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| Brighton Grammar School | |
|---|---|
 Brighton Grammar School logo | |
| Location | |
 | |
90 Outer Crescent , 3186 Australia | |
| Coordinates | 37°54′38″S144°59′39″E / 37.91056°S 144.99417°E /-37.91056; 144.99417 |
| Information | |
| Type | private,single sex,day school |
| Motto | Latin:Meliora Sequamur (Let us keep pursuing better things) |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Established | 1882[1] |
| Founder | George Henry Crowther |
| Sister school | Firbank Grammar School |
| Headmaster | Ross P Featherston |
| Employees | 250[3] |
| Gender | Boys |
| Enrolment | 1,500 (K–12) |
| Campus size | single campus, 3 hectares (7.4 acres)[2] |
| Colours | Red and blue |
| Slogan | Be part of it |
| Affiliation | Associated Public Schools of Victoria |
| Alumni | Old Brighton Grammarians |
| Website | www |
Brighton Grammar School is aprivateAnglicanday school for boys, located inBrighton, a south-eastern suburb ofMelbourne,Victoria, Australia.
Founded in 1882 byGeorge Henry Crowther, Brighton Grammar has a non-selectiveenrolment policy and currently caters for over 1,500 students from theEarly Learning Centre (ELC) to Year 12.[3] The majority of students are drawn from theCity of Bayside and surrounding suburbs ofBrighton,East Brighton,Elsternwick,Hampton,Sandringham,Highett,Beaumaris andBlack Rock.
The school is affiliated with a number of associations including theHeadmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference,[4] theJunior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA),[5] the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA),[6] the Australian Anglican Schools Network,[7] theInternational Boys' Schools Coalition IBSC,[8] and theAssociated Public Schools of Victoria (APS).[9]
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Brighton Grammar School was founded on 14 February 1882, with eight male students. By 1890, 160 boys were in attendance. During thedepression of the 1890s, students numbers declined rapidly.
Brighton Grammar School's first site was 165 New Street Brighton. It subsequently moved to Temperly Lodge, located on Outer Crescent, north of Allee Street, in which the school's Urwin Centre for Learning currently stands. The School's third site, Pendennis, on New Street, was opened in 1886 when the school boasted near 160 pupils. In 1905, the Headmaster and founder purchased Rosstrevor, a large estate south of Allee St and its surrounding swampland. This land is now known as the Crowther Oval, sitting at the centre of the school. The oval was constructed by the help of “Old Boy engineers” who called upon “4000 loads of filling”[10] to produce the oval.
The school founder, George Henry Crowther washeadmaster until his death in 1918. His son,LieutenantColonel Harry Arnold A. Crowther, subsequently assumed the role. Crowther retired in 1924, when Herbert E. Dixon took over.
Under Dixon, the school came near to bankruptcy, however was saved by incorporation under the auspices of the Church of England. In February 1927, theGovernor-General Lord Stonehaven opened the present site of Brighton Grammar's Quadrangle. Dixon continued in expanding the school until his retirement in 1938.
Geoffrey G. Green was headmaster until sickness resulted in his resignation in 1942. His successor wasReverend Phillip St. John Wilson.
In 1958, Brighton Grammar joined theAssociated Public Schools of Victoria (APS), and soon after purchased grounds on the former Brighton Gas Company site, where "Wilson House", now theJunior School, was to be built to accommodate the growing student numbers. This site was "among Victoria’s most toxic sites" after an EPA report found remnants of industrial toxins and chemicals in the soil in 2016.[11] Under Wilson, the school's facilities grew, with the Tower Wing of the Quadrangle expanded, the first Annandale Pavilion constructed, and the Memorial Hall (where BGS’ library now stands) constructed.
With Wilson as Headmaster, enrolment continued to grow at a high rate. The number of boys reached 800 during the 1960s.
From 1967 to 1995, Robert Lancelot Rofe was headmaster. Rofe oversaw a large change in the school, with BGS’ facilities drastically expanded to accommodate an increasing number of students. Physical changes included the construction of the swimming pool at Wilson House, the Clive Crosby building (now the B-Hive[12]) the Zachariah Wing, Baddiley Building at Wilson House and the Robert Sanderson Centenary Hall. In addition to these, the R. L. Rofe Creative Arts Centre accommodating music, woodwork, art and design was constructed and named in the Headmaster's honour.
