Private schools hike fees by up to 18pc over six years – but Sacred Heart keeps increase to just 1pc

When it comes to private school fees, not all are created equal, with some recording 18 per cent increases since 2016 – and one limiting rises to under 1 per cent. See how yours compares.

Some private schools have hiked their fees by up to 18 per cent over the past six years, but at the same time one managed to limit increases to less than 1 per cent.

An Advertiser analysis of the year 12 fees at 20 prominent independent and Catholic schools found the average fee hike was 12 per cent since 2016 – but rises varied greatly between campuses.

At Wilderness School in Medindie, the parents of Year 12 students pay $27,888 – up 18 per cent on 2016 fees.

Walford Anglican School for Girls has also had an 18 per cent fee rise for students in their final year, with costs for parents now totalling $28,580.

Other large fee increases were recorded at St Peter’s Girls and Concordia College (16 per cent rises), Scotch College (15 per cent) and Pembroke School (15 per cent).

Cabra Dominican College Year 12 students Josh, 17, Ella, 17, and Olivia. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Catholic schools have limited their fee rises, with many actually reducing fees since the pandemic hit.

Sacred Heart College had the lowest rise, with Year 12 fees now sitting at $10,500 – not quite a 1 per cent increase on 2016.

Cabra Dominican and Gleeson colleges both increased their fees by 6 per cent ($11,360 at Cabra and $9630 at Gleeson) and St Aloysius put its year 12 costs up by 8 per cent ($11,052).

Association of Independent Schools chief executive Carolyn Grantskalns said staff salaries were the biggest contributors to fee increases.

“For most schools, 70-80 per cent of their total budget is spent on staff and staff deserve to be paid adequately and well for their work,” she said.

Catholic Education SA’s Dr Neil McGoran, with students at Dominican School, Semaphore, including Violet, Maya and Willae. Picture: Mike Burton

Ms Grantskalns said Covid-19 had also increased costs because of extra relief teacher hours.

Wilderness School said in a statement that it was a non-profit, maintaining fees competitive and sensitive to its community.

It said it had a “future-oriented curriculum”, and was the state’s only independent girls school with a remote facility, on the Coorong, providing unique learning outside the classroom.

Walford principal Rebecca Clarke said her school had a reputation for high-quality staff with low turnover.

The school has major upgrades planned, including improved outdoor learning areas and a performance, drama and events centre.

Walford is among schools receiving the smallest government funding contributions – set against assessments of how much communities are able to contribute towards education costs.

At Sacred Heart College, principal Steve Byrne said amalgamating with Marymount College and developing “economies of scale” in the school’s financial structure helped lower fees.

Avoiding increases had been “very challenging”, at the same time as paying for major upgrades.

Carolyn Grantskalns, chief executive of the Association of Independent Schools of South Australia. Picture supplied by AISSA.

Sacred Heart College principal Steve Byrne. Picture: Supplied

Cabra Dominican College principal Helen Riekie said her school was supporting families during the pandemic.

“We’re committed to ensuring that if families and their children want to be at Cabra, then they can afford to do it and we work with them on that,” she said.

Catholic Education SA director Neil McGoran said schools were offering fee reductions, low income fees for families with modest incomes, and a free mid-year reception intake.

“I would expect parents to see minimal or no increase in their 2023 school fees,” Mr McGoran said.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show inflation has risen 14.5 per cent since 2016.

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