What Ipswich Grammar School does

Ipswich Grammar School is an independent, single-sex (boys) day and boarding school located on Darling Street, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, operating from Prep through Year 12. Founded in 1863 under the Grammar Schools Act of 1861 as the first grammar school in Queensland, the school reports a cohort of approximately 390 Junior School students and approximately 750 secondary school boys, served by a staff structured around a Headmaster (currently Dr Adam Forsyth, the 17th Headmaster, appointed Term 4 2024), Deputy Headmaster, Dean of Academics, Dean of Students, Director of Boarding, and Heads of Junior and Secondary Schools.

The school's core educational product is its proprietary Explicit Teaching model, developed in collaboration with education expert John Fleming, structured around clear learning intentions, scaffolding, feedback, and assessment. Supporting technology includes the Schoolbox internal student/parent portal, the BusMinder real-time bus tracking system (used with Fassifern Coaches for charter transport across Ipswich and western Brisbane suburbs), and IGS Connect, a remote learning platform for rural and remote Australian boys. The school is a member of the GPS Association (founded 1918) and offers more than 40 extra-curricular activities.

The business operates on a recurring tuition-based revenue model with multiple streams: day school tuition, boarding fees, a per-student resource levy (A$150/year for Junior School), and bus transport fees. Distribution is primarily direct via the school's website and campus tours, with supplementary channels including international student recruitment, an early learners centre (IGS Early Learners, launched 2024, for ages 6 weeks to Pre Prep), and the IGS Connect remote learning program. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the school is governed by a Board of Trustees and has no parent company or public listing.

Name

Ipswich Grammar School

Legal name

Ipswich Grammar School

Website

https://ipswichgrammar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1863

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Ipswich Grammar School is an independent boys' day and boarding school in Ipswich, Queensland (founded 1863), serving Prep to Year 12 students through its proprietary Explicit Teaching pedagogy, plus early learners, international, and rural/remote cohorts via IGS Connect.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Private Education (Boys' Grammar School)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), 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

General Preschools (Play-Based) (EDACABAA)

Keywords

• Boys private education
• Prep to year 12 schooling
• Boarding school services
• Independent grammar school
• Explicit teaching pedagogy

Headquarters

HQ city

Ipswich

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Tuition fees for Prep to Year 12 students, both day and boarding students. Specific fee amounts not publicly disclosed.
2. Boarding Fees: Boarding school fees for students who live on campus.
3. Resource Levy: $150 per student per year Resource Levy for Junior School covering books, stationery and other resources.
4. Bus Transport Service: Daily private charter bus services for students within Ipswich and western suburbs of Brisbane. 2026 bus fares published.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ipswich Grammar School is an independent Prep to Year 12 day and boarding school for boys, founded in 1863 as Queensland's oldest grammar school. It delivers boys-only education using its proprietary Explicit Teaching pedagogy and provides Early Learners care (6 weeks to Pre Prep), Junior School, Secondary School, Boarding, and IGS Connect remote learning. Additional services include the Ipswich Grammar Swimming Club, a charter bus transport program, and more than 40 extra-curricular activities.

Product overview

Ipswich Grammar School is a Prep to Year 12 independent day and boarding school for boys, founded in 1863 as Queensland's oldest grammar school. The school operates IGS Early Learners (early learning for 6 weeks to Pre Prep), followed by Prep through Year 12 programs. Core educational offerings include the Junior School, Secondary School, and Boarding facilities. The school provides IGS Connect for rural/remote students and operates an Explicit Teaching Model as its pedagogical framework. Additional services include the Ipswich Grammar Swimming Club, over 40 sports and activities, and a charter bus service with real-time tracking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IGS Early Learners: Early learning centre for boys and girls from 6 weeks of age to Pre Prep
• Ipswich Grammar Swimming Club

