What Canberra Grammar School does

Canberra Grammar School (CGS) is an independent Anglican co-educational day and boarding school in the Australian Capital Territory, educating more than 2,000 students from Pre-School through Year 12 across two campuses (Red Hill and Northside, Campbell). Founded in 1929, the school delivers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, is a candidate school for the IB Middle Years Programme, and offers both the IB Diploma Programme and the NSW Higher School Certificate in Years 11-12 — the only ACT school with this dual accreditation. CGS is also the only co-educational boarding school in the ACT, accommodating approximately 140 boarders from rural, coastal, defence, and international backgrounds, with students drawn from more than 40 nations. Supporting infrastructure includes a 1,400-seat Snow Concert Hall, six ovals, eight tennis courts, a heated indoor swimming pool, and heritage-listed dining and assembly facilities.

The school's core product is a P-12 education sold primarily as recurring annual tuition (day and boarding) with a non-refundable $220 application fee, a School Renewal Charge to secure placement, and scholarship fee remissions of 20% for academic and musical excellence. Ancillary revenue streams include CGS Care (out-of-school-hours care managed on the Xplor Education platform) and venue hire at the Snow Concert Hall. International students are recruited under CRICOS provider number 00580G via AEAS expos in Hong Kong and Guangzhou, and prospective families are funnelled through a six-step enrolment process with main entry points at Pre-School, Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Years 3, 5, 7, and 11. The go-to-market combines digital channels (website, virtual tour, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), on-the-ground events (Open Days, regional CGS Hosts dinners, school expos), and direct enquiry handling by the Head of Admissions.

The school is structured as a company limited by guarantee governed by a Board of Directors, with the Anglican Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn as visitor and the Bishop-in-Council appointing the majority of directors including Chair and Deputy Chair. There are no external shareholders, no venture or private equity capital, and no parent company. The Head of School, Dr Justin Garrick, has led the institution since 2011 and has driven the IB accreditation, full co-education transition (completed 2018, two years ahead of plan), and the multi-year capital programme including the Snow Centre for Education in the Asian Century (2013) and the Snow Concert Hall (2022). A philanthropic arm, the CGS Foundation, manages the School Renewal Charge and donor-funded capital projects, and the alumni network is supported through the CGS Engage platform.

Name

Canberra Grammar School

Legal name

Canberra Grammar School

Website

https://cgs.act.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Canberra Grammar School is an independent Anglican co-educational day and boarding school in the ACT, Australia, educating more than 2,000 students from Pre-School to Year 12 across two campuses, with the only co-ed boarding programme and the only dual IB/HISC offering in the territory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

International Curriculum Early Learning Academies (e.g., IB Early Years) (EDACADAK)

Keywords

• Independent school education
• Primary secondary education
• International baccalaureate program
• Boarding school services
• Private k-12 education

Headquarters

HQ city

Australian Capital Territory

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Day student tuition fees for Australian domestic students across Pre-School to Year 12, with fees varying by year level. Fee schedule published annually.
2. Boarding Fees: Full Fee Paying Overseas Students (FFPOS) and domestic boarding fees for the only co-educational boarding school in the ACT, welcoming 140 boarders.
3. Application and Renewal Charges: Non-refundable registration fee of $220 per application; School Renewal Charge (SRC) collected to secure offers of placement.
4. CGS Care Programme: Before-school, after-school, and holiday care programmes for children from Pre-School to Year 6 at Campbell and Red Hill campuses, managed via Xplor Education platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Canberra Grammar School is an independent Anglican co-educational day and boarding school delivering Pre-School to Year 12 education across two campuses. The school offers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) candidate status, and IB Diploma Programme, alongside the NSW Higher School Certificate, supplemented by boarding services, co-curricular programmes, and out-of-school-hours care.

