Listed: Adelaide’s most expensive private schools in 2024

Private school fees for 2024 have been released – with seven top campuses across the state bumping to more than $30,000 for the first time. See who ranks among the most expensive.

• $1300 back-to-school bill shock

Pembroke School has overtaken St Peter’s College as Adelaide’s most expensive private school.

Latest fee information published online shows parents will be charged $31,251 to put a child through year 10, 11 or 12 at Pembroke in 2024.

That is a 6.2 per cent increase on the $29,418 charged in 2023 – the largest percentage increase among 37 top schools surveyed by The Advertiser.

Pembroke School principal Mark Staker. Picture: Supplied

Pembroke principal Mark Staker said the school recognises and “deeply appreciates” the “significant financial commitment” of families.

“In setting school fees, our primary aim is to maintain and indeed enhance the quality of a Pembroke education, whilst also balancing the impact on families,” Mr Staker said.

He said while the independence of the school is “liberating” it comes with the issue of “managing cost pressures” including inflation, insurance premiums and increased cyber security expenditure.

“A substantial portion of the revenue derived from school fees is invested in our amazing staff, allowing us to recruit and retain teachers of the highest calibre to educate hearts and minds,” Mr Staker said.

Analysis of fees at independent and Catholic schools across the state shows Pembroke is one of a number to cross the $30,000 threshold for one year’s tuition for the first time.

St Peter’s College informed parents earlier in December that it would charge $31,190 for years 10 to 12, up 5.9 per cent on the $29,450 fee for 2023.

The next biggest hike is at Prince Alfred College, where parents will pay $30,870 – up 5.7 per cent.

Prince Alfred College, Kent Town, Adelaide. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / Emma Brasier

Pulteney Grammar School will also charge parents 5.7 per cent more ($29,600).

At Seymour College, parents can expect to pay $30,680, up 5.2 per cent and families at Westminster School will be charged 5.1 per cent more ($26,876).

Parent of three children at Westminster, Richard Bund, 44, said sending his kids to the school was “definitely the most worthy investment we’re ever going to make”.

“One just has to make a value decision as to where you’re going to spend whatever money you have available to you,” Mr Bund, from Hawthorn, said.

“The community, particularly at Westminster is really warm, inclusive and it’s just a great environment for kids to grow up in.”

Mr Bund said that for his eight-year-old son Levi in particular, small class sizes at the school are “conducive to more individual learning opportunities”.

Westminster student Levi, 8, with father and old scholar Richard Bund at their home in Hawthorn. Picture: Morgan Sette

And the increase in fees, Mr Bund said, was “acceptable”.

“It’s an increase that’s acceptable and understandable in the context of the inflationary environment we’re operating in,” he said.

Mr Bund was an old scholar at the school from 1984 to 1996 and said his experience was “a strong factor” in deciding to send his children there.

Westminster principal Simon Shepherd said schools strive for an “affordable cost”.

Westminster principal Simon Shepherd. Picture: Mark Brake

“Independent schools always strive to provide families with the best education that they can at the most affordable cost,” Mr Shepherd said.

St Peter’s Girls School has raised its fee about five per cent to $30,700 and Immanuel College parents will see an increase of 4.9 per cent ($22,276).

Walford Anglican School for Girls will charge families $30,840 (up 4.8 per cent).

St Peter’s Girls’ School, Adelaide. Picture: Facebook

While a majority of Catholic schools have frozen fees for another year, many independent schools have imposed increases of four or five per cent.

Association of Independent Schools of SA chief executive Anne Dunstan has said schools must factor in the rising cost of utilities, study materials and educators’ wages.

Ms Dunstan said independent schools “work hard to maintain fees at affordable levels” so that they can deliver a quality education and attractive employment conditions.

In August, Catholic Education SA announced 84 schools would freeze fees in 2024, for the third year in a row.

They include 59 primary schools, 22 secondary schools or combined colleges, two special schools and special assistance school Compass Catholic Community, which remains fee free.

Catholic schools to have announced 2024 fees so far – which remained steady at 2023 rates – include Xavier College ($6245) and St Mark’s College in Port Pirie ($4639).

When announcing the fee freeze, Catholic Education SA executive director Neil McGoran said it was an attempt to help families “at a time when South Australians are experiencing high inflation, increasing interest rates and mortgage pressure”.