General Information
Sydney Grammar School is an academically selective day school for boys. It is secular in character.
The secondary school is situated at College Street, Darlinghurst and extends eastwards to Yurong Street. The original Hallen building, of which the chief part is the Big School room dates from 1830. A classroom block and other buildings were added later in the nineteenth century. Since 1953 the War Memorial building has been added, along with the Science Block, containing twelve laboratories and several other classrooms.
A building with a gymnasium, language laboratory, subject classrooms and a lecture theatre was erected in 1976 on the Yurong Street frontage. This replaced the old Palladium building.
There is a large building which contains general classrooms and modern facilities for music and art teaching, and also an auditorium for the proper performance of music and drama, opened in 1982. In 1992 a new library was built.
In 2002, the portico, conceived as part of the original Hallen building, was formally opened by the Governor of New South Wales.
A new multi-purpose hall with seating for 1500 was completed in 2011.
The Weigall Sportsground is located on Neild Avenue, Rushcutters Bay. It serves both the main school and the Edgecliff Preparatory School. With pavilion and changing rooms, tuck-shop, four football grounds, cricket pitches and practice pitches, tennis courts and basketball courts it provides a wide range of facilities. The Edgecliff Preparatory School is in Alma Street, Paddington, adjoining the Weigall Ground. The St Ives Preparatory School, in Ayres Road, stands in an area of 6½ hectares, with large playing-fields and a swimming pool.
The School's boatshed, with full rowing facilities, is located at Wharf Road, Gladesville.
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Sydney Grammar St Ives Preparatory School, 11 Ayres Road, St Ives, takes boys from the age of 4 years and 4 months and Sydney Grammar Edgecliff Preparatory School, Alma Street, Paddington, takes boys from the age of 4 years and 9 months.
The curriculum is based upon the primary curriculum of NSW but often departs from it and is of a more advanced standard. Music, Art and Sport are offered to all as is tuition in a wide variety of musical instruments.
At College Street, boys in Form I (Year 7) are under the care of the Master of the Lower School and a Tutor. In the Upper School (Forms II to VI) each boy is a member of one of eight Houses, with a House Master and a Tutor responsible for him during those five years.
The curriculum for Forms I to IV leads to the School Certificate Examination in Form IV. In Forms V and VI courses of study lead to the Higher School Certificate Examination. Five or six subjects will normally be studied in Form V; and four, five or six subjects in Form VI. Please see the curriculum page for further information.
Music is strongly supported and it is possible to learn most ordinary musical instruments. There are numerous choirs, orchestras, concert and jazz bands as well as several smaller, specialised instrumental and vocal ensembles. More than 500 boys learn instruments.
There are many clubs and societies in the School, including drama, chess, audio-visual, and computer clubs. Debating is well provided for and encouraged, as are Army Cadets and the Air Force Cadets.
Sport is compulsory in both summer and winter to the end of Term I in Form V. The GPS summer sports available are cricket, rowing, basketball, tennis, rifle shooting, and swimming; in winter rugby, soccer, cross country and rifle shooting are offered. Athletics is also offered in Term III. Boys may also compete in inter-school competitions in fencing and volleyball. The gymnasium, weight training area and other related facilities, are available for use by all boys.
In the preparatory schools cricket, softball, tee-ball, tennis, basketball, swimming, cross country running, rugby, soccer and athletics are offered, thus ensuring a balanced programme of physical activities.