Sydney Knox Grammar School’s troubled history

It is one of NSW’s most prestigious institutions, has many decorated alumni and is the richest school in the state— but Knox Grammar is no stranger to scandal.

Knox Grammar is officially the richest school in the state with an annual gross income of $107,806,358 and has educated many men who dominate Australia’s political, financial and artistic elite.

It includes economist turned member for Parramatta Andrew Charlton, University of Sydney vice chancellor Mark Scott and actor Hugh Jackman.

The school, spread over its sprawling Wahroonga campus on the upper north shore, is one of Sydney’s priciest with fees of up to $35,130 a year.

It also has a controversial history.

That was brought to light in 2009 when five teachers were charged with historical sex abuse crimes — Barrie Stewart, Adrian Nisbett, Craig Treloar, Roger James and Damien Vance.

Knox Grammar in Sydney has a troubled past. Picture: News Corp

At the 2015 child sex abuse royal commission the school was accused of covering up 33 years of sex abuse, which included students being plied with alcohol and cigarettes while teachers showed them sickening videos of paedophilia and bestiality.

The royal commission also heard one former student refer to the school as a “paedophile ring”.

Five teachers were charged with allegedly sexually abusing students.

In 2019 the school’s director of swimming Nicholas Warby was charged with possessing child abuse material and jailed for two and a half years in 2021.

The school has nonetheless proved popular with parents.

It is the richest school in the state when it comes to gross annual incomes, bringing in more than $100m in gross income in 2020, the latest reporting period for which data is available.

Its high income compared to other prestigious private schools is thanks to the sheer number of students, with a student body of 3123 — making it one of the biggest schools in the state.

Knox Grammar School rugby field at Wahroonga.

Facilities include four tennis courts, The Knox Aquatic Centre with a heated Olympic swimming pool and gym, playing fields, the 750 seat Wenkart Theatre and the Great Hall with a capacity for 2,200 people.

Other buildings include the self-described “groundbreaking” Weeks Senior Academy that houses a 150-seat lecture theatre, a Senior Student Resource and Research Centre and a café.

Its website says it “seeks to be an exemplary School, developing, within a caring Christian environment, students of Faith, Wisdom, Integrity, Compassion and Courage, with a sure knowledge of who they are and how they should live.”