Christ Church Grammar School, South Yarra
In Domino Confido - In God I Trust
- Early Learning
- Primary School
- Single School Location
- Early Learning Centre
- Primary Campus
- Independent
- Anglican
Co-ed
Yes
Yes
Additional Needs Program- Academic Achievement
- Co-curricular Activities
- Community
- Creative Arts
- Digital Technologies
- Early Learning Fundamentals
- Faith / Religion
- Information Technology
- Languages
- Music
- Numeracy / Literacy
- Pastoral Care / Guidance
- Performing Arts
- Personal Values
- Resources / Facilites
- Robotics
- Science/Technology
- Social & Emotional Learning
- Sport
- Visual Art
- Chinese
- French
- Athletics (Track & Field)
- Australian Rules Football
- Alpine Sports
- Basketball
- Chess
- Cricket
- Cross Country Running
- Football (Soccer)
- Hockey (field)
- Netball
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Volleyball
Established in 1898, Christ Church Grammar School is Victoria’s only independent Anglican parish co-educational primary school, dedicated to children aged 3–12. Our singular focus on the early and primary years is our strength: we are specialists in these formative stages, providing a strong foundation from ELC through to Year 6.
We are proud of our heritage and our close connection with Christ Church South Yarra, while looking firmly to the future. Our approach to education is holistic and purposeful, combining strong academic foundations with a deep commitment to wellbeing. We believe children learn best when they feel safe, supported and known, and we ensure every student is recognised as an individual and encouraged to thrive.
Learning at Christ Church Grammar School is engaging, challenging and carefully tailored. Our ELC fosters curiosity and a love of learning in a warm, stimulating environment, while our primary years develop essential skills, confidence and independence, preparing students for a smooth transition to secondary school.
As a co-educational community, students learn in an atmosphere of collaboration and respect, where they are encouraged to think critically, explore boldly and celebrate achievement.
Every child is supported to grow academically, socially and personally, building the confidence and capability to embrace their future. This is where the journey begins. Here, every child is known, supported and inspired to fly.
Who we are
Established in 1898, Christ Church Grammar School is Melbourne’s leading, inner city, independent school, providing outstanding education for boys and girls, aged 3 - 12 years old.
Christ Church Grammar School offers a complete primary school experience, from the Early Learning Centre to Year 6. Our entire focus is on the important early years of learning. We are an inclusive community and treasure the unique spirit of each and every child. Quality teaching and learning, high expectations and supportive relationships encourage our young children to develop in character and to aspire to be their very best.
Our small class sizes mean our teachers know every student and can focus on nurturing them. Our learning environments are made up of beautifully designed and engaging spaces, where teachers treat children with the care they need to grow and flourish. Students at Christ Church Grammar School are extended and encouraged to learn and find their inner passion, through the arts, sports, and sciences and our other co and extra-curricular opportunities.
At Christ Church Grammar School, opportunity takes flight. This is where the journey begins. Launch here. Together we fly.
evidence-based and designed to cultivate curiosity, resilience
and autonomy. Guided by the Australian Curriculum, and ensuring that our programs and teaching are consistent with the principles of Australian democracy, we balance explicit instruction with inquiry-based approaches. This enables students to develop deep understanding while building the skills to think critically, solve problems and engage with complex ideas. Our teaching model emphasises coherence across the Early Learning Centre and Primary School, supporting a seamless progression from foundational skills
to more advanced applications, often with students engaging in content more than 12 months ahead of expected achievement standards. This approach continues to underpin the School’s strong academic outcomes, reflected in consistently high NAPLAN results and strong participation in extension opportunities.
Parkside Campus is home to our Early Learning Centre, Prep and Year 1. It’s a close-knit, nurturing environment where every child is known and supported. Guided by a Reggio Emilia approach, learning is shaped through play, curiosity and creativity, with a strong connection between ELC and Junior School ensuring a seamless start to primary years.
A short walk away, Main School Campus welcomes students from Year 2 to Year 6. Here, learning deepens across purpose-built classrooms, flexible learning spaces and outstanding facilities, including a basketball court, award-winning Hall and Christ Church South Yarra, where the community gathers regularly.
All students access specialist programs in Music, Visual Arts, STEAM, Languages and Physical Education, with dedicated spaces that encourage exploration and growth.
At the heart of it all is Fawkner Park — a shared space for play, connection and reflection, bringing a sense of balance, wellbeing and belonging to every child’s day.
At Christ Church Grammar School, learning goes beyond the classroom.
We recognise that students benefit from opportunities to engage in activities beyond the classroom. Lunchtime clubs offer an important space for students to explore their interests, build friendships and enjoy small group experiences during periods of the day that are less structured. Our lunchtime clubs are designed to be responsive to student interests and needs and can be either formal or informal in nature. They include activities such as Art Club, Lego Club, and Tea Club, where students sometimes use herbs like mint and chamomile from our School’s herb garden to make the tea. These clubs focus on fostering social connections, allowing students to collaborate, relax and enjoy shared experiences.
