International Grammar School

International Grammar School, Sydney
Location
Ultimo , New South Wales Australia
Coordinates	33°52′52″S151°11′43″E / 33.88111°S 151.19528°E / -33.88111; 151.19528
Information
Type	Independent coeducational early learning, primary, and secondary day school
Motto	Latin: Concordia per Diversitatem ("Unity Through Diversity") [1]
Established	1984;40 years ago (1984) [2]
Educational authority	NSW Department of Education
Principal	Shauna Colnan
Key people	Reg St. Leon (Founding Principal)
Years	Early learning and K–12
Enrolment	~1,100 [3]  (2007)
Campuses	Ultimo: Kelly Street Mountain Street
Campus type	Inner urban
Colour(s)	Green, blue and gold
Affiliations	Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia Junior School Heads Association of Australia Association of Independent Schools of New South Wales
Website	www.igssyd.nsw.edu.au

International Grammar School (IGS) is a dual campus independent secular coeducational early learning, primary, and secondary day school, located in Ultimo, an inner city suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Established in Randwick in 1984, International Grammar focuses its curriculum on languages, and to a lesser extent music, ^[4] and currently caters for approximately 1,200 students from early learning to Year 12. ^[3] The school provides an alternative to a denominational independent school education. ^[4]

International Grammar School is affiliated with the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), ^[5] the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA), ^[6] and the Association of Independent Schools of New South Wales (AIS NSW). ^[7]

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. ^[2]

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 NSW Government recognition, thus making its students ineligible to sit Year 10 and NSW 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. By the end of the school year of 1988, enrolments had grown to 130. ^[8]

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, new premises in Balmain were utilised as a Senior High School, accommodating Years 11 and 12. ^[2]

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. ^[2]

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 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 campuses in Ultimo – one on Kelly St and another nearby on Mountain St. The Kelly St Campus is made up of three 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.

Principals

• Shauna Colnan (2014–present) ^[9]
• Michael Maniska (2011–2014)
• Kerrie Murphy (2001–2010)
• David Wright (1994–2000)
• Eddie Jones (Acting Principal) (1992–1993) ^[10]
• Marika McLachlan (1991–1992)
• Rita Fin (1987–1990)
• Reg St Leon (1984–1987)

Notable alumni

• Bertie Blackman – Indie singer songwriter based in Sydney ^[11]
• Rowan Witt – actor in movies, theatre and television whose notable credits include The Matrix, ^[12] South Pacific , ^[13] She Loves Me ^[14] and The Book of Mormon ^{[15] [16]}

Notable staff

• Eddie Jones – former teacher and Acting Principal from 1992 to 1994; World Cup winning assistant coach of the South African national rugby union team, and former head coach of the England national rugby union team ^[17]
• Timothy Lester – former Stoic and first class cricket player
• Ned Manning - playwright and actor

See also

• Schools portal
• New South Wales portal

• List of non-government schools in New South Wales
• Education in Australia

References

1. "International Grammar School". Directory. Sydney's Child. Archived from the original on 24 October 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
2. "About IGS". Information. International Grammar School. 2007. Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
3. "Bilingual education gives students an international perspective" (PDF). Diversity Australia. Australian Government - Department of Immigration and Citizenship. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2005. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
4. Edwards, Hannah (7 November 1999). "March to a different tune". News. Sydney: The Sun-Herald. p. 97. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
5. "AHISA Schools". New South Wales. Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia. November 2007. Archived from the original on 2 November 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
6. "JSHAA New South Wales Directory of Members". New South Wales Branch. Junior School Heads' Association of Australia. 2007. Archived from the original on 17 January 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
7. "NSW Independent Schools by Region". Welcome. The Association of Independent Schools of New South Wales. 2007. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
8. Chater, Jenny (8 December 1988). "For this school, Survival is good in any language". The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney. p. 15. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
9. "History - International Grammar School Sydney". International Grammar School Sydney.
10. "Rugby legend Eddie Jones reflects on IGS". International Grammar School Sydney.
11. Bertie Blackman on growing up with her Dad, Australian artist Charles Blackman, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 13 August 2018, retrieved 10 September 2018
12. "Rowan Witt". IMDb. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
13. "South Pacific | Opera Australia". opera.org.au. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
14. "BWW REVIEW: SHE LOVES ME Is An Utterly Adorable Confection of Captivating Classic Musical Charm". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
15. "Theatre Review: The Book of Mormon will make you laugh til it hurts even if you feel you shouldn't (Sydney Lyric Theatre)". Arts on the AU. 10 March 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
16. Cooper, Nathanael (24 July 2017). "Helpmann Awards 2017: What about the locals?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
17. Webster, Jim (14 September 1987). "The pupil who became the teacher". Sport. The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney. p. 47. Retrieved 23 December 2007.