Michael Spencer Urwin was appointed headmaster at the beginning of 1996. He had previously held the position of deputy headmaster atBrisbane Grammar School, and began his term by implementing acurriculum review, a pastoral care system, and a program of modernisation. This also included community education opportunities in out of school hours in order to make the school more inclusive and less parochial. A new senior schoollibrary and resource centre, and specialist classroom facilities were built to upgrade facilities in the senior school as well as the middle school later on.
Urwin saw the purchase of the Girrawheen site north of Allee Street (now the Urwin Centre for Learning), the construction of the Atrium and Senior Library, and the resurfacing of the H.V. Mitchell and Junior ovals to synthetic. In 2011, under Urwin still, the Peter Toms Early Learning Centre was established, whilst construction began on the new middle school. Enrolment grew significantly with 1262 boys on the roll at the time of his departure.
Ross P. Featherston was appointed Headmaster in 2014.[10] Thus far, under the leadership of Featherston, the school has undergone redevelopment, with improvements to the G.B. Robertson Hall at Wilson House, renovation of the Crosby Building into the B-Hive, complete reconstruction of the Annandale Pavilion, internal renovations to the Argyle Building, the Tower and Hancock Wings and the Junior School, as well as ambitious projects such as the Urwin Centre for Learning (opened 2014) and the Duigan Centre for Science, Creativity and Entrepreneurship having opened in 2025.
In 2022, BGS celebrated its 140th anniversary. The program BGS2032[13] was created by the school to mark where BGS would be at its 150th anniversary. Student enrolments reached a high of 1500 in 2023 leading to the introduction of two new Houses.[14]
In 2025, after three years of construction, the Centre for Science, Creativity and Entrepreneurship was officially completed and was named as The Duigan Centre, in honour of pioneering aviator and Brighton Grammar Old Boy, John Robertson Duigan (OB 1901). Over 750 people toured the centre during its opening weekend.
The centre was officially opened on Thursday 27 February by The Hon Nick Duigan, the grandnephew of John Duigan, withBishop Kate Prowd performing the blessing.
The Duigan Centre helps students connect with the school's rich history through the stories of Old Boys who have gone before them, such as John Duigan, be inspired by their courage and vision, and carry with them a piece of John Duigan's extraordinary spirit and values.[15]
Brighton Grammar School has a closesister school relationship withFirbank Girls' Grammar School, an independent Anglican school for girls. Students of the two schools participate in a range ofco-educational activities together.[16] The school also maintains a close relationship withSt Andrew's Anglican Church, Brighton.
In 2003, the Australian Government created the “Lighthouse Schools” program wherein 226 boys’ schools across Australia were selected as guiding institutions given data that boys were “significantly underperforming in key educational areas.” Brighton Grammar School received a $5,000 grant under the program to become a pivotal boys’ school.[17]
TheCrowther Centre for Learning and Innovation is an organisation run under the auspices of Brighton Grammar School to provide support services for the educational community.[18][19] The Crowther Centre is part think-tank and research arm overseeing the collection and analysis of data to provide improved and informed decision-making processes.[20] The Head of the Crowther Centre is Dr Ray Swann.[21]
Brighton Grammar School currently has eighthouses: Armstrong (white), Crowther (yellow), Dixon (blue), Fairweather (orange), Hancock (green), Melville (grey), Rofe (purple) and School (red). Hancock was added in 1986, and Rofe was added in 2005 The newest two houses were added in 2023 (Fairweather and reinstated Melville).[14] In 1923 the original houses were Armstrong, Crowther, Dixon, Melville and School (for boarders).