Distinct from lunchtime offerings, before and after school clubs provide opportunities for students to extend their learning and pursue more structured skill development. Clubs such as Chess Club, Coding Club, Robotics Club and Soccer Club (to name a few) complement classroom learning, encouraging teamwork, problem-solving, creativity and physical activity. By offering a wide range of clubs across different year levels and interests, CCGS ensures that every student has the chance to engage in activities that inspire, challenge and connect them with others. The program is enhanced through our collaboration with Kids Unlimited, whose specialist instructors deliver a diverse range of enrichment activities that cater to a variety of student interests and talents
self-awareness.
Recent electives have included:
• Indoor Rock Climbing
• Entrepreneurship [Coffee Cart]
• Creative Writing
• Media
• Woodwork
• Cooking and Nutrition
• Textiles
• Robotics
• Drama
• Bike Collective
• School and Community Service
Each elective provides a chance for students to pursue a passion, develop new skills, and build confidence in their ability to create, lead, and contribute.
Our Approach to Wellbeing
At Christ Church Grammar School, wellbeing is central to every child’s experience. Research shows that students learn best when they feel safe, supported and connected, and our approach is based on this. We recognise that academic growth and personal wellbeing are intertwined. The goal of our wellbeing approach is not merely comfort or happiness, but equipping students with the skills, understanding and confidence to manage themselves and relate positively to others, ensuring that they are able to engage meaningfully with learning and life beyond the classroom.
Relationships First and Foremost
At the heart of our wellbeing approach is the understanding that learning and personal growth thrive within strong, interconnected relationships. Children flourish when they feel genuinely known and supported by those around them, and when staff collaborate effectively to create a consistent, nurturing environment – that is what we do best. By fostering these connections throughout the school day - through classroom interactions, playground experiences, assemblies, chapel and family engagements - students develop the confidence, empathy and social skills that allow them to navigate challenges and contribute positively to their community. In doing so, the bonds within the school community become both a source of stability and a catalyst for growth.
Values in Action
Our School’s Values – Respect, Integrity, Courage and Empathy – are woven into the fabric of the school day. They are reinforced in classroom discussions and celebrated through assemblies and chapel. By embedding these principles consistently, students develop a moral compass alongside practical skills, learning to act with thoughtfulness, take appropriate risks and care for others.
Foundations of Wellbeing
Our wellbeing framework combines pastoral care, skill development and targeted support. All students participate in structured pastoral care time built into the timetable, where they learn, practise and implement strategies to navigate social, emotional and ethical challenges. This is complemented by initiatives such as:
• Friendology, which teaches friendship skills;
• The Resilience Project with a focus on Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness;
• Zones of Regulation, helping students identify and manage emotions; and
• Approaches that acknowledge the diverse needs and experiences of our students.
Our Chaplaincy program, a valued partnership with CCSY for nearly 30 years, offers guidance, support and care in both everyday moments and times of hardship, while regular chapel services provide opportunities for reflection, connection and the reinforcement of shared values.
Co-Education Matters
Early and primary years are formative in shaping social understanding, collaboration and emotional intelligence. At CCGS, our co-educational approach provides daily opportunities for students to learn alongside peers with a wide range of perspectives and approaches to problem solving. Research consistently shows that children exposed to inclusive, mixed learning environments develop stronger communication skills, empathy, adaptability and resilience - qualities that prepare them for a complex and interconnected world. By normalising collaboration and mutual respect from the earliest years, we lay the foundations for students to navigate future academic, social and professional settings with confidence and skill.
Practical Skills and Support
Wellbeing at CCGS also includes physical, digital and emotional safety. Students engage in:
• Health and Physical Education;
• Cyber safety programs in partnership with the Cyber Safety Project; and
• Age-appropriate learning about personal boundaries and protection through Body Safety Australia.
The Head of Wellbeing, in collaboration with the Wellbeing Team of teachers and co-educators, coordinates specialised support, inclusion practices and interventions for students with diverse learning and developmental needs, working closely with teachers, allied health professionals and families to ensure every child can participate fully and flourish.
Inclusion & Intervention
Supportive, targeted interventions ensure every child can access learning fully. Guided by assessment data and teacher observation, students receive individualised strategies and small-group instruction designed to address specific needs in literacy and numeracy. This includes scaffolded lessons, guided practice and additional resources to build mastery and confidence. The collaborative approach integrates classroom teachers, specialist staff and the Head of Wellbeing – Inclusion and Intervention, ensuring interventions are personalised, responsive and aligned with best practice in differentiated instruction and inclusive pedagogy
- Respect
- Integrity
- Courage
- Empathy
- Exceptional teachers in the Primary Years who nurture the unique spirit of each child.