Products and services

• IGS Early Learners Early learning centre providing care and education for boys and girls from 6 weeks of age to Pre Prep, with a play-based curriculum integrating Explicit Teaching strategies.
• Prep at IGS Prep program for boys transitioning from early learning to formal schooling, forming part of the Prep to Year 12 continuous learning journey.
• Junior School Primary-level education (Years 3–6) combining classroom learning with strong literacy and numeracy foundations through the Explicit Teaching model.
• Secondary School Secondary education program for Years 7–12 focusing on academic excellence, character development, and preparation for tertiary pathways.
• Boarding School On-campus boarding facilities for students from regional and international backgrounds, providing a home away from home with pastoral care.
• IGS Connect Remote learning program developed specifically for boys in rural and remote regions of Australia, providing access to Ipswich Grammar School's education.
• Sports and Activities Program More than 40 extra-curricular activities including rugby, swimming, cricket, debating, and chess, promoting teamwork, mental fitness, and character building.
• Charter Bus Service Daily private bus services within Ipswich and Brisbane western suburbs (Indooroopilly, Sunnybank Hills, Greenbank, Springfield), operated with Fassifern Coaches and real-time tracking via the BusMinder app.
• Ipswich Grammar Swimming Club Swimming club attracting beginner, development, and elite swimmers through club activities, meets, and GPS/School swimming competitions; established in 1980 with a heated 50m pool.

Quantifiable outcome

• Year 5 NAPLAN: 2nd place in Queensland (second consecutive year)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Greater Public Schools (GPS) AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGPS Association founded in 1918 to encourage students to pursue excellence in sport and cultural activities underpinned by values of commitment, courage, teamwork, healthy competition, integrity, fair play and good sportsmanship. IGS is an active member school participating in GPS sporting competitions.
• Old Boys AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished 1907 with objectives to strengthen bond between school and Old Boys, foster true spirit of culture and good fellowship, and support intellectual effort. Active alumni network that provides mentorship, networking, and community support for current students and graduates.
• Fassifern CoachesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransportation partner operating daily charter bus services for IGS students. Phone contact during travel: 0436 639 167.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Haileybury: Large multi-campus private school in Melbourne with multiple co-ed and boys' schools operating at significantly greater scale. Provides a benchmark for what Ipswich Grammar could become with capital and multi-site expansion, though operating model differs substantially.
• Scotch College: Prestigious Melbourne-based boys' school from ELC to Year 12 with strong academic outcomes and GPS-equivalent (AAGPS) membership. Comparable heritage boys' education but operates at larger scale and within a different state market.

Direct peers

• Gregory Terrace: Boys-only Catholic day and boarding school from Year 5 to Year 12 in Brisbane's CBD. GPS Association member competing with Ipswich Grammar for premium Brisbane boys' education market share.
• The King's School: Anglican boys-only GPS school from Prep to Year 12 in North Parramatta, Sydney. Australia's oldest independent school (founded 1831), offering similar day and boarding programs and heritage positioning to Ipswich Grammar.
• The Hutchins School: Boys-only Prep to Year 12 GPS school in Hobart, Tasmania. Dr Adam Forsyth previously served as Deputy Headmaster at Hutchins, and the school shares the boys-only day-and-boarding GPS structure with Ipswich Grammar.
• The Southport School: GPS-associated boys' day and boarding school from Prep to Year 12 located on the Gold Coast. Direct comparator for boarding program structure, boys-only positioning, and southeast Queensland catchment.
• Brisbane Boys' College: GPS-associated boys' school from Prep to Year 12 in Toowong, Brisbane. Dr Adam Forsyth previously held senior roles at Brisbane Boys' College, highlighting the direct leadership and operational overlap with Ipswich Grammar.
• St Peters Lutheran College: Boys' school (Springfield campus) within a multi-campus Lutheran network in southeast Queensland. Dr Forsyth previously served as Head of Senior School at St Peters, illustrating direct leadership and pedagogical overlap.
• Trinity Grammar School: Anglican boys-only Prep to Year 12 school in Sydney's Inner West with day and boarding programs. Comparable urban grammar school structure, premium fee positioning, and explicit Christian/values-based education framework.
• Brisbane Grammar School: Boys-only Prep to Year 12 GPS grammar school located in Spring Hill, Brisbane, founded 1868. Direct competitor to Ipswich Grammar within the same Brisbane GPS Association, sharing similar heritage positioning and competing for the same pool of fee-paying families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ipswichgrammarschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ipswich-grammar-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Ipswich Grammar School