[1]The school was founded as The Grey Institute by John Paterson, who also founded Standard Bank and The Herald newspaper, and named after Sir George Grey, Governor of the Cape Colony for the period 5 December 1854 – 15 August 1861, who was the benefactor for the original school to be constructed adjacent to the Donkin Reserve in Central, Port Elizabeth.

Due to significant growth from the "twice one hundred boys" referenced therein, the school relocated to College Drive, Mill Park in 1915.

The school motto of "Tria Juncta in Uno", Latin for "Three Joined in One" is derived from the Most Honourable Order of the Bath of which Sir George Grey was made Knight Commander in 1848.

The record, achieved in 1991, stands to the name of past scholar and staff member, Greg Miller, with a time of 19.8 seconds.

First performed in 1938, this includes cadets from grade 10 to 12 parading to a marching band with local South African military officials in attendance.

[8] The school offers a number of major sports including rugby, hockey, athletics, cricket, rowing, swimming, water polo, tennis, squash, air-rifle shooting, golf, basketball, mountain biking and cross-country with several provincial and national representatives at age-group level over the years, and many provincial and national representatives at senior levels of international competition.

The Hibbert Shield hockey tournament has recently been established and hosts schools from all areas of South Africa.

Inaugurated in 1917, the competition for this prestigious shield is the oldest schools athletics event in South Africa.

[15] In 2014, two U16 boys were selected to represent South African Schools Rowing in Belgium and returned with gold and silver medals.