Caulfield Grammar and Shelford in school takeover

After 125 years, Shelford Girls’ Grammar will lose its name as it officially becomes part of Caulfield Grammar. Here’s how it will affect families and fees.

Shelford Girls’ Grammar will be merged into Caulfield Grammar at the start of 2025.

Shelford Girls’ Grammar will be incorporated into Caulfield Grammar at the start of 2025, the two schools announced on Thursday.

Although officially dubbed a merger, the relationship will see an end to the 125-year-old girls’ school’s name, separate campus and uniform by this time.

Talks of the merger were first revealed exclusively by the Herald Sun in August.

While the two schools will remain separate in 2024, all remaining Shelford students will become members of Caulfield Grammar and wear the larger co-ed school’s uniform in 2025.

Those moving from Shelford to Caulfield will be given $1500 credit towards the new uniform.

In 2026 a decision will be made about the future use of the Shelford’s Caulfield campus, Caulfield Grammar principal Ashleigh Martin told the Herald Sun.

More than a dozen families being pursued by the girls’ school for repayment of scholarship fees after pulling their daughters out of Shelford will no longer owe anything to the new school entity.

Caulfield Grammar principal Ashleigh Martin.

Mr Martin said Caulfield Grammar “would not require reimbursement of tuition fees” from April 2024 from Shelford families.

Principal of Shelford Girls’ Grammar Pauline Cutajar said it had been a “challenging time for the school community”.

“Everyone knows I am a passionate advocate for girls’ education and my purpose now is to support our community through our transition,” she said.

Shelford Girls’ Grammar principal Pauline Cutajar said she was a ‘passionate advocate for girls’ education’.

She said the goal was to “make the best of it for everyone”.

“With any change comes sadness and we want to see the Shelford legacy respected,” she said.

Mr Martin said Caulfield Grammar was “unashamedly coeducational” and that the Shelford campus would not continue as a single-sex precinct.

He said those who wanted a single-sex environment for their daughters could consider other schools.

“But we are intent on keeping the Shelford history alive,” he said.

He said the merger was a “strategic decision based on commercial realities that Shelford had to consider”.

“There’s a lot of good faith and we are committed to doing this well and ensuring Shelford is fully incorporated into the school community at Caulfield Grammar,” he said.

His comments come as Shelford student numbers are likely to dip below 400 next year, which school leaders have declared is unsustainable.

The school is also facing a deficit for the fourth year in a row.

Shelford Board chair Pam Russell said the merger involved an integration of Shelford students into CGS that will be sensitive to Shelford students.

“In coming to this agreement to merge with CGS, Shelford has ensured the welfare of our students and quality of their learning experience is given absolute priority, as will the preservation of Shelford’s strong community culture and proud educational legacy,” Ms Russell said.

An integration committee, with an equal number of CGS and Shelford representatives, will be established ahead of completion to assist with the implementation of the merger and the smooth and supportive transition of Shelford students up until the end of the 2024 academic year.