Enrol at BGS

The enrolment list is a guaranteed place at the School. If an enrolment application is made early, it will usually be placed on the enrolment list. If the enrolment list is full when an application is received, the boy’s name will be placed on a waiting list for the year nominated. 

The waiting list is not ranked based on the date of application, but rather it is a pool of applicants who will be equally reviewed at the appropriate time.

Every effort is made to enrol boys from the waiting list, and places may become available a short time before the date for which enrolment was requested, occasionally as late as January in the year of the student’s requested date of commencement.

In Term 3 each year, we ask applicants on the waiting list for commencement in three years time to confirm their continuing interest in their son attending the School, should a place become available (i.e. in Term 3 this year we will contact waiting list applicants for Years 5 and 7 entry in 2026).

At that time we ask you to forward copies of the following documents to the School:

• Your son’s last two school reports.
• His Year 3 NAPLAN results (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy), applicable to Year 7 applicants only.
• Learning support/special needs documentation (e.g. speech language testing).
• Details of his cocurricular activities and achievements.

We are able to offer a number of definite places to waiting list applicants before the end of Term 3. Those who don’t receive an initial offer will have another opportunity to review for a place 12 months prior to entry.

Unfortunately the number of places we are able to offer can vary significantly from year to year and we are unable to guarantee a place will be offered to all waiting list applicants.

The waiting list review involves the Director of Enrolments, Enrolments Manager, Headmaster, Head of Middle School and Deputy Headmaster meeting to review applications from the waiting list who have indicated their intention to accept an offer by completing the Expression of Interest (EOI) form.

Many considerations are taken when the review panel meet including, but not limited to, Old Boy and sibling connections, academic reports, behavioural reports, cocurricular activities and prior engagement with the School.

The waiting list review is conducted three years prior to, and one year prior, to the entry year. Applicants who are unsuccessful in the first review will have another opportunity in the second review. The School is usually able to offer a generous number of places to waiting list applicants. Final offers are at the discretion of the Headmaster.

The number of places offered for Years 5 and Year 7 fluctuates from year to year. The following should be noted:

• The number of places offered each year reflects the number of cancellations from the enrolment list.
• Places are offered throughout the year as a vacancy arises. Preference is given to those who enter the waiting list review.

Three years prior to entry, we forward the Headmaster’s Letter of Offer. To confirm your son’s commencement at Brisbane Grammar School, you are then required to complete and return a small amount of paperwork accompanied by the confirmation fee (this is currently AU$2850) by a specified date. You are also required to forward copies of the following documents:

• Your son’s last two school reports.
• His Year 3 NAPLAN results (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy), applicable to Year 7 applicants only.
• Learning support/special needs documentation (e.g. speech language testing).
• Details of his cocurricular activities and achievements.

We do not stream classes at BGS and request this information merely to assist our academic staff with their planning for the relevant school year.

At this time you may accept or decline our offer to confirm your son’s commencement.

1. Update your contact details (mail, phone and email).
2. Keep in contact (Open Day, tours and events).
3. Read and respond to correspondence from the School.
4. Prioritise the Expression of Interest (EOI) form (see “What is the waiting list review?”) and follow the instructions.

The School will conduct a Waiting List Review in March 2024 for further places in 2025. Correspondence will be sent to all families on our 2025 Waiting List in February 2024.

In late July 2024, we will write to applicants on the Years 5 and 7 waiting lists for 2027 requesting they confirm their continued interest in a place for their son at BGS by completing the EOI (Expression of Interest) form, therefore entering the Year 5 and 7 Waiting List Review in August 2024. The following information will be submitted with the EOI form:

• Last two school reports.
• Year 3 NAPLAN results (National Assessment Program – Literacy & Numeracy), applicable to Year 7 applicants only.
• Learning support/special needs documentation (e.g. speech language testing).
• Details of your son's cocurricular activities and achievements.

We will again contact 2027 waiting list applicants in Term 1 2026, asking them to confirm their continued interest in a place for their son, should one become available, and asking them to update the information we have on their son’s file with a copy of his Semesters 1 and 2 2025 school reports, his latest NAPLAN and any additional details of his cocurricular involvement. We anticipate we will be able to offer a small number of places in the latter part of Term 1 2026. Offers may be made as late as January 2027.

Year 5 applicants who do not receive an offer will be moved to the waiting list for Year 7 entry in 2029, after the 2027 school year commences.

If we are unable to offer your son Year 7 entry for 2027 and you wish him to be moved to a waiting list for an alternate year of entry, you must notify us in writing. This will need to be repeated each year as waiting list applicants are not moved to subsequent year level lists without a written request from parents.

If you choose to move your son to a subsequent senior school waiting list, please be aware that availability of these places are subject to attrition from the School's current student body.