Boarding at Canberra Grammar School is a proud tradition and a home away from home. We’re the only co-educational boarding school in the ACT, welcoming 140 students from rural and coastal areas, families on overseas postings, and international backgrounds.
Located within our Red Hill campus, boarding places students at the heart of School life, where they can participate fully in academic and co-curricular opportunities while belonging to a close-knit residential community built on respect, inclusion and camaraderie. In Canberra, recently named the world’s best city for quality of life by Time Out, students enjoy a safe, vibrant and culturally rich environment that supports growing independence and lifelong friendships.
We partner closely with families to ensure each boarder flourishes both academically and personally, and we look forward to welcoming you to our community.
Boarding at CGS offers more than a place to stay—it’s a vibrant community where students thrive. With access to state-of-the-art facilities, Canberra’s cultural and educational resources, and supportive routines, boarders build independence, confidence,
Read MoreDiscover our campuses anytime, anywhere with our Virtual School Tour
Click to ExploreFor more information about living and studying in Canberra, you can access:
LIVING IN CANBERRAMeet our Heads of Boarding and Enrolments in person.
Drop in any time — Thursday 20 August, 12–4pm, Southside Leagues Club, Griffith.
Free to attend. Register so we know to expect you.
Register Now!Our boarders have 24 hour, seven day a week support from an incredible team of dedicated and caring professionals, led by the Heads of Boarding. The team also includes live in and visiting tutors, a registered nurse and visiting doctor. Academic tutors offer that little bit extra to support our commitment to academic excellence while our Boarding Coordinator assists in the day-to-day care of boarders by providing pastoral, domestic and administrative support to boarders, their families and the Boarding House staff. CGS Boarding also offers a range of dedicated pastoral care staff, including counsellors and psychologists who are on-staff.
All CGS Boarders have access to not only a variety of sporting facilities, but to a wide range of leading sporting programmes from rugby, soccer, tennis, cricket, netball to water polo and extra-curricular programmes like Code Cadets and student-based academic support groups like the CGS Academy. Additionally, students have the opportunity to apply for international exchanges as a part of their academic programme, or may even participate in an international-trip as part of a sporting commitment.
Staying in touch with family is important to Canberra Grammar School and we welcome parent contact and involvement. The Boarder Parent Committee Group meets each term where feedback, initiatives and inquiries are openly discussed. And of course, parents and students have unlimited access to one another.
The Registrar provides guidance and support with enrolment procedures and arrangements prior to entry to the School, including guardianship and accommodation matters, health insurance, and visa. Most overseas students seeking a place at Canberra Grammar School as boarders will need to undertake capability and achievement tests which will help to assess the student’s ability to manage the courses offered and their English proficiency.
Boarding is available for students in Years 7 to 12, providing a supportive and consistent pathway throughout the Senior School years.
Students join our boarding community at different stages of their education and are supported to settle in, build friendships and establish routines from the time they arrive. As they progress through the School, boarders develop greater independence and responsibility, with the continuity of the boarding community supporting them through to Year 12.
Whether joining in Year 7 or later in Senior School, students are welcomed into an established community and encouraged to make boarding their own.
Yes. Canberra Grammar School offers co-educational boarding, with girls and boys living in separate boarding houses and each supported by a dedicated Head of Boarding.
Students come together as part of the wider boarding and School community for meals, activities and shared experiences, while their residential spaces provide dedicated environments appropriate to each boarding house.
This structure allows students to experience the benefits of belonging to a co-educational School community while receiving the residential care, leadership and support of a dedicated boarding team.
Accommodation arrangements vary according to age and year level, with students also having access to shared common and recreation spaces. Our Boarding team can talk families through current accommodation arrangements when they visit or enquire.
Boarders have dedicated evening study time, providing a consistent routine for homework, assessment and independent learning throughout the School week.
Academic support is available within the boarding environment, with students also able to access the broader support offered across Canberra Grammar School, including their teachers and departmental tutorials. Living on campus also makes it easier for boarders to balance their academic commitments with sport, rehearsals and other co-curricular activities.
As students progress through Senior School, the structure of evening study supports them in developing greater independence, effective study habits and confidence in managing their own workload.
Boarders have access to the School Health Clinic and registered nurses, with additional medical support and assistance with external appointments available when required.
Weekends are an active part of boarding life. Students are encouraged to participate in a summer and winter sport, with boarding staff supporting the arrangements needed to attend training, games and other School commitments throughout the year.
Boarders can also take part in organised activities and excursions, spend time with friends, make use of School facilities and, with appropriate leave, enjoy time beyond the campus.
Arrangements for weekly boarding can also be discussed with families where appropriate, providing greater flexibility for students whose circumstances allow them to return home on weekends.
New boarders are supported as they become familiar with the campus, boarding routines and the people around them. Boarding staff and fellow students help new boarders establish connections and become comfortable within the community.
Yes. Families considering boarding are encouraged to visit Canberra Grammar School, meet our Boarding team and see the boarding facilities.
We understand the care that goes into choosing a boarding school for your child. Our Boarding and Enrolments teams are here to answer your questions, talk through your family’s needs and give you a clear understanding of life as a boarder at Canberra Grammar School. We invite you to visit our Red Hill campus, meet our Boarding community and discover the opportunities that could shape your child’s years at Canberra Grammar School.
Type on the line above then press the Enter/Return key to submit a new search query