Brighton Grammar offers its senior students theVictorian Certificate of Education (VCE).
| Year | Rank | Median study score | Scores of 40+ (%) | Cohort size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 61 | 33 | 17.1 | 262 |
| 2013 | 52 | 34 | 16.4 | 265 |
| 2014 | 56 | 34 | 15.3 | 234 |
| 2015 | 62 | 33 | 15.8 | 227 |
| 2016 | 45 | 34 | 22.3 | 217 |
| 2017 | 45 | 34 | 20.8 | 218 |
| 2018 | 46 | 34 | 18.3 | 218 |
| 2019 | 59 | 33 | 18.0 | 223 |
| 2020 | 21 | 35 | 25.1 | 211 |
| 2021 | 44 | 34 | 17.7 | 243 |
| 2022 | 31 | 35 | 19.9 | 259 |
| 2023 | 17 | 36 | 24.5 | 258 |
| 2024 | 24 | 35 | 24.3 | 286 |
In 2024, for the first time in the school's history, two students achieved a perfectATAR in theVCE.
Brighton Grammar is a member of theAssociated Public Schools of Victoria (APS), and partakes in various sporting competitions against its other members. Students from year 7–12 participate in sports on Saturday with training during the week. These sports include rowing, sailing, basketball, AFL, rugby, touch rugby, diving, cricket, soccer, hockey and swimming.
Brighton Grammar has won the following APS premierships:[23]
Brighton Grammar participates in theSTEM Racing challenge annually. They have advanced to the National Final for this competition ten times, with the following teams:
In 2022, Brighton Grammar School's F1 in Schools team, Constellation advanced to the 2023AramcoF1 in Schools World Finals.
The team recorded a 17th-place finish at the school's first outing at the World Finals, with the 8th quickest car of 68 competitors. This presents a stable platform for BGS F1 to build upon.
In 2024, Brighton Grammar School's F1 in Schools team Lunar advanced to the 2024AramcoF1 in Schools World Finals. Here they recorded a 3rd-place finish at the school's second World Finals outing, a record for BGS at the time.
In 2025, Brighton Grammar sent two professional class teams, Lunar and Ad Astra to the World Finals. This was the first occasion within Australia that one school sent two teams to the World Finals.
In 2025, Lunar won theAramcoSTEM Racing World Finals, hosted inSingapore. Their victory marked the firstSTEM Racing World Championship for Brighton Grammar School, as well as the first time the school won Best Engineered Car at the competition. Lunar won a total of four awards from six nominations. Also represented at the competition was Ad Astra, who finished 15th against 83 competitors.
BGS has recorded the following results at the F1 in Schools/STEM Racing World Finals:
*2025: Lunar - 1st from 83 teams
Brighton Grammar School runs the iDesign program in Year 8, a competition where students are encouraged to design and pitch new products to the cohort. There are finalists and a winner chosen from the competitors, with the most recent being:
Brighton Grammar has a rich music program, with several orchestras, ensembles, and choirs, including:
For Strings:
For Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion
For Voice:
For Guitar:
Other:
(List not complete)
In 2023, Brighton Grammar alongside sister school Firbank Grammar hosted the "Spring Rhapsody" concert at the Melbourne Recital Centre, marking a return to large-scale concerts for the school following COVID-19. This occasion featured many combined ensembles from both BGS and FGS.
In 2025, Brighton Grammar School was represented by two string quartets and a piano quintet at the Boroondara Eisteddfod, held at theHawthorn Arts Centre inHawthorn. The Year 9 piano quintet placed second in its section, the Year 7/8 string quartet (Competitive String Quartet) won its section, and the Year 8 quartet received an honorable mention.
In late 2025, Brighton Grammar School announced the formation of a year 7-9 string octet for 2026, consisting of four violins, two violas, and four cellos.
Brighton Grammar School has been referenced in historical allegations of student abuse, with reports spanning from 1965 to 2024.[24][25][26] The school was included in an inquiry examining incidents across more than 180 Victorian schools.[27]
Former staff member C. Smith was convicted in 2010 for offences committed between 2003 and 2008.[28][29]
In separate cases, teachers J. Hewitt and G. Iliakis were charged during their employment in relation to the possession of inappropriate material.[30][31][32][33][34][35][36]
Alumni of Brighton Grammar School are commonly referred to as Old Boys or Old Grammarians and may elect to join the schools'alumni association, the Old Brighton Grammarians' Society (OBGS).[37] Some notable Old Brighton Grammarians include:
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