Yarra Valley Grammar


Yarra Valley Grammar is an independent, co-educational grammar school, located in Ringwood, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia.

History

The idea of a new school for boys in Melbourne's outer eastern suburbs was conceived in 1963 by a group of locals who recognised the need for a school closer to home for their sons as there was already a school for girls in Ringwood East. In that year a committee was established to make the idea a reality.
The school was established in 1966 as Yarra Valley Church of England School for boys. John Pascoe was the first Headmaster and the first assembly took place with 135 boys in attendance.
In 1970, Yarra Valley Grammar was invited to become a member of the Associated Grammar Schools of Victoria. In 1972, Yarra Valley Anglican School established the first hearing unit for profoundly deaf students in the state of Victoria. Girls were admitted to the two senior levels in 1978, and the school progressively became fully co-educational from 1993 through 1995.
In 1999, the School officially changed its name to Yarra Valley Grammar. In 2006 and then in 2016, Yarra Valley Grammar celebrated its 40th birthday and 50th birthday respectively with many special events. The school celebrated its 40th birthday in a service at St Paul's Cathedral September 2006 and then its 50th birthday in 2016.
In 2009, Mark Merry became Principal. A new Early Learning Centre was opened soon after.
In 2011, Foundation Hall and a new Upper Primary Building were opened. In 2012, a disastrous fire destroyed a large part of the School, including the science faculty. Later in the year, the Brooke Nicholas Sports Pavilion was opened.
In 2015, a new Science and Mathematics Building was opened by the Governor-General of Australia, Sir Peter Cosgrove and Anglican Archbishop of Australia, Philip Freier.
In 2017, the School's outdoor pool was demolished and a new Indoor Aquatic Centre opened in partnership with Paul Sadler Swimland.
in 2019, a new Research Centre and Chapel was opened by His Grace, Dr Philip Freier, Archbishop of Melbourne and Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia.

Curriculum

Compulsory 'core' subjects exist from Years 7 to 10 with electives being offered to students from Year 9. The school provides Year 11 and Year 12 students the Victorian Certificate of Education, the main assessment program which ranks students in the state. The school also offers select Vocational Education and Training subjects.

Co-curriculum

The school offers many co-curriculum programs outside of the standard curriculum. These include, but are not limited to:
A number of students have gone on to be successful in corporate and public life: