Private schools across Western Australia have recorded the highest average fee increase in years as the sector faces growing pressure to provide competitive wages for its teachers, according to a new report.
The 2025 National School Fees Report, released by Edstart, revealed WA school fees have risen 5.51 per cent on average, up from the 4.4 per cent rise recorded in 2024.
This year-on-year increase was the highest nationally, although the state remained under the Australian average school fee increase of 6.05 per cent.
WA’s median annual school fee is now $9035, also lower than the national average, with the highest fee recorded at $35,713 for year 12 students at Presbyterian Ladies’ College – the school increased its maximum yearly fee by $2253.
The report stated a major reason for WA’s fee hikes was pressure on private schools to increase staff wages.
Edstart chief executive Jack Stevens said this was down to the recent pay deal for WA public school teachers signed in October and backdated to December 2023.
“This has put upward pressure on the wages in the independent and Catholic sector, resulting in the highest average fee increase in the state in recent years,” he said.
“Fee increases have generally tracked closely with the wage price index as staffing costs make up the largest portion of a school’s budget.”
By sector, independent schools increased fees by 5.75 per cent and Catholic schools by 4.16 per cent.
Boys’ schools saw the highest fee jump, at an average of 7.95 per cent, while girls’ schools rose an average of 6.66 per cent and co-educational schools rose 5.16 per cent.
Schools with year 12 annual fees of $30,000 or higher recorded the highest annual increase, while schools with fees under $10,000 recorded the lowest annual increase. None of WA’s top-fee schools were Catholic schools.
The report analysed the fees at 902 schools nationally – 101 of which were from WA.
It was released later this year so more schools could be included.
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