Product overview

Canberra Grammar School is an Independent Anglican co-educational day and boarding school offering Pre-School to Year 12 education. The school operates as a unified P-12 institution delivering the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) for Primary School, IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) Candidate for Years 7-9, and a choice of IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) or NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC) for Years 11-12. The school is the only co-educational boarding school in the ACT and the only school in Canberra offering both IB and HSC. Supporting the academic programme is a comprehensive co-curricular offering including sport, performing arts, outdoor education, and technology (Code Cadets). The school also operates CGS Care for out-of-school-hours care and manages the Snow Concert Hall as a cultural venue. The school uses Xplor Education for CGS Care bookings and an Infiniti platform for enrolment applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CGS Connect: Online portal for the school community
• Snow Concert Hall
• CGS Care
• CGS Engage
• CGS Foundation

Products and services

• IB Primary Years Programme (PYP)
• IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) Candidate
• IB Diploma Programme (IBDP)
• NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC)
• Primary School (Red Hill)
• Northside Campus (Campbell)
• Senior School
• Early Learning Centre
• Boarding Services
• CGS Care
• Co-Curricular Programme Comprehensive programme offering sport (including Rugby, Soccer, Basketball, Netball, Swimming, Tennis, Cricket, Hockey, Water Polo, Snowsports, Rowing), Creative and Performing Arts (Music, Dance, Theatre), Adventure and Outdoor Education, and the unique Code Cadets computing programme.
• Snow Concert Hall Venue Hire

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 2,000 students educated across two campuses
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Marko Sever (Alumnus)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022CGS alumnus completing Master's in Conducting who returned in 2022 for a digital pipe organ performance at the grand opening of the Snow Concert Hall.
• International Baccalaureate OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCGS is an authorized IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Diploma Programme (DP), with Middle Years Programme (MYP) as a candidate school. The IB programmes provide globally recognized curriculum frameworks that prepare students for university and global citizenship.
• Aaron Chatfield (Kamilaroi)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Kamilaroi man Aaron Chatfield worked with students and staff to create the six House names and totems for the Primary School House system, representing important flora and fauna found on Red Hill.
• Kalara Gilbert (Wiradjuri Artist)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Wiradjuri artist Kalara Gilbert developed the House logos for the six Primary School Houses, working closely with the school to create artwork reflecting the children's connection to their House names and school culture.
• Diocese of Canberra and GoulburncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school maintains strong links with the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn. Bishop Mark Short serves as visitor to the school, and the Bishop-in-Council appoints a majority of Board Directors including Chair and Deputy Chair.
• Australian National University (School of Art)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CGS Gallery has close links with ANU's School of Art and the Emerging Artists Support Scheme, regularly exhibiting established Indigenous and international artists, young graduate artists, and student work.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Melbourne Grammar School: Leading Anglican independent school in Melbourne with comparable co-curricular breadth, boarding facilities, and selective intake. Closest analogue in scale and governance structure to CGS in Victoria.
• Sydney Grammar School: Australia's pre-eminent independent boys' school and a historic Anglican foundation. Directly comparable on curriculum prestige, university outcomes, fee levels, and heritage brand; CGS Head of School Dr Garrick previously taught there.
• Haileybury: Large, multi-campus independent school offering IB and VCE with strong international student recruitment. Comparable on dual-curriculum strategy, FFPOS pipeline, and aggressive enrolment growth.
• The King's School (Sydney): Anglican GPS school with extensive boarding and IB pathways. Closest competitor on Anglican heritage, boarding scale, and IB + HSC dual offering in a major Australian capital.
• Cranbrook School (Sydney): Anglican Lighthouse school in Sydney offering IB PYP/MYP/DP and boarding. Comparable on Anglican foundation, IB continuum, premium facilities, and international student focus.
• Geelong Grammar School: One of Australia's largest and most prestigious boarding schools. Directly comparable on full boarding programme, IB offering, premium facilities, and pastoral/House system approach.
• Brisbane Grammar School: GPS independent boys' school in Brisbane with boarding and IB pathways. Comparable on heritage brand (founded 1868), premium pricing, and Anglican-style institutional positioning.
• Scotch College (Melbourne): Large Presbyterian-affiliated independent school offering co-education and boarding. Comparable on dual-campus structure, broad co-curricular programmes, and premium pricing in a competitive metropolitan market.
• Guildford Grammar School: Anglican boarding and day school in Perth. Closest peer on Anglican foundation, boarding scale, and IB curriculum mix; CGS's Director of Business previously served as Bursar/CFO at Guildford.
• St Peter's College (Adelaide): Anglican boarding and day school in Adelaide. Comparable on Anglican heritage, boarding provision, House system, and broad co-curricular programme spanning sport, music, and outdoor education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CanberraGrammar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canberragrammar
• Instagraminstagram.com/canberragrammar
• Xx.com/CanberraGrammar

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canberra Grammar School