International Grammar School vs Knox Grammar School
🇦🇺 Sydney · Side-by-side comparison on verifiable public data.
Neither International Grammar School nor Knox Grammar School sits in a market with a public inspectorate, so both are assessed on verifiable accreditation, curriculum authorisation, and published data rather than an official quality rating. Both run the same curriculum (National), so the differences come down to pathway detail, campus culture, and specific language/boarding arrangements rather than the curriculum framework itself. One practical difference: Knox Grammar School offers boarding while the other is day-only — decisive for families who need a residential option. Verify current fees against each school's own figures (see the table below).
Key Facts
| International Grammar School | Knox Grammar School | |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum | National | National |
| Ages | 3–18 | 4–18 |
| Languages of instruction | English | English |
| Annual fees | not public | AUD 42,640–45,120 (day, 2026) |
| Enrollment | — | 2,900 |
| Boarding | Day only | Yes |
| Accreditations | NESA, AHISA, AIS NSW | NESA, AHISA, HMC, CAS |
Strengths
- ✓Compulsory second language from Preschool with partial-immersion bilingual delivery to Year 6 — rare depth for an Australian day school
- ✓Five second-language options plus a compulsory third language from Year 7; languages continuable to HSC level
- ✓Strong, publicly published HSC outcomes (top ATAR 98.75; ~30% of cohort ATAR ≥90 in 2024) including First-in-State language results
- ✓Secular and co-educational — a deliberate non-denominational alternative
- ✓Inner-city Ultimo location moments from Sydney CBD; Preschool–Year 12 continuity
- ✓Strong, publicly reported HSC academic record (2025 median ATAR 89.95)
- ✓Exceptionally broad co-curricular offering — 30+ sports, 70+ activities, 90+ music programmes
- ✓Full boarding provision for boys from Year 7 across three boarding houses (200+ places)
- ✓Large, well-resourced school across three campuses
- ✓Long-established (1924) with strong CAS/AHISA standing
Trade-offs
- !Does NOT offer the IB Diploma despite the 'International' name — senior pathway is HSC only (verified across the official site)
- !No current public enrolment figure verifiable (most recent data is ~1,100–1,200 from 2007 via Wikipedia)
- !Published fees not extractable — only downloadable 2026 PDF schedules; overseas-student fees 'available upon request'
- !EAL/EALD support not stated on public pages (cannot confirm)
- !Inner-city site implies limited green/sporting space versus suburban grammar schools
- !Boys-only at primary and secondary — no co-education above early years
- !Uniting Church / Presbyterian faith heritage may not suit secular or other-faith families (a fit consideration, not a judgement)
- !High fees (≈AUD 42,640–45,120/yr day in 2026, boarding extra)
- !No IB Diploma pathway verifiable — HSC only, less internationally portable for mobile expat families
- !Day fees are aggregator-sourced (official schedule is PDF-only); boarding fee not public in plain text
Best Fit For
- • Families wanting genuine early multilingualism (a second language from Preschool)
- • Secular, co-ed seekers wanting a non-denominational alternative
- • CBD-proximate inner-Sydney families
- • HSC-pathway students wanting strong language outcomes
- • Families wanting a single-sex boys' education on Sydney's Upper North Shore
- • Boarding families (domestic regional or expat) needing Year 7+ boarding for boys
- • Students seeking a very broad sport/music/co-curricular programme
- • Families comfortable with a Uniting Church-affiliated school
University Placement
School-reported · not independently verified
School-reported, unverified: 2024 HSC top ATAR 98.75; ~11.6% ≥95, ~29.4% ≥90; 66 Distinguished Achievers; First-in-State in Spanish Extension and German Beginners.
School-reported, unverified: 2025 median ATAR 89.95 (UAC-based). A third-party directory cited a 2024 median ATAR of 92.3. University-destination data is not public. No IB results exist to cite.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should I choose International Grammar School or Knox Grammar School?
International Grammar School is best for: Families wanting genuine early multilingualism (a second language from Preschool). Knox Grammar School is best for: Families wanting a single-sex boys' education on Sydney's Upper North Shore. The right choice depends on target curriculum, budget, and family priorities — the two are not linearly comparable.
How do fees compare between International Grammar School and Knox Grammar School?
International Grammar School: not public. Knox Grammar School: AUD 42,640–45,120 (day, 2026). Verify against each school's own published fees; some figures are sourced from third-party aggregators.
What curricula do International Grammar School and Knox Grammar School offer?
International Grammar School: National. Knox Grammar School: National.
Do International Grammar School or Knox Grammar School offer boarding?
International Grammar School: day school only. Knox Grammar School: offers boarding.
This comparison is BrightKey's independent assessment using verifiable public data only. University-placement figures are school-reported and not independently verified. BrightKey takes no payments from schools. Our method →