International Grammar School - Ultimo NSW

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Unity Through Diversity
Upcoming Events
2026 Indigenous Educational Scholarship Wed Apr 30 [0 Days to go] |
2026 Indigenous Educational Scholarship Wed May 07 [6 Days to go] |
2026 Indigenous Educational Scholarship Wed May 14 [13 Days to go] |
The Ultimo Series Thu May 29 @ 5:45PM - 07:30PM [29 Days to go] |
View all events here
See the IGS campus and facilities via our new Virtual Tour
Explore the Kelly Street Campus, Mountain Street Campus, Global Learning Centre, Centre for Design and Sport & Recreation facilities online.
- Early Learning
- Primary School
- Secondary School
- Primary - Year 12 School
- Single School Location
- Early Learning Centre
- Kindergarten
- Outdoor Education Campus
- Independent
- Non-denominational

- Academic Achievement
- Business & Legal Studies
- Co-curricular Activities
- Community
- Creative Arts
- Culture / Tradition
- Digital Technologies
- Early Learning Fundamentals
- Languages
- Music
- Numeracy / Literacy
- Performing Arts
- Personal Values
- Science/Technology
- Welfare
- Chinese
- French
- German
- Italian
- Japanese
- Spanish
Founded on principles of bilingual learning and unity through diversity, IGS is dedicated to shaping future generations of globally-conscious citizens. As a co-educational and secular independent school from Preschool to Year 12, we embody our values of diversity, authenticity, connectedness, personal achievement, and vibrancy.
Our progressive learning community is located in Ultimo, in the centre of Australia’s most creative, dynamic, digital precinct, a short walk to the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Sydney. Our idyllic Kangaroo Valley Retreat offers students a host of immersive experiences; language camps, science and sustainability field studies, Shakespeare in the Glade, music camps, writers’ retreats, art en plein air, and leadership programs.
Our unique languages program broadens students’ cultural understanding and communication skills. Each day from Early Learning onwards, students experience partial bilingual immersion, becoming familiar with their additional languages, which can include French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin and Spanish. Families from all backgrounds immediately feel at home in the IGS community, where difference is celebrated.
At IGS, we harness the natural curiosity and energy of our youngest learners. We draw upon a broad mix of theories and philosophies in early childhood education to ensure children enjoy new and exciting opportunities for developmental play and in-depth learning. Our program is underpinned by the Early Years Learning Framework, the national curriculum of early education and care services.Â
Our Primary program provides opportunity, challenge, and support to learners from Kindergarten to Year 6. Meeting individual learning needs has a positive effect on self-esteem and development. Our vibrant range of learning activities provides rigour, promotes acceptance of difference, and encourages research in students’ areas of interest. Students develop an understanding of themselves and their worlds through various forms of expression including Languages, Music, Visual Arts, and Drama.Â
Our program for Years 7 and 8 aims to create a smooth transition into High School and maximise student engagement. Courses for Years 9 and 10 provide opportunities for enriched learning and are grounded in critical thinking and the ongoing development of literacy and numeracy skills, while the expanded Senior program features stimulating choices across all faculty areas and many leadership opportunities. HSC results are consistently impressive.
2024 Academic Highlights
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IGS students received 125 early offers to University courses in diverse areas of study including Natural and Physical Sciences, Information Technology, Engineering and related Technologies, Health, Management and Commerce, Society and Culture and Creative Arts.
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Two IGS students were celebrated in the First in Course merit list placing First in State for Spanish Extension and German Beginners. One student achieved Second in State for Spanish Extension.
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Three students were listed as NSW All-Round Achievers, acknowledging that they achieved results in the top band for at least 10 units of HSC courses.
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12% of the Year 12 cohort achieved an ATAR of 95 and above, 29% achieved an ATAR of 90 and above, and 67% achieved an ATAR of 80 and above.
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There were 66 Distinguished Achievers who, between them, received 129 Honourable Mentions by being awarded 90 per cent or above in at least one course.
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100 per cent of students studying the following courses achieved results in the top band possible: German Extension, Italian Extension, Japanese Continuers and Japanese Extension.
