Years 8 and 9. The creative arts, including music, design and drama, also play an important role in the school's curriculum.

Campus

International Grammar School is situated on two main campus in Ultimo – one on Kelly St and another nearby on Mountain St. The Kelly St Campus is made up of 3 buildings, The recently renamed Reg St Leon Building (formally Kelly St), The Wright Building and the Kerrie Murphy Building. Due to increasing demand for space, the roofs of the main campus are opened for playing; one as a basketball court; the other with primary school equipment.

Notable alumni

• Basia A'hern — Actor in movies and television, appearing in Farscape, The Sleepover Club and McLeod's Daughters (Class of 2007)
• Bertie Blackman — Indie Singer Songwriter based in Sydney, NSW.
• Rowan Witt — Actor in movies and television, most famously as 'spoon-boy' in The Matrix (Class of 2006)
• Steven Wuppy — DJ on independent radio station 'R3' based in Toowoomba.

Notable staff

• Eddie Jones — Former teacher and Acting Principal 1992 to 1994; Wallabies Coach
• Timothy Lester - Former Stoic and nearly famous cricket player.

See also

• List of non-government schools in New South Wales

External links

• International Grammar School website