Independent Schools Guide 2025: How Melbourne Girls Grammar is building skills for tomorrow

As well as offering an academic curriculum, including the arts, humanities, STEM, languages and classical studies, Melbourne Girls Grammar (MGGS) engages its students in activities that deepen cultural awareness, creativity, determination and a willingness to be open to new experiences.

The school also ensures that students recognise their potential to make a difference in the world and encourages every girl to use her voice to advocate for positive change in the local and broader community.

A few years ago, a group of literary-minded students, along with the Head of English at the time, decided they wanted to advocate for equality in the publishing industry and established the MGGS Stella Society, which raises funds for the Stella Prize and creates awareness of Australian women authors.

“Students are empowered to find their passions and interests while learning from strong female role models,” says MGGS Deputy Principal Lynda Wall.

“Through the Stella Society, we bring authors to the school who are writing about issues that are relevant to students, such as relationships, body image and teenage experiences.”

In an age of information overload and misinformation, the school is also equipping students with the skills to distinguish fact from fiction.

“Scientific process, logic and rationality are vital in today’s world, and that must be accompanied by a layer of cultural awareness and effective communication skills because, to be able to take action, students need to be able to communicate with others,” Wall says.

“Wellbeing is also key because young people need a positive attitude and to believe they can make a difference.

“With knowledge, cultural awareness, communication skills and positivity, you create students who can go out into the world and make an ethical difference.”

A strong ability to analyse information, listen, form clear opinions and debate different perspectives is also part of the MGGS education, with regular debating and public speaking competitions that build each student’s skills.

“We foster an open mindset with students exploring important issues,” Wall says. “Our most recent public speaking event asked students to think about what the red brick walls of our school symbolise, and that prompted conversations about privilege, making a difference and women’s education.