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100 per cent of students studying the following courses achieved results in the top two bands: Dance, Drama, English Extension 1, English Extension 2, Mathematics Extension 2, Music Extension, Science Extension, Textiles and Design, Chinese Continuers, French Extension, Italian Continuers, Japanese Beginners, Spanish Extension.
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78 per cent of students across both English Extension courses achieved results in the highest band possible.
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36 Year 11 students and one Year 6 student completed HSC courses early via acceleration or compression, 37 per cent of these students achieved 90 per cent or higher in one or more HSC courses.
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IGS students received 41 nominations for HSC Showcases for exemplary Major Projects in Design and Technology, Drama, Music Composition and Visual Arts.
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Autheticity
Connectedness
Personal Achievement
Vibrancy
Through bilingual learning and a global outlook, we seek to provide a blueprint for a better future.
Early Learning Centre
We are delighted to offer small groups for parents and their children to visit our Early Learning Centre. These tours focus on viewing the beautiful learning spaces and seeing the program in action. Tours run for approximately 30 minutes.
In-centre tours take place on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 10.30am during term time. Please email the Centre at early.learning@igssyd.nsw.edu.au with your child’s name, date of birth and your tour date request. Our Centre Administrator will provide confirmation of your tour booking.
Group tours
We are currently running small group tours for families and students who are waitlisted for entry either this year or in the following two years. Please contact admissions via admissions@igssyd.nsw.edu.au to enquiry about availability.
International Grammar School opened its doors in 1984 with a unique vision to provide its students with a globally-focused bilingual education, rich in the study of music and the arts. Today, this pioneering spirit continues.
IGS is a vibrant school with a warm and inclusive community. Our campus is located near the heart of the city, in Ultimo and Glebe, just a short stroll from the University of Sydney, UTS and the creative innovation hubs of Pyrmont and Darling Harbour.
We also have a rural campus in Kangaroo Valley, just two hours’ drive from the main campus. Our vision for The Retreat is every child every year as students at each age and stage of learning spend time learning in this pristine and beautiful part of the world.
We are an independent secular Early Learning to Year 12 co-educational school. In Early Learning and Primary years, our students are immersed in a flagship bilingual program. They then go on to study two languages in Years 7 to 10 and a diverse choice of languages for the Higher School Certificate. The languages syllabuses taught are French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese.
At IGS, we offer a broad liberal education. We believe that the teacher’s role is to honour and nurture childhood while drawing out the innate gifts of the child. We take our students on an educational journey that empowers them to explore their gifts, find their voices and become their best selves as they move with growing confidence and independence towards adulthood.
Unity Through Diversity is our vision and our five core values — diversity, personal achievement, connectedness, vibrancy and authenticity – are at the heart of who we are and what we do.
My colleagues and I are committed to providing a unique educational experience that gives our students views of the world from every classroom and learning space. We are proud of our campus and curriculum, our Global Centre for the Teaching and Learning of Languages, our SAGE program, the Renaissance Centre, our Bibliothèque, the new Kindergarten Centre and much more, unique to IGS. At IGS, learning happens in and beyond the classroom – on the stage, in the orchestra, on the sporting field, in the vast array of after school clubs, and while abroad on international exchange. We are a passionate learning community – a local school with a global outlook.
Our students are our greatest ambassadors. They are in the moment: happy, warm, open-minded, curious, kind and respectful. Speak to them and they will tell you what makes IGS a great school!
We look forward to meeting you.
Shauna Colnan
BA, Dip Ed, MA, MBA, GAICD
In keeping with our values of diversity, personal achievement, connectedness, vibrancy and authenticity, the School has a long and proud tradition of educating young people through our scholarship programs.
The Indigenous Scholarship Program
Each year, IGS provides scholarships for First Nations young people and the School intends to carry this important program well into the future. Learn more here.
Academic Scholarships
International Grammar School participates in the Cooperative Scholarship Testing Program (CSTP) run nationally by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).
For more information regarding scholarships, please contact the Admissions team on 02 9219 6700 or by email to admissions@igssyd.nsw.edu.au.
Please visit the ACER website for more information on the CSTP.
(as voted by site visitors)
International Grammar School - Ultimo NSW
Ultimo,
New South Wales