Private school fees Qld: How costs compare to ATAR performance

Queensland’s most prominent private schools also have the most expensive fees for the 2022 school year, but not all topped the list for their 2021 academic results. SEE THE INTERACTIVES

Queensland’s most prominent private schools also have the most expensive fees for the 2022