Brisbane Grammar School enrolment applications surge by 40 per cent

Demand for places on the waitlist has surged at Brisbane’s most expensive private school – with parents paying hefty fees with no guarantee of a place

Applications to Brisbane’s two most expensive private schools have surged more than 40 per cent in just 12 months, raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars in hefty waitlist fees.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Brisbane Grammar School received more than 1000 applications in 2021, significantly higher than the 600 to 700 applications the school recorded in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

With parents subject to a $500 fee just to put their child’s name down – which does not guarantee a place and is non-refundable – it means the top school recorded as much as half a million dollars off this fee alone in 2021.

And while applications are significantly climbing the school only accepts about 240 new students each year – about 100 year 5 students, 140 year 7 students, plus a small, undisclosed number of year 10 students.

BGS – which at $29,000 per year is the state’s most expensive school – declined to answer questions on what percentage of students who apply miss out on a place each year.

Brisbane Grammar School. Picture: Richard Walker

The spike in demand was revealed in the latest BGS annual report, which also noted the “current application numbers ensure that the school’s waiting list remain strong for the next ten years”.

Headmaster Anthony Micallef said the school was “excited that the demand for a Brisbane Grammar School education is increasing”.

“Our aim is for Brisbane Grammar School to be the best school for boys in Australia and that means providing leading academic, wellbeing and cocurricular programs,” he said.

Mr Micallef pointed to the school’s highly-anticipated, $75 million STEAM precinct which was currently under construction as potentially attracting further interest.

“We continue to invest in student wellbeing programs, boarding, outdoor education, sport and performing arts at Brisbane Grammar School,” he said.

“Our ability to adapt to the challenges of COVID-19 could be another reason for increased enrolments.”

Neighbouring Brisbane Girls Grammar School also recorded a spike in demand, with principal Jacinda Euler telling The Courier-Mail that between 2020 and 2021, enrolment applications increased by more than 50 per cent.

Girls Grammar charges prospective parents $470 to apply for a place for their child which, like BGS, is non-refundable and does not guarantee enrolment.

Ms Euler pointed to the Covid pandemic as likely being a contributing factor.

“This increase has in part been influenced by the Covid pandemic, which has reinforced the value many prospective parents see in a Girls Grammar education,” Ms Euler said.

“Naturally, decreased mobility and travel has also contributed to higher enrolment application rates, with fewer families relocating, and many Australians returning home.

“Whether this trend is permanent, only time will tell.”

Independent Schools Queensland chief executive Chris Mountford said demand for places at private schools was strengthening, with the latest data showing there were more than 136,000 students enrolled across the state.

“This now takes the independent schooling sector’s share of Queensland’s total 867,347 enrolments in 2021 to 15.7 per cent, the highest it’s ever been,” he said.

“ISQ’s latest What Parents Want survey showed the number one reason parents chose to send their child to an independent school was to prepare students to reach their potential later in life.”