Independent Schools Guide 2025: Do innovative learning strategies enhance education?

In its 144-year history, Caulfield Grammar School has retained its character, traditions and academic strength while remaining contemporary and forward-looking. Each step in the school’s evolution is carefully considered, planned and delivered.

“Any innovation we introduce is research-based, sensible and pragmatic,” says Principal Ashleigh Martin. “We want to stay current, but we don’t want to lose our soul. Families come to Caulfield Grammar School because of who we are, and we protect that, but we can’t be conservative and always look backwards.”

In 2024, it merged with Shelford Girls’ Grammar School after the girls’ school closed its doors. Martin says this has created space for valuable “blue-sky thinking” about the future of the new Shelford Campus.

“The merger is a catalyst for innovation and will enhance the education experience of all Caulfield Grammar School students,” he says.

“It allows us to strengthen and build an already great school.”

Shelford Campus Project Lead Sarah Salter is helping to shape this next significant phase of Caulfield Grammar School’s history. It is a community-focused process with the school inviting over 12,000 current and prospective families to participate in a comprehensive market research survey to share their views on how the new Shelford Campus should be shaped.

“We are creating a vision for the new campus that is co-designed with our community,” Salter says. “Through the survey, families expressed a strong desire for a seamless and connected educational experience from Junior through to Secondary School.”

The school listened carefully to its community, triangulating data from global experts and research, family demographic analysis and market research, and in February announced the launch of a new Junior School at Shelford Campus, expanding access to a quality Caulfield Grammar primary education for families living in the Caulfield, Bayside and surrounding areas. The Junior School will open its gates in 2027, initially enrolling students in years 4-6 with plans to expand to a full Prep-Year 6 offering in subsequent years.

“The Junior School at Shelford Campus will benefit from the outstanding primary years program already established at our Malvern and Wheelers Hill Campuses,” Martin says.

“Shelford Campus is also located just 800 metres from the Years 7-12 Caulfield Campus, supporting a seamless transition from Junior to Secondary School.” Alongside the launch of the Junior School, a new Innovation & Pathways Centre will be introduced at the Shelford Campus, providing students across all Caulfield Grammar campuses with industry-informed learning experiences that prepare them for future careers and opportunities. Programs will progressively evolve over the next few years, offering curriculum-based opportunities, extension programs, and a diverse range of co- and extra-curricular activities that are designed to prepare students for life beyond school.

“We are working closely with strategic partners to design programs that introduce students to career pathways, such as AI engineering and sports technology – fields they may not have previously considered,” says Salter.

Martin emphasises the importance of collaboration, highlighting the role of parents in shaping the school’s future.

“Engaging parents has enabled us to have a clear vision of what we want our school to be moving forward. Parents are discerning and involving them in research has been a real step forward.”

“The new Shelford Campus is an innovation ground where we can develop programs, engage students, make any adjustments and then build fantastic programs that can be rolled out school-wide,” he says.

“Shelford Campus will be our epicentre of innovation and a hub that blends strong academic performance with a well-rounded education that prepares students to thrive.”