Brisbane Grammar School

Welcome to Brisbane Grammar School. We are an inclusive community, where students from diverse backgrounds combine to live the School's values of learning, leadership, endeavour, respect and community. Our ambition to be the best school for boys in Australia inspires us to create an environment where boys pursue their talents and realise their potential.

The education of boys requires scholarly, social and emotional instruction. Our mission is to teach, model and build academic and social behaviours that will lead to full and successful lives beyond school. Every boy is given a place to belong and an opportunity to excel. Our broad liberal education, combined with extensive Cocurriculum and Student Wellbeing programs, provides every boy with the grounding to take on diverse careers.

We remain resolute in our commitment to developing thoughtful and confident young men of character who contribute to their communities.

Our talented teaching staff are innovators, continually developing and expanding their learning for the benefit of students. We constantly review and develop our programs, practices and facilities to equip boys with skills for the 21st century: critical and creative thinking, effective communication and the ability to work in a team.

Brisbane Grammar School educates boys within a strong learning culture that is innovative yet respectful of its traditions, by nurturing their intellectual, physical and emotional wellbeing to become thoughtful and confident men of character who contribute to their communities.

Brisbane Grammar School aspires to be the best school for boys in Australia, and an international leader in teaching and learning. The School is committed to offering premium educational and leadership opportunities for boys of all backgrounds, strengthening its global connections, and building a vibrant school community among students, parents, staff, Old Boys and the broader society.

The School is committed to a liberal education philosophy. Our major goals for each boy are:

• To develop attitudes, skills, and a base of knowledge as a foundation for critical intelligence, imaginative and creative powers, effective communication and the capacity and enthusiasm for independent, lifelong learning;
• To develop and extend personal character traits and talents; and
• To develop a strong sense of service, community, leadership and loyalty to others.

To achieve these goals, the School seeks to provide:

• A broad and balanced academic curriculum in which each boy is challenged to do his best;
• Highly competent teaching staff who are committed to the School's purpose;
• A disciplined and supportive environment for learning;
• A broad program of cultural, intellectual, sporting and other outdoor activities; and
• Sporting activities where boys are encouraged to strive for success, but always within the finest traditions of sportsmanship.

As the education and personal development of each boy is a responsibility shared between the School and the home, the School promotes effective communication with families.

The Grammar Schools Act 1860 enabled funding for secondary education in Queensland. By 1868, enthusiastic public subscribers had raised enough money to the establish Brisbane's first Grammar School and first independent boys school. In that same year, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, laid the foundation stone at Brisbane Grammar School's original site in Roma Street.

The new school opened in February 1869 with 94 students and four masters under the leadership of Headmaster Thomas Harlin. In 1881, the School was moved to its present site and the magnificent neo-gothic style Great Hall and classrooms were opened that year. With the opening of the Boarding House in 1886, the School became one of the first to provide student boarding facilities on site. State-of-the-art science laboratories were built in 1912.

The School consistently anticipated educational needs, providing a resource library and language laboratory in 1968, before Commonwealth funding made them standard school facilities. With the purchase of the former Primary Correspondence School in 1993 at the School's southern boundary, BGS grew to accommodate 1200 students. In 2003, the Middle School opened for Years 6 and 7 and 1400 students were attending the School.

Two important and impressive sporting facilities now complement the Spring Hill campus: The Northgate Playing Fields opened in 1997 and the Indoor Sports Centre in 2000. In 2010, the School opened The Lilley Centre, which combines technology and flexible learning spaces with a well-resourced library and programs to help students navigate their learning. Also in 2010, the Centenary Building was refurbished to provide similar learning spaces for Middle School students.