Geelong Grammar School vs Geelong Lutheran College
Geelong Grammar School and Geelong Lutheran College are both in Geelong, about 10 km apart. Both schools offer IB and Australian programmes. Published annual fees are A$350 - 113,560 at Geelong Grammar School and A$5,635 - 12,730 at Geelong Lutheran College, which puts Geelong Grammar School roughly 520% higher. Both take pupils from 3 to 18. The two are similar in size, at around 1,470 and 1,300 pupils.
Geelong Grammar School operates across four specialist campuses in Victoria: Bostock House in Newtown; Corio Campus in Corio (Geelong); Timbertop in the Victorian Alps; and Toorak Campus in Melbourne. A Junior School and Early Learning Centre are planned for Corio Campus and are scheduled to open in 2026.
Location
Geelong Lutheran College operates across two campuses in Geelong. St John's Newtown campus is at 33 Aberdeen Street, Newtown, VIC 3220. Armstrong Creek campus is at 2-38 Burvilles Road, Armstrong Creek, VIC 3217. The college runs a private bus service linking Armstrong Creek with other areas including Ocean Grove, Lara, Torquay and Waurn Ponds.
Stages
Stages
ELC to Year 12 across four specialist campuses. Bostock House (ELC–Year 4); Corio Campus (Year 5–8 and Year 10–12); Timbertop Campus (Year 9); Toorak Campus (Primary campus; ELC–Year 6; Year 7 from 2027; Year 8 from 2028).
Stages
St John's Newtown offers Prep–Year 6 (with St John's Kindergarten co-located). Armstrong Creek offers Prep–Year 12.
School type
School type
Boarding and day school. Corio Campus offers both boarding and day schooling; Timbertop is a full boarding campus; the School hosts Australia's largest co-educational boarding community.
School type
Co-educational; Christian
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
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Additional learning support
Education Support Plans and Individual Learning Plans; inclusive differentiated teaching with targeted supports as required.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Australia
Country affiliation
Australia; Lutheran Church of Australia network (LEVNT)
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
Anglican
Religious affiliation
Lutheran
School day structure
School day structure
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School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
Buses to Corio Campus operate daily to Altona, Ceres, Drysdale, Highton, Newtown, Ocean Grove, Point Cook, Toorak (Middle School only), Torquay and Williamstown. Most buses have the Bus Minder System for real-time location. Bus services require advance booking for the whole term and timings may change with demand. Exeat and End of Term bus travel connects Corio Campus to Southern Cross Station, Tullamarine Airport and Toorak Campus; Timbertop also has coordinated bus travel to Southern Cross Station, Tullamarine Airport, Corio Campus and Benalla Rail Station.
Bus service details
Private bus service connects the Armstrong Creek campus with other campuses; limited services to St John's Newtown. Bus routes serve Ocean Grove, Bannockburn/Inverleigh, Lara/St John's Newtown, Highton, Torquay, Portarlington, Anglesea, Winchelsea and Waurn Ponds. In 2026, full-time bus travel costs $1,350 per student; part-time $930; casual trips $14. RollCall tracks on/off; bus coordinator email is buses@glc.vic.edu.au.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application & Enrolment Fees
- Application fee: a non-refundable AUD 350 per application for Australian citizens, permanent and temporary residents; AUD 500 per application for full fee-paying overseas students. - Enrolment (acceptance) fee (non-refundable) payable to secure an offered place: - Early Learning Centre (ELC3–ELC4): AUD 1,000. - Primary and Secondary (Prep–Year 12, excluding Year 9): AUD 2,500. - Year 9: AUD 5,000. - Full fee-paying overseas students (ELC–Year 12): AUD 5,500.
Tuition & Boarding Fees (per term and per year) — Domestic and Overseas (2026 fee schedule)
- General: tuition/boarding fees are charged in four termly instalments (per term listed, and total annual amount shown below). Fees shown are per term / per year.
- Corio Campus — Middle School (Years 5–8): - Domestic day Years 5–6: AUD 10,035 / AUD 40,140. - Domestic day Years 7–8: AUD 11,435 / AUD 45,740. - Domestic weekly boarding Years 7–8: AUD 19,190 / AUD 76,760. - Domestic full boarding Years 7–8: AUD 22,320 / AUD 89,280. - Overseas day Years 5–6: AUD 12,945 / AUD 51,780. - Overseas day Years 7–8: AUD 14,460 / AUD 57,840. - Overseas weekly boarding Years 7–8: AUD 24,185 / AUD 96,740. - Overseas full boarding Years 7–8: AUD 26,080 / AUD 104,320.
