Mentone Girls Grammar
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Tour Details
Vibe at Mentone Girls Grammar
Mentone Girls Grammar is set right opposite the beach in Mentone, about a ten-minute walk from Mentone train station. It is a smaller sized school with lovely grounds. The swimming pool complex, dance studio and pilates studios are particularly impressive.
The students who took our tour mentioned that the school does like to take advantage of their location opposite the beach, and learning opportunities at the beach (such as surfing) are encouraged. The Mentone Girls Grammar uniform is a bold red colour and looks very smart. All students we encountered during our tour seemed very happy at the school.
Mentone Girls Grammar principal’s address
The principal of Mentone Girls Grammar, Lauren Perfect, is a fairly new principal to the school (having been appointed in January 2025). Ms Perfect’s speech centred around the strength of the school being its (small) size, saying that every student is “known, seen and heard”. I later found out on the tour that there are currently only three Year 7 classes, with 21 students per class (total current Year 7 cohort is 63 students) – which is very small comparative to other schools.
The presentation also included speeches from the Junior School Captain (in grade 6) and the School Captain (in Year 12). Both girls spoke very eloquently. The Junior School Captain said that the highlight of her time at Mentone Girls Grammar so far had been their trip to Canberra. The School Captain mentioned her highlights as working on publishing a book, involvement in the school production, and the opportunity to be involved in many sports.
Enrolment at Mentone Girls Grammar
Mentone Girls Grammar advises that applications should be made at least 18 months in advance of the commencement of the year level. Prior to entry, girls and their parents attend an enrolment meeting: an informal conversation where the school learns about the applicant’s interests, hobbies and learning strengths. To secure an enrolment meeting, an application needs to have been made for the student.
When offering places, priority is given to siblings of current students and children of alumni. After this, interviews are offered based on date of application.
Academics at Mentone Girls Grammar
During the principal’s address, a slide show was presented showing the history of the median ATAR achieved at Mentone Girls Grammar. This has been on an upward trend every year since 2020 (when it was 85.9) to the most recent result in 2025 (90.05). There was mention of girls in girl’s schools being six times more likely to pursue careers in STEM comparatively to girls attending co-ed schools.
Religion at Mentone Girls Grammar
Mentone Girls Grammar is an Anglican school, however religion was not mentioned at all during either the Principal’s address or the tour. The school welcomes students from all faiths. The school values are guided by Christianity: kindness, respect, integrity and inclusion. The school has a relationship with St Augustine’s Anglican Church in Mentone.
Year 9
Unlike many girl’s schools which have Year 9 “away” programs encompassing at least one month living away from home, at Mentone Girls Grammar Year 9 students participate in their “Spark” program. The program enables students to undertake Spark subjects: inquiry-based subjects designed to expand their knowledge before making decisions about VCE subjects from Year 10. Students participate in studies in areas they may otherwise not have considered.
The range of Year 9 Spark subjects are:
- Art & Identity
- Theatre Studies
- Money Matters
- Gastronomy
- AI & Automation
- Music
- Engineering Design
- Discovering Politics
- Mind Matters
- Year 9 students also participate in a camp to Central Australia for ten days.
Sport at Mentone Girls Grammar
Sports offerings certainly seemed impressive at Mentone Girls Grammar. The school has an impressive Aquatic Centre with 25 metre and 15 metre pools, diving boards and water polo capabilities. During our tour, the students mentioned that participation in swimming is done every year until Year 10, and that the Year 7 students use the swimming pool for 6 weeks per year.
During our tour the students mentioned that there is a diving club available, with training occurring two early mornings per week. Students can get breakfast at school after diving training, as the canteen is open from 8am.
There is also a reformer pilates studio within the Aquatic Centre. This is the first pilates studio I’ve seen in many school tours I’ve done! Classes are open to students from Year 7 upwards, staff and the wider community.
There is also a very impressive dance studio: students leading the tour mentioned that there is always a dance team available to join, and that the school has attended the dance Nationals every year.
Additional sporting facilities include a strength and conditioning centre, meditation area, basketball/netball court, aerobics arena and outdoor sporting fields.
As a participant of Girls Sport Victoria (GSV), Mentone Girls Grammar offers more than 20 sports for students to take part in. There is no Saturday sports requirement.
Performing arts and music at Mentone Girls Grammar
Mentone Girls Grammar put on one school production per year for students in years 7 to 12. Historically there has been collaboration with boys from Brighton Grammar for the purposes of school productions, however that is not the case this year, and girls are playing all roles including the male roles in the production. The productions were previously held in the school hall, but now take place at a theatre in Dandenong. Drama is compulsory in Years 7 and 8, and becomes a Spark elective subject in Year 9.
Art was not a big focus of our tour, although student do participate in visual arts from the early year levels. There is an annual event called “Big Art” which showcases the student’s artworks across all grades. There is also a VCE Art and Design Exhibition, during which all students enrolled in a visual art subject can showcase their work.
In regards to music, students learn a band instrument in Year 7. Private lessons are offered for a wide range of instruments, voice and theory. There are many orchestras, bands, ensembles and choirs that students can join in both junior and senior schools. Students in years 7 to 12 participate in the annual House Music competition.
Food Technology at Mentone Girls Grammar
Food Technology is compulsory in years 7 and 8, with a focus on nutrition. It becomes an elective from year 9. The food technology room looks very well equipped and the students taking part in food technology all looked to be very engaged.
Languages
French, Chinese and Japanese are offered at Mentone Girls Grammar. Students must do two languages in Year 7, then can choose to drop one in Year 8. Languages become an elective from Year 9.
Wellbeing at Mentone Girls Grammar
Mentone Girls Grammar has their own tailored wellbeing framework named mPowered. In the senior school, Heads of Year levels oversee wellbeing. All students below to a tutor group which is year level based from Years 7 to 9 and house based from years 10 to 12 which strengthens cross-age friendships. Students receive daily tutor time and weekly pastoral periods. Year 7 students are paired with a Year 11 buddy. Students also have access to school psychologists and councillors.
School buses
Mentone Girls Grammar offers four different private bus routes: from Sandringham, Bentleigh/Brighton, Carrum Downs and Keysborough.
Mobile phone policy
Mentone Girls Grammar’s mobile phone policy is strict: mobile phones must stay in the student’s lockers for the entirety of the school day.
Final words
Mentone Girls Grammar’s tagline is “Known, Seen and Heard”. The principal spoke passionately about this in her address, and how their small size enables every student to be well known by all staff members and other students. The campus has a lovely calm and friendly atmosphere. Students can take advantage of many extra-curricular activities while supported by an empowering community spirit. All girls we came across during our tour seemed genuinely happy and engaged.
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