Brisbane Girls Grammar School (BGGS) will introduce Years 5 and 6 in 2026. This represents an exciting and appropriate next step in our School’s history, evolving the educational offering available for girls to meet contemporary expectations.

Students in the Junior School will benefit from the resources and opportunities a BGGS education offers with a model that is rigorous and inspiring for primary-aged girls and of a standard equal to—but distinct from—the broad and liberal education for which our School is renowned.

At our academically non-selective secular Junior School, students will learn in a nurturing environment that prepares them, in a developmentally appropriate manner, for secondary schooling.

While the tailored Junior School experience will comprise separate academic, co-curricular and pastoral care (including student leadership) models, the educational philosophy will be the same as that which has guided Brisbane Girls Grammar School since 1875. Students will receive an exemplary education in the Grammar tradition of exceptional scholarship.

Approximately 200 students will commence at Girls Grammar in 2026 (100 in Year 5, and 100 in Year 6). These students will learn in a purpose-designed, five-storey Junior School Building located at 89 Gregory Terrace, Spring Hill opposite the School’s Main Building.

Each Year level will contain four classes of approximately 25 students.

By introducing Years 5 and 6 in 2026, the School will have adequate time to build specialist facilities, appoint outstanding teachers and prepare for the academic, co-curricular and pastoral care programs of the Junior School. This will ensure the best possible educational offering for students.

BGGS is not considering offering Prep to Year 4 at this stage.

In its first year (2026), BGGS will welcome 100 students in Year 5, and 100 students in Year 6. After this year, the School’s main years of intake will be Year 5 and Year 7. Places in Year 6 will be offered only if they become available.

The School’s Board of Trustees determines the School’s fee schedule late in the year prior to fees taking effect. A detailed fee structure will be available in 2025.

The BGGS Junior School will be a purpose-designed facility at 89 Gregory Terrace, directly across from the Senior Campus. This will provide a unique environment where our Year 5 and 6 students can experience a sense of comfort in their own surroundings. The Junior School facility will include classrooms, specialist learning spaces for Science, Art, and Music, as well as a tuckshop and junior library. Students will have opportunities and spaces for play, along with access to green spaces.

In addition, students will have access to the School’s other campuses: the pool, sports centre and specialist learning facilities on the Senior Campus; sporting fields at Rangakarra Recreational Outdoor Education Centre at Fig Tree Pocket; and Marrapatta Memorial Outdoor Education Centre, near Imbil in the Mary Valley.

The Junior School building will be complete in time for the introduction of Years 5 and 6 at the start of 2026.

Junior School students will access some areas and facilities on the Senior Campus as required, such as library and theatre spaces, the swimming pool, music and specialist classrooms and nearby green spaces.

The Junior School will be accessible only to staff, students and families, with staff supervision and security in place.

Year 5 and 6 students will follow a core curriculum of English, Mathematics, Science, Technologies, Humanities and Social Sciences. Classroom teachers will teach these subjects, and their expertise and experience will support students’ academic development.

All students will study a language, Visual Arts, Music, Physical Education and Drama. Specialist teachers will teach these subjects.

In addition to a tailored wellbeing program, students will also have access to an outdoor education program and a range of developmentally appropriate excursions.

The Junior School will be governed by the Board of Trustees, and led by Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, with a dedicated Head of Junior School, and experienced primary school teachers yet to be appointed.

Qualified primary school teachers will be employed as core classroom teachers. They will offer an expert and highly supportive model of education to Junior School students, in alignment with the Australian Curriculum.

No, the School will provide devices to students as necessary to support their learning.

Students in Years 5 and 6 will participate in varied co-curricular opportunities, including:

• sporting activities, with engagement in relevant inter-school competitions;
• instrumental music, including integration with elements of the School’s Instrumental Music Program;
• debating; and
• other co-curricular clubs and activities appropriate to students’ ages.

Junior School students will be placed in Junior School Houses for sporting competition. These will be different to the existing Houses of the Senior School.

Students will be placed into House Groups at the commencement of Year 7, one of the important foundational experiences of our Senior School.

Junior School students will be placed into a core class, allowing them to develop friendships with classroom peers, while also having a chance to form relationships with other students through specialist lessons, co-curricular activities and during play time at lunch.

Orientation activities will certainly be available to students and families prior to commencing in the Junior School. These activities will also provide opportunities for families to meet one another, and members of Junior School staff.

The School has developed a comprehensive and supportive process for welcoming students into Year 7 over many years, introducing students to the School’s academic and cultural life in a way that empowers students and engages families.

All students—whether they attended the Junior School or enter BGGS in Year 7—will be placed in House Group classes for Year 7. This will ensure each student has opportunities to establish bonds with their new core group over the course of Year 7.

The School’s Year 7 intake will be larger than the cohort entering from the Girls Grammar Junior School. This will ensure a sense of renewal and a ‘fresh start’ for all Year 7 students. Additionally, in Year 7, all students will access the Senior Campus, wear the secondary school uniform, and join one of the School’s nine House Groups.

In Year 6, all students entering the School in Year 7—whether via the Junior School or from other schools across Brisbane—will participate in dedicated orientation activities, through which they can meet and form friendships with other students commencing in the secondary school.