- Corio Campus — Senior School (Years 10–12): - Domestic day boarding (Day Boarder) Years 10–12: AUD 13,845 / AUD 55,380. - Domestic full boarding Years 10–12: AUD 23,460 / AUD 93,840. - Overseas tuition and day boarding Years 10–12: AUD 16,875 / AUD 67,500. - Overseas tuition and full boarding Years 10–12: AUD 28,390 / AUD 113,560.
- Timbertop (Year 9) — Domestic and Overseas: - Domestic full boarding Year 9: AUD 23,460 / AUD 93,840. - Overseas full boarding Year 9: AUD 28,390 / AUD 113,560. - A Senior School Transition Deposit equal to a full Term's published fee for a Year 10 boarding student applies to students commencing at Timbertop (charged or amortised as described in enrolment notices).
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Fee invoices are issued termly; tuition and boarding fees are charged in four instalments each year. Billing dates and due dates for the 2026 schedule are issued in advance and the 2026 billing dates/due dates listed are: - Term 1 bill issued Wednesday 17 September 2025 — due Monday 6 October 2025. - Term 2 bill issued Monday 15 December 2025 — due Thursday 29 January 2026. - Term 3 bill issued Monday 30 March 2026 — due Monday 20 April 2026. - Term 4 bill issued Monday 22 June 2026 — due Monday 20 July 2026. - Fees are payable one term in advance (that is, a term's fees are due prior to the commencement of the term to which they relate). Sundry expenses are normally billed each term as they arise and are due prior to the following term. Unpaid fees accrue interest from the date of default at a rate equivalent to the Westpac unarranged lending rate. Non-payment may lead to suspension or termination of enrolment.
Boarding fees & boarding-specific charges and inclusions
- Boarding fee levels are shown above by campus and year group (weekly and full boarding options at Corio; full boarding is compulsory at Timbertop Year 9). Boarding inclusions typically cover furnished accommodation, meals (weekly or full as appropriate), routine laundry, access to health centre services, and residential pastoral care. Occasional additional boarding charges include: - Day students overnight boarding (occasional): AUD 145 per night. - Weekly boarding: weekends spent at the School billed at AUD 350. - No adjustment to Term 4 boarding fees for Year 12 students who withdraw from boarding in Term 4; certain deposits may be forfeited if Timbertop students do not transition to Senior School.
Other costs & exclusions
- The published tuition and boarding fees include a number of standard items (buses for official school purposes, compulsory excursions, subject levies, school magazine/yearbook, some instrument hire, selected meals, access to health/wellbeing facilities). Exclusions and additional costs that parents should budget for include: - School uniform and uniform shop purchases. - Booklists, stationery and diaries. - Camps, Adventure Expeditions and some specific excursions. - Private instrumental or voice tuition and instrument hire beyond included provision. - Notebook computers or other personal technology (some Year 12 students may have a listed computer lease charge of AUD 750). - Optional co-curricular activities with separate charges, chemist and medical charges, commuter buses, personal items, dry-cleaning or sewing-room services where applicable. - Before- and after-school care flat rates (example domestic schedule: Before School Care typically AUD 21 flat; After School Care AUD 40 flat; late collection fee AUD 15 per 15 minutes after 6:00pm).
Refund information
- Application and enrolment fees are non-refundable except where stated otherwise for overseas students (for example, where a student visa is refused certain refunds and conditions apply). Overseas students' refunds are handled under the Overseas Students Refund Policy and in accordance with the ESOS Act; the policy specifies circumstances for refunds, a AUD 500 refund administration deduction may apply where a visa is refused, refunds are paid in Australian dollars by electronic bank transfer, and timeframes for processing (generally within four weeks of a completed refund request except in provider-default circumstances). Domestic enrolment withdrawals require a minimum of one term's written notice and failure to provide required notice or payment obligations may leave fees payable; unpaid fees are recoverable with costs.
Fee payment options & practical payment details
- Accepted payment channels include BPAY (details on each invoice/statement), the School's online parent payments tile (HIVE) accepting Visa, Mastercard and JCB, and international payments by SWIFT transfer (contact the School's credit/finance team for instructions). The School does not accept cash or cheque for fee payments. Electronic bank transfer details are held for fee payments (the School's Fee Transfer Account is with Westpac) and international payers are provided appropriate SWIFT instructions. Credit card/online payments incur merchant handling fees as advised through the School's payment facility. Contact details for fee-account queries are provided to families via the School's accounts team.
Other payment arrangements & concessions
- Sibling discounts apply where three or more children attend concurrently (15% discount for third and subsequent children when not all are boarders; 20% for third and subsequent where all are boarders — discount applies to the youngest sibling). - Timbertop day-student families may apply to spread the additional boarding cost for Year 9 across Years 8–10 under a Timbertop payment option if applied for by the stated deadline. - Advance lump-sum payments for fees in advance are accepted subject to approval and conditions.
Key administrative notes
- Fees and levies are subject to annual review. - Certain deposits or bonds may be required for selected year levels or specific enrolment conditions; Timbertop Senior School Transition Deposit rules and possible forfeiture are specified in enrolment notices. - Interest, recovery costs and possible suspension or termination apply for overdue accounts.
Fee details
Application fees
- A non-refundable application fee applies to enrolment submissions: Kindergarten applications incur a non-refundable AUD 20 application fee; school (Prep–Year 12) applications incur a non-refundable AUD 100 application fee.
Tuition fees by year group (annual and per term)
Note: Annual tuition is shown first, followed by the equivalent amount per term (school year divided into four terms). The College offers quarterly payment options that align with the four school terms. Annual tuition amounts below are for the 2026 fee schedule.
- Prep — Annual: AUD 5,635. Per term: AUD 1,409. - Year 1 — Annual: AUD 5,750. Per term: AUD 1,438. - Year 2 — Annual: AUD 5,750. Per term: AUD 1,438. - Year 3 — Annual: AUD 6,080. Per term: AUD 1,520. - Year 4 — Annual: AUD 6,080. Per term: AUD 1,520. - Year 5 — Annual: AUD 6,310. Per term: AUD 1,578. - Year 6 — Annual: AUD 6,310. Per term: AUD 1,578. - Year 7 — Annual: AUD 9,490. Per term: AUD 2,373. - Year 8 — Annual: AUD 9,490. Per term: AUD 2,373. - Year 9 — Annual: AUD 11,265. Per term: AUD 2,816. - Year 10 — Annual: AUD 11,265. Per term: AUD 2,816. - Year 11 — Annual: AUD 12,730. Per term: AUD 3,183. - Year 12 — Annual: AUD 12,730. Per term: AUD 3,183.
How per-term figures are calculated and payment cadence
- The per-term figures above are the annual tuition divided into four equal term instalments; the College offers a Quarterly payment plan (4 instalments) that corresponds to the four school terms. Invoices for annual fees are issued in January and Families select a payment option by the due date; default is monthly instalments if no selection is made. Full-year payment in advance is offered with a 3% discount. All tuition-fee billing and instalment arrangements are governed by the College's Tuition Fee & Debt Collection Policy.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Annual invoicing: All fees, charges and levies are billed in January each year; monthly electronic statements are also issued. - Payment plans: Full-year (advance) payment (3% discount), Quarterly (4), Monthly (10) or Fortnightly (20) instalment plans are available; families must complete the Payment Options & Direct Debit Form by the specified due date. - Payment method requirement: Tuition fees must be paid via Direct Debit through the College's Online Payment Portal; accepted card types for Direct Debit are Visa and MasterCard. Cash is not accepted. Alternative payment methods require Business Manager approval. - Due dates and final balances: The College aims for no outstanding debt at the end of Term 4, but any outstanding balances must be paid by 15 November; failure to meet agreed payments will activate the College's debt-collection procedures and may result in withdrawal of access to College offerings or termination of enrolment.
Boarding fees
- Geelong Lutheran College operates as a day school across two campuses (St John's Newtown and Armstrong Creek); it does not operate boarding facilities. No boarding fees apply.
Other compulsory or typical additional costs
- Compulsory extras not included in the tuition figures: books, uniforms, and student device costs for the Years 5–12 Laptop Program are not included in the tuition figures and are billed separately. Excursions, incursions, primary swimming lessons and core curriculum camps are included in Annual Tuition Fees where noted; elective subject levies (for elective camps and associated costs) are billed separately. - Uniforms: College uniform items are purchased through Noone Uniforms (in-person or online); uniform costs are additional and vary by items purchased. - Private music tuition: Available at additional cost to families (instrument and private lessons). - Bus travel: The College operates private bus services. For 2026, full-time bus travel is AUD 1,350 per student per year; part-time (up to five trips per week) is AUD 930; casual trips are charged at AUD 14 per trip (charged via the school's RollCall system). - Elective levies and other charges: Elective subject levies, optional excursions, certain camps and overseas immersion/study tours incur separate charges; elective levies may appear on mid-year invoices where applicable. - Sibling discount: Discounts on Tuition Fees only — second child 10%, third child 25%, fourth child and subsequent children 50% (applies across both campuses).
Refund and cancellation terms (fees-related)
- Acceptance and admission fee: Acceptance of a written offer of enrolment must be accompanied by payment of a non‑refundable admission fee; 50% of that admission fee is applied to the enrolled student's first term tuition. The Enrolment Policy requires acceptance within the timeframe stated in the offer. - Forfeiture if not commencing: If parents accept an offer but the child does not subsequently begin schooling, the family will forfeit the application fee and any tuition fees paid in advance unless one term's written notice is provided. - Debt and non-payment action: Unpaid fees may lead to reminders, final reminders, escalation to the Business Manager and Executive Principal, suspension of the student's place, and commencement of debt-collection or legal action; associated debt-recovery costs are recoverable from the family. Compassionate alternative payment arrangements may be agreed in exceptional circumstances at the College's discretion.
Fee payment options (methods accepted)
- Direct Debit via the Online Payment Portal (bank account) is the required method for tuition payments; Visa and MasterCard are accepted as card options for Direct Debit. Alternative payment methods require Business Manager approval. Hard-copy invoices are available by post on request; monthly electronic statements are issued. Cash is not accepted for school fee payments.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
PYP offered at the Toorak Campus; Toorak was the first school in Victoria to introduce the Primary Years Programme. Senior School offers VCE or IB Diploma; the School provides VCE, IB Diploma, and VCE with Vocational Focus for Years 11 and 12. Year 10 prepares students for the IB Diploma Programme or VCE and includes a Chinese course for second-language learners. Timbertop, the remote Year 9 campus, combines rigorous academics with outdoor education.
Curriculum details
Primary Curriculum is delivered through the Australian Curriculum areas of English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, The Arts, Technologies (Digital and Design), Health and Physical Education, and Christian Studies (Lutheran Education Australia). As an IB World School, Geelong Lutheran College offers the Primary Years Programme (PYP). The Secondary Curriculum covers Years 7–12 within three Learning Communities: Nurture (7–8), Evolve (9–10) and Nexus (11–12). It offers the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and Victorian Certificate of Vocational Major (VCE VM) with VET options, and Year 10 may undertake a Unit 3/4 VCE sequence or SEEK pathway. The Secondary subjects include English, Literature; Mathematics; Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology; German and French; Accounting, Business Management, History, Legal Studies; Drama and Music.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
In 2022 there were 1,437 students and 187 teaching staff, giving an approximate student–teacher ratio of 7.7 to 1.
Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
Senior School offers both VCE and the IB Diploma. In 2021, the school's median ATAR was 81.3. In 2022, top-percentage results included 24.4% of students in the top 5% of Victoria, 39.4% in the top 10%, 63.7% in the top 25% and 93.7% in the top 50%.
Exam results
Year 12 results were the strongest to date, with Geelong Lutheran College celebrating its strongest Year 12 results for the Class of 2025.
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
84% of graduates attended Victorian institutions, 14% interstate and 2% overseas. Notable Victorian destinations include The University of Melbourne, RMIT University, Monash University and Deakin University, with overseas and UK options also represented. Alumni have gained places at universities including Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Yale, Cambridge, Oxford, St Andrews and Edinburgh.
Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
There is a Gifted and Talented program supported by an Inclusive Learning Collaborator on the Toorak Campus.
Gifted and talented
General Excellence Scholarships acknowledge achievement in Christian faith, leadership and community service, or talent in music, sport, performing arts or visual arts. Academic Scholarships are available for current and prospective students entering Year 7 and Year 10, with scholarship examinations conducted online by Edutest.
Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Discover more. Explore our school information and, if possible, join a Discovery Day, group or personalised campus tour to experience the school firsthand. Campus visits help families understand the culture, community and the education on offer. Staff are available to answer questions and provide a sense of how the school supports students' education and wellbeing. 2. Complete an online application for enrolment. Applications are accepted at any time after birth. To apply for a place at any campus, complete the online Enrolment Application Form and pay the non‑refundable application fee. Provide a copy of the child's birth certificate and passport, the most recent school reports if applicable, and any medical or health-related reports. If English is not the first language, an English Language Proficiency assessment may be requested depending on year level. The online application can be saved to complete later with a unique code; early application is encouraged to maintain communication about available places. 3. Enrolment Interview. After submitting the online application, a confirmation email is issued and the child is added to the enrolment register for the intended entry year. A staff member will contact to schedule the student interview, typically one to two years prior to entry, depending on campus. A pre-enrolment questionnaire is completed before the interview, and interviews are conducted by the Admissions Manager and the relevant Heads of Campus, with careful consideration given to Timbertop's boarding environment. Timbertop campus tours are offered in the year prior to enrolment. A lodgement of the enrolment application and fee does not guarantee a place. 4. Confirmation of Place. Following an interview, a formal offer may be issued if a place is available and at the school's discretion. To accept, families complete the required enrolment documentation, provide school reports, English language test results and NAPLAN results if applicable, and pay a non‑refundable enrolment fee by the date stipulated. Fees are payable one term prior to the term to which they relate (for example, students beginning in the calendar year are billed Term 1 fees in the preceding September/October). 5. Welcome and Introduction. Prior to joining, families are invited to participate in orientation events and opportunities to become familiar with the School, forming relationships with teachers and fellow students starting in the same year. Overseas students have additional considerations outlined on the overseas student enrolment page.
Admissions
1) Main entry points are Prep and Year 7. Enrolment for other year levels is based on availability. St John's Newtown campus offers 3-4 Kindergarten and Prep to Year 6; Armstrong Creek campus offers Prep to Year 12. Places are allocated according to the College's Enrolment Policy. 2) Parents may apply for a place at any time from birth; applications generally close in March for Prep and in May for Year 7 in the year prior to commencement. Attending a College Open or Tour Day ahead of completing an enrolment application is strongly encouraged. Families should use the online application links for the relevant campus to begin the process. 3) For 2028 and beyond, applications for Prep and Year 7 are open. 2027 applications have closed due to high demand. Prep places for 2027 are limited due to the level of interest. Applications for 2028+ are processed in order of submission after enrolment eligibility checks. 4) Applications for enrolment in all other year levels are open and reviewed based on current availability. Many year levels have waiting lists. Applicants should complete the online application for the relevant campus. For an immediate start, contact the Registrar. 5) A non-refundable $20 fee applies to kindergarten applications. A non-refundable $100 fee applies to school applications. Payment of the fee accompanies the application. An email including a summary and receipt is sent after payment. 6) Families are notified in June/July of the year before intended commencement. Tours of the College are available throughout the year. After submitting an application, the Enrolment team reviews the details and contacts families with the next steps. An email with a summary and receipt is sent if payment was made.
Scholarships
Scholarships
The School offers a broad range of scholarships and awards, including Academic, General Excellence, Music, Visual Arts, Sports, Rural and Regional, Boarding, and Choral scholarships. Scholarships are available to new and currently enrolled students, with some primary-age opportunities and the majority targeting secondary students for boarding and day enrolment. Scholarships can cover boarding and tuition fees in part or in full, and donors support a large scholarship program that funds over 200 students annually, along with about 100 bursaries and concessional assistance for families in need. Scholarships are awarded one year ahead of commencement. 2027 Major Scholarship programme key dates: applications open 3 November 2025; close 2 February 2026; scholarship examination 21 February 2026; first round interviews in April 2026; second round interviews May–June 2026; outcomes communicated to families by June 2026. 2027 Sports Scholarship programme key dates: expressions of interest open 3 November 2025; close 22 July 2026 (interviews may be held during the application period). Visual Arts scholarships include the Russell Drysdale Visual Arts Scholarship open to a new student, with further cycles opening in November 2027 for entry in 2029. Boarding scholarships are available across Year Levels 7–11, with each category having specific eligibility criteria; see individual award pages for details.
Scholarships
Academic Scholarships are open to current and prospective Geelong Lutheran College students entering Year 7 and Year 10. The Scholarship Examination is prepared and conducted online by Edutest. The exam tests reading comprehension, written expression and mathematics. All candidates not already enrolled must complete an enrolment application before registering for the Scholarship Examination; 2027 applications have closed and 2028 applications will open soon. General Excellence Scholarships acknowledge achievement in Christian faith, leadership and community service, or talent in music, sport, performing arts or visual arts. They are open to students entering Years 7–10, including external applicants and current students. 2027 applications have closed; 2028 applications will open in Term 1, 2027.
Waitlist
Waitlist
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Waitlist
Many year levels have waiting lists. Enrolment applications for all other year levels are open and considered based on availability. If a place is not immediately available, applicants are placed on a waiting list; for an immediate start, contact the Registrar.