Founder of International Grammar School, Reg St Leon, remembered for his “farsighted vision”

The International Grammar School community are mourning the death of their ‘extraordinary’ founder, Professor Reg St Leon.

The founder of International Grammar School, Professor Reg St Leon has died age 90.

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The International Grammar School community are mourning the death of their “extraordinary” founder, Professor Reg St Leon.

The pioneer in education died on Friday morning at the age of 90, following difficulties with his breathing.

Professor Reg St Leon died on Friday morning following difficulties with his breathing. He we will be remembered for his abiding passion for language education.

He leaves behind a legacy at International Grammar School, a coeducation inner city school that has grown from 44 students in 1984 to more than 1250 students today, from Preschool to Year 12.

Prof St Leon was a firm believer that every child should have the opportunity to learn another language.

In 2017, the Wahroonga resident was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to changing the way foreign language is taught to children, and for establishing the International Grammar School and the Paddington Language Centre.

Professor Reg St Leon OAM with International Grammar School’s Principal Shauna Colnan.

At the time Prof St Leon said looking back on his life, the one thing that was most worthwhile, was starting the foreign language teaching at IGS.

“When I am gathered to my fathers at the end of my life, I will think, I did one thing that was terribly worthwhile, and that was starting the foreign language teaching at IGS,” he said.

“Those kids at IGS are the luckiest children in the world.”

Professor Reg St Leon at International Grammar School.

The school’s Acting Principal, Mary Duma, could not agree more.

She said the IGS community honours Professor St Leon for his farsighted vision to establish International Grammar School in 1984, “a school which students could be taught in many languages from the age of three.”

“Many members of our staff and community share vivid memories of his abiding passion for language education and his insistence that all children should have the opportunity to learn another language from an early age, to reap the developmental benefits of bilingualism,” Ms Duma said.

Reg St Leon, Founder of the International Grammar School, Sydney, Professor Reg St Leon.

Professor Reg St Leon founded the school in 1984 with 44 students.

“We are proud to live the values Professor St Leon established for our school — vibrancy, authenticity, connectedness, diversity and personal achievement — and to continue our mission to equip students to be world ready.

“The world has lost a giant.

“We are indebted to Reg St Leon for his extraordinary vision and tenacity in the face of early indifference and diverse challenges.”

Principal Shauna Colnan said Reg St Leon was a great friend to her, a mentor and an inspiration.

“He had immense creativity and a restlessness to make things better,” she said.

Reg St Leon, Founder of the International Grammar School, Sydney.

International Grammar School unveiled a portrait of Prof Reg St Leon at the school’s speech night in December 2018.

Prof St Leon visited the school in December 2018 at the school’s speech night.

The school unveiled a portrait of the “great educator in his presence” and “we have been honouring him as we celebrate our 35th anniversary throughout this year.”

The school has offered their condolences to Prof St Leon’s family and friends and have given their thanks for his vibrant legacy.