Students in Years 5 and 6 will have access to a range of leadership opportunities, both within their core class groups and across the Junior School.

The Junior School will be distinct from the Senior Campus, and as a result, generally, the students in Years 5 and 6 will not attend events with the older students in day-to-day school life.

Junior School students will have opportunities to interact and work with senior students where appropriate, supported by their teachers.

The hours of the school day have not yet been confirmed.

Yes, staff will supervise Junior School students before and after school. The details of this supervision will be advised in the year preceding entry.

The Junior School uniform will comprise a core uniform that is consistent with the current Girls Grammar uniform and may be worn throughout her time at the School, with elements of differentiation that are unique to the Junior School. This differentiation will be through signature items, such as the tie and hat, for example.

Junior School students will be in class groups of approximately 25 students. Their core teacher will oversee their academic learning, while nurturing individual care. The core teacher will develop positive relationships with each student and their families and be the first point of contact for most school-related matters.

It is anticipated that while mobile phones may be brought to school, students would hand these to their classroom teacher at the beginning of each day and collect these devices at the end of the school day.

Smart watches will not be an acceptable part of the Junior School uniform.

The School encourages parent engagement, and the support of our parents greatly enriches the School community. Parents will be able to connect with other families through a variety of social and informational events.

Girls Grammar will tailor parent engagement and information opportunities to the unique needs of families in the Junior School.

While there will be limited opportunities for parental involvement in Junior School classrooms, parents will be encouraged to participate in their daughter’s schooling and the Girls Grammar community through Parent Support Groups, community events, and other volunteering opportunities.

A dedicated Junior School parent support group will be established for parents to become involved in activities and get to know one another.

The School will update this website page with additional information relevant to Years 5 and 6 as it is confirmed.

The Enrolments Department will contact parents about all enrolments-related matters, as is current practice for entry into Year 7.

There is no immediate action required by families. Enrolments will contact all families with enrolment applications for Year 7 2027, 2028 and 2029, to invite them to a Parent Information Evening in Term 4 2023. On this evening, parents will learn more about the Junior School, including its academic, co-curricular and pastoral care programs.

In 2024, these families will be given the opportunity to select Year 5 as their preferred year of entry, if they wish. Enrolments will email families a ‘Year Level Selection Form’, on which families will indicate their preferred year of entry—Year 5 or Year 7. For families with a Year 7 2027 application, they can also select to enter directly into Year 6 2026. This decision will directly impact any enrolment offer you may receive, so should be considered very carefully.

Offers for Years 5 and 6, 2026, Year 5 2027 and Years 7, 2027 will be issued in 2024.

All enrolment offers are made in strict date order of original Year 7 application, as is the School’s current process.

The Enrolments Department will share key dates that highlight the process for the cohorts immediately impacted by the introduction of Years 5 and 6. This will include the anticipated dates for issuing offers.

If you advise the School prior to the first round of Year 7 Offers, your Year 5 application will be cancelled, and you will return to the Year 7 waitlist in the date order of your originally submitted application. Depending on the date of your original application, you may receive a Year 7 Offer.

If you advise the School after the first round of Offers for Year 7 are already made, you will return to the waitlist and be considered if further rounds of offers are issued.

If you advise the School after you have accepted a Year 5 Offer, you will return to the enrolment waitlist for Year 7 based on the date that you advised BGGS of this change of mind. Your original application date will no longer be valid.

There is no immediate action required by families. The Enrolments Department will contact all families with an enrolment application for Year 7 2030 and beyond in the second half of 2024.

Enrolments will email families a ‘Year Level Selection Form’, on which families will indicate their preferred year of entry—either Year 5 or Year 7. This decision will directly impact any enrolment offer you may receive, so should be considered very carefully.

If you advise the School prior to the first round of Year 7 Offers, your Year 5 application will be cancelled, and you will return to the Year 7 waitlist in the date order of your originally submitted application. Depending on the date of your original application, you may receive a Year 7 Offer.

If you advise the School after the first round of Offers for Year 7 are already made, you will return to the waitlist and be considered if further rounds of offers are issued.

If you advise the School after you have accepted a Year 5 Offer, you will return to the enrolment waitlist for Year 7 based on the date that you advised BGGS of this change of mind. Your original application date will no longer be valid.

All student enrolment applications are considered individually by the date of their original application. Girls Grammar follows a non-selective enrolment process and does not have a sibling entry guarantee (or sibling discount) or an alumnae priority.

Offers for Girls Grammar are issued by date order of submission of original application and first-round offers are issued three years prior to commencing at the School, except for the cohorts who are immediately affected by the introduction of Years 5 and 6 (see table below).

Offers will continue to be issued until a cohort is at full capacity. It is difficult to predict whether this will happen after first-round offers, or if subsequent rounds will be needed—each cohort is different.

There is no set timing for subsequent rounds, as they are issued when places become available.

The School accepts all new applications via the online form found on our website. Although Year 5 applications are now open to the wider community for entry from 2026, places cannot be guaranteed as families with a current Year 7 2028 application (therefore, Year 5 2026) will be given the option to change their preferred year of entry to Year 5.

If you are unsuccessful for a Year 5 place, your daughter’s application will then be considered for Year 7 entry based on the date order of submission of application.