SA’s priciest schools charge up to $16,600 for a student’s first year of education

Private schools fees for Reception have soared above $16,000 – but experts say there are more important considerations than cost.

As Reception fees soar above $16,000 for the priciest private options, education experts say research and gut feel should trump cost when it comes to choosing your child’s first school.

They say while cost may be one factor in the decision – with many prestigious schools now charging well in excess of $10,000 for Reception – it is more important parents search for a school that is the right “fit” for their family.

Dr Leigh Burrows, a senior lecturer in education at Flinders University, said this mostly came down to the feel of a school, but could include classroom sizes, whether a school was single sex or coeducational, its curriculum, philosophies and whether it had a special focus.

“It’s a gut feel, I reckon that’s really what parents go on,” Dr Burrows said.

A survey at some of Adelaide’s top schools found Scotch College charges $16,600 for Reception and St Andrew’s School $16,560.

Parents starting their child’s schooling at Pulteney Grammar will have to part with $16,250, while at St Peter’s College it will set you back $16,200.

Dr Burrows said some parents sent their child to one of SA’s more prestigious schools for the students and families with whom they would socialise and network.

“The academics there might be better but they might not be better,” she said.

“But it’s the circles you’re going to move in.

“You buy a lot more of other things than academics when you’re choosing an expensive school.”

But Dr Burrows said what was most important was how a school felt.

“Go for a walk around the school, go to the front office – what’s the ambience like in the yard, the mood of the kids?” she said.

“You can tell if children are happy and it’s a good vibe.”

Artist impressions of the new Pulteney Grammar School building.

Concept images of Scotch College's planned $26 million wellbeing centre.

She said small classroom sizes being a benefit was “a bit of a furphy”.

“When I taught a class of 15 at one point, it was too small,” Dr Burrows said.

“The dynamics weren’t there and not everyone had a friend.”

She said between 20 and 22 students in a class created a “really good vibe”.

Association of independent Schools of South Australia chief executive Carolyn Grantskalns encouraged families to visit a school to see if it felt right.

“I think what’s important is the fit,” Mrs Grantskalns said.

“(Visiting) is really the only way to know for sure which made it very hard during COVID when you could not visit schools.”

She said it was important to determine if a school matched with your family’s values and aspirations for your child.

“Every family is different and there is a school for every family,” Mrs Grantskalns said.

Some of Adelaide’s highest-charging schools for Reception have been contacted for comment.

Scotch College head of Mitcham Campus Ieva Hampson said its Reception offering was “carefully crafted to ensure every student is known, nurtured and valued - academically, socially, emotionally and psychologically”.

“Our youngest students enjoy capped class numbers to ensure the best possible learning environment ...

“Beyond the home group program ... every Reception child also works with specialist teachers in programs such as physical education, swimming (with a qualified swimming instructor on campus), performing arts and music lessons – areas known to enhance literacy development – visual arts, digital technologies ... French and Chinese, specialist science and library lessons.”

A Pulteney spokeswoman said: “The purpose-built (junior primary) environment includes an award-winning ‘nature play’ playground, and in conjunction with small class sizes, a wide breadth of extra-curricular activities and a commitment to knowing each student as a unique person, an education during these early years at Pulteney Grammar School encourages each child to value themselves and others as they respond positively to being challenged in their learning and growing as individuals.”

A St Andrew’s School spokesperson said its Reception program was “underpinned by a rich, inquiry-based curriculum using the world-class International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme”.

They said students had exposure to specialist programs, including Italian, music, sports, and art, as well as access to a broad selection of co-curricular activities.

“Beginning in 2022, St Andrew’s Reception students will have access to our world-class Bright Futures Centre, a purpose-built educational facility designed to extend the School’s already outstanding STEM programs, offering children unique learning opportunities that will be difficult to replicate elsewhere,” the spokesperson said.