- A diverse & inclusive community, the development of unselfish individuality, and teaching the values of the Christian faith.
- Our rich, challenging & diverse curriculum creates a lifelong love of learning.
- The partnership with parents to educate and cherish girls and boys within a safe, caring and happy environment.
Our Electives Program
Our innovative Future Skills Program, for all students in Years 4 to 6, extends learning beyond traditional classroom boundaries, providing a platform for creativity, innovation and real-world problem solving. It is designed to nurture capabilities that underpin lifelong success and inspire students to explore the possibilities of their own potential.
Through this program, students engage in experiences that build critical thinking pathways, collaboration, leadership, resilience and self-awareness.
They experiment with:
• Creativity and design thinking
• Entrepreneurship and innovation
• Problem solving and complex challenges
• Diverse modes of communication • Resilience and self-awareness training
• Leadership opportunities
Our connections with industry, local organisations and university partners support these rich and varied experiences. Whether launching a student-led business, participating in sustainability programs or learning a new skill, students are encouraged to take on new challenges and develop confidence in themselves as capable, curious learners.
The Future Skills program is flexible and responsive, evolving each year to reflect student interests, emerging opportunities, and practical availability.
Recent electives have included:
• Indoor Rock Climbing
• Entrepreneurship [Coffee Cart]
• Creative Writing
• Media
• Woodwork
• Cooking and Nutrition
• Textiles
• Robotics
• Drama
• Bike Collective
• School and Community Service
Each elective provides a chance for students to pursue a passion, develop new skills, and build confidence in their ability to create, lead, and contribute.
Welcome to Christ Church Grammar School
It is a privilege to serve as Principal of this remarkable school - a place where strong traditions, a clear sense of purpose and an ambitious vision for the future come together. Families who choose CCGS entrust us with their children at the most formative stage of life, and my role is to ensure that every child’s experience is joyful, rigorous and filled with opportunity.
I bring to this role more than twenty-five years of leadership and teaching experience across independent, government and international schools. From my early years at Carey Grammar, to eleven years at the American Overseas School of Rome (Italy), through to senior leadership at Toorak College and Firbank Grammar, and most recently as Principal of Mount Eliza Primary School, I have seen education from many perspectives. This breadth of experience - supported by a Master in School Leadership from Monash University and a scholarship awarded by Women in Leadership Australia - has prepared me to lead Christ Church Grammar School with confidence.
One of my strengths as a leader is a deep understanding of the Early Years and Primary stages of schooling. I have guided Early Learning Centres through the highest levels of accreditation, worked closely with staff to design purposeful curricula, and led schools where literacy and numeracy outcomes have been among the strongest in the state. At the same time, I believe passionately in developing creativity, curiosity and wellbeing. My background as a professional musician, performing with orchestras and in concert halls across Europe and Australia, enriches my perspective on how the Arts shape children’s imagination and confidence.
Families often tell me they want a Principal who is both strategic and approachable. I strive to be exactly that. You will see me greeting students at the gate, visiting classrooms and speaking with parents in the playground. At the same time, I work closely with our Board, staff and community to ensure the School is well-positioned for the future - academically, pastorally and spiritually. Leadership, to me, is about composure, care and clarity, especially in times of challenge.
What excites me most about Christ Church Grammar School is our unique place in Victoria as the only independent school devoted solely to the Early and Primary Years. We are specialists in these formative stages of learning, and we do it with excellence. Our Anglican tradition provides the moral and spiritual compass that guides us, while our commitment to innovation ensures that students are prepared for the complexities of tomorrow’s world.
I warmly invite you to experience the life of our School for yourself. Come and see the joy of learning in action, the strength of our community, and the way each child is known and celebrated. Together, we build the foundations for a future in which our children will not just succeed but thrive.
Kim Wheeler
Principal
The Christ Church Grammar School Scholarships Program aims to recognise and support students in their pursuit of excellence.
Those students awarded scholarships will be of exemplary character and share the values of our school community. They will exhibit qualities such as integrity, leadership, initiative, care and compassion for others, and personal responsibility.
A scholarship entitles the recipient to a partial remission of tuition fees only and does not cover textbooks, uniforms or excursions.
If you require further information about any of our scholarships, please contact our Registrar registrar@ccgs.vic.edu.au or by calling 03 9866 3540.
Academic Scholarships
We offer Academic Scholarships to students in Year 3, for entry into Year 4 and in Year 4, for entry into Year 5.
Olivia Newton-John Performing Arts Scholarship
Daryl Braithwaite Music Scholarship
The Daryl Braithwaite Music Scholarship is an annual scholarship awarded to a child with exceptional musical talent. Daryl attended Christ Church Grammar and is delighted that this scholarship is named after him.
Find out more about the school's scholarship program by contacting the Registrar at registrar@ccgs.vic.edu.au or by calling 03 9866 3540.
Christ Church Grammar School, South Yarra
South Yarra,
Victoria
