The Head of the Junior School is Nicolee Eiby, who is assisted by Deputy Head, Lezah Semple. The Junior School educates 2 year olds in the Early Education Centre through to Year 6. Year 7 is part of the middle school system. The Junior School, with the assistance of the P&F, organises many co-curricular activities, such as gymnastics, school dances and music and drama lessons. For most purposes, the Junior School is distinct from the Senior School, and conducts its own assemblies and organises its own activities. However, some facilities on the IGGS/IJGS campus are shared by both the Junior and Senior Schools, such as the gymnasium, swimming pool, hall and oval, and the School newsletter is published for all students from Prep to Year 12. The Junior School also provides many events both in and outside of school like interhouse swimming, cross country and athletics, cross country training, public speaking and holds evenings for parents and students to get together like music showcases and performances.
House system
The school is split into 5 houses, named after the first five school headmistresses.
Hunt - named for Fanny E. Hunt BSc. - 1892 - 1902
Connell - named for Maud Connell MA - 1902 - 1905
White - named for Helen White MA - 1906 - 1927
Armitage - named for Lillian M. Armitage MA - 1928 - 1947
Carter - named for Katherine C. Carter MBE MA - 1948 - 1964
In these houses, the students participate in athletics, drama, music, art, debating and more.
Campus
The School's campus is located in central Ipswich, and features a mixture of historic buildings dating to its inception in 1892 and more modern facilities which have been added over the years. The buildings are spread around the campus, interspersed with many green areas and gardens. Facilities include the performing arts block, state-of-the-art graphics and art studios, gymnasium, swimming pool and specialised language classrooms.
New buildings
Following a devastating fire that destroyed the science block in the Senior School on 27 August 2005, IGGS has embarked on a major building program. Two new buildings have been constructed, after several years of negotiations undertaken by the School’s Board of Trustees and Executive; these buildings cost over $20 million and were completed by the beginning of the 2009 school year. The new five level Senior School building includes replacement of the Senior classrooms and Science laboratories destroyed by the fire plus additional facilities including administration and student services area, an auditorium and function room. The four level Junior School building has increased enrolment capacity with 12 new classrooms, a new library and computer rooms.
