Adelaide’s priciest Catholic, independent schools – explore the fee schedule for 2021

Schools are back for 2021. See how much families are paying for a Year 12 student at some of SA’s priciest institutions.

Independent and Catholic schools in South Australia have mostly kept fee increases to a minimum as families feel the economic pain of the economic downturn.

A survey of prominent private schools offering Year 12 show the most expensive are in a tight band, listing charges of $26,000 to $28,000 a year in compulsory costs.

Based on headline rates, Walford Anglican School for Girls will be the most expensive.

The 10 dearest schools remain the same as 2020, with little change in the order except Prince Alfred College and Wilderness moving up the table.

Several schools, including Pulteney, Loreto and Concordia, have not increased fees this year.

St John’s has set its fees in bands of year levels, which will see a decrease for Year 12 as well as Years 8, 9 and 11 but increases for Years 3 to 7 and 10.

“Overall, the restructured fees are revenue neutral when applied to 2020,” chair Jodie Benveniste told parents. However, some other charges, especially because of rising IT costs, would increase.

Across the board, fee increases average about 1 per cent.

Fee comparisons should be treated with caution as schools publish fee information in different ways.

For example, many schools charge an application fee of $50 to $200, plus an enrolment confirmation fee of $100 to more than $2000. Few schools specify whether these fees are credited against their headline rate or are an additional charge.

The Association of Independent Schools of South Australia and Catholic Education SA said schools were trying to restrict fee increases.

“Schools are very aware that last year was financially challenging for some families and they will have taken this into account when setting fees,” AISSA chief executive Carolyn Grantskalns said.

“However, schools do face increasing costs including staff salary rises and insurance fee increases as well as additional costs caused by the COVID virus – for example, significant increases in cleaning.

“Paradoxically, some schools will need to increase fees to enable more bursaries and remissions to be offered to those families who are committed to their child’s school but are unable to pay full fees in 2021.

“No school wants a family who is desperate to keep their child at the school to have to make the heartbreaking decision to leave.”

Carolyn Grantskalns, chief executive of the Association of Independent Schools of SA.

Denis Ralph, chair of he SA Commission for Catholic Schools.

The SA Commission for Catholic Schools has asked all its members to make “meaningful reductions” and has embarked on a three-year plan to rein in costs.

“The Commission is acutely aware of the need to ensure high quality outcomes as well as to continue to support families whose circumstances have been affected by COVID-19,” commission chair Denis Ralph said.

“Catholic education is committed to providing greater accessibility and affordability for all families enrolled, or considering a Catholic education.”

Most Catholic primary schools will have significant fee reductions this year, with secondary school fees reductions now or to follow.

The Advertiser surveyed publicly available information from more than 100 schools in the non-government sectors.

The majority of non-government schools charge between $5000 and $15,000 a year.

Most schools offer discounts for siblings and early payment or for School Card or low-income families.

Contributions to building or capital funds can be voluntary, attracting a tax benefit, or compulsory. Voluntary levies are often included in invoices, requiring families to opt out rather than opt in.

There also are an array of variable costs not included in the fees, including uniforms, school bus transport, extra resources for some subjects, specialist music or sport programs and equipment and extra charges for VET or International Baccalaureate students.

Families also need to consider IT charges with some schools providing equipment and access as part of the fees, others having loan programs, specific extra charges or requiring students to bring their own devices.