Kilvington Grammar School


Kilvington Grammar School is a private, Baptist, co-educational day school, located in Ormond, a suburb in the Glen Eira region of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Established in 1923 by Caroline and Constance Barrett, Kilvington has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently caters for approximately 800
students from the Early Learning Centre to Year 12.
The school is affiliated with the Junior School Heads Association of Australia, the Association of Independent Schools of Victoria, the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia, and was a founding member of Girls Sport Victoria.
WWW kilvington.vic.edu.au

Principals

Kilvington Grammar School has had ten principals or formerly headmistresses since the school was established in 1923.
Years servedName
1923–1933Caroline Barrett
1934–1943Florence Murial Fysh
1944–1948Mabel Ross
1949–1973Roberta McKie
1974–1993Warren Stone
1994–2001Di Fleming
2001–2005Judith Potter
2006–2007Dan McNeill
2008–2021Jon Charlton
2022–presentRob French

Curriculum

Kilvington Grammar School offers their Year 11 and 12 students the Victorian Certificate of Education.

Controversy

Lachlan Cook's Tragic Death and Kilvington facing Negligence charges

Kilvington Grammar School has been deeply criticized following the death of 16-year-old student Lachlan Cook, who died due to complications from Type 1 diabetes during a school trip to Vietnam in 2019. Despite being aware of Lachlan's medical condition, the school and World Challenge Expeditions, the company organizing the trip, failed to provide adequate care and support, leading to his tragic and preventable death. During the trip, Lachlan consumed street food in Vietnam, which led to severe diabetic ketoacidosis. Despite exhibiting serious symptoms, including persistent vomiting and high blood glucose levels, Lachlan was not taken to a hospital for over 24 hours. His condition rapidly deteriorated, and after suffering a cardiac arrest, he was declared brain-dead upon his return to Melbourne.
The coroner's inquest found significant failures in how the situation was managed. The supervising staff, including two Kilvington teachers, were not trained to handle diabetes-related emergencies, nor were they provided with Lachlan's diabetes management plan. This lack of preparedness was a critical factor in the coroner's determination that Lachlan's death was preventable. WorkSafe Victoria subsequently charged Kilvington Grammar School under the Occupational Health and Safety Act for failing to ensure the safety of students, particularly those with known medical conditions.
In July 2024, Kilvington Grammar School pleaded guilty to charges of failing to ensure the safety of Lachlan Cook during a 2019 school trip to Vietnam. This legal admission followed significant public scrutiny and legal pressure over the years. The school acknowledged its failure to protect Lachlan, who died as a result of complications from Type 1 diabetes during the trip. In a statement, Kilvington Grammar School principal Rob French confirmed that the school had pleaded guilty to a breach of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. He stated, "As the matter is still before the courts, I am unable to comment further at this stage, other than to say my thoughts and prayers remain with Lachie's family and friends, who continue to mourn his tragic loss." Kilvington Grammar School is scheduled to appear in the County Court for a presentence hearing on December 11, 2024.
The company that organized the trip, World Challenge Expeditions Pty Ltd, faces three similar charges. In court, they requested additional time to review the case and are due to return on September 20, 2024.

Notable alumni