Carey Baptist Grammar School

"Carey Baptist Grammar School, affectionately known simply as Carey, is an independent, co-educational Baptist day school located in Victoria, Australia, with its primary campuses in Kew and Donvale."

Grounded in Christian values and a commitment to holistic education, Carey offers families a learning environment that seeks to develop the whole child — academically, spiritually, physically, and socially — across every stage of schooling. The school's academic reach is broad, spanning from Early Learning Centre through to Year 12 across its campuses. The Kew campus serves students from ELC all the way through to Year 12, while the Donvale campus caters to younger learners from ELC through Year 6, giving families flexibility in terms of location and stage of schooling. Beyond its classroom buildings, Carey's footprint extends to dedicated sports facilities at the Carey Sports Complex in Bulleen and in Kew, as well as an outdoor education camp called Carey Toonallook, situated near Paynesville in eastern Gippsland — a testament to the school's emphasis on experiential and physical education alongside academic pursuits. For families considering senior school pathways, Carey offers a notable choice that sets it apart from many Australian independent schools. Since 1997, Year 11 and 12 students have had the option to pursue either the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) or the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), the standard Australian state qualification. This dual-pathway model is particularly appealing to expatriate families and internationally mobile professionals, as the IB Diploma is a globally recognized qualification that can ease transitions into universities around the world. The flexibility to choose between an internationally portable credential and a locally respected one means Carey can serve both families planted firmly in Melbourne and those who may be looking ahead to international tertiary options. Carey's standing within the broader educational community is well established. The school has been a member of the Associated Public Schools of Victoria (APS) since 1958, and holds affiliations with the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA), the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), and the Association of Independent Schools of Victoria (AISV). These memberships reflect decades of engagement with the highest standards of independent schooling in Australia and provide students with access to a wide network of interschool programs, competitions, and community events. For relocating families, Carey's combination of Christian ethos, strong academic programming, and well-resourced campus infrastructure makes it a compelling option in Melbourne's competitive independent school landscape. The school's Baptist foundation gives it a distinct community character — one that emphasizes values-based education and pastoral care — while remaining co-educational and welcoming to families from diverse backgrounds. Whether a family is arriving in Melbourne for the first time or is well acquainted with the city, Carey offers a stable, nurturing, and academically ambitious environment in which children can genuinely thrive.