Grammar plans new era at Corio campus

GEELONG Grammar School will shift its primary school campus to Corio at the end of next year before selling its Newtown site.

GGS formally lodged plans for its Corio expansion to state planners late last month after releasing its vision for the new primary school in March.

The new primary school will be co-located with GGS’s current Corio secondary school site and include construction of new facilities to benefit both campuses.

The school expects to begin stage one of construction later this year to finish by the end of next year, with the aim of shifting all students to Corio for the start of 2024.

GGS indicated it would keep classes at its Noble Street, Newtown site into 2024 if construction was delayed, before selling the heritage-listed Bostock House after their move.

The expansion includes plans for a “Greenhouse” incorporating communal spaces, five new classrooms and landscaping to connect students.

The purpose-built primary school would also make use of existing facilities like sports and arts centres.

The stage one build would cater for one class per year level of primary school and two early learning cohorts, before stage two would double student capacity.

The new school would make use of the surrounding natural environment to deliver what the school calls “adventure, positive and creative” education.

“These new environments at GGS will encourage students to challenge themselves physically and socially, apply their thinking and problem solving with and through nature, and fortify their capacity for responsible risk taking,” principal Rebecca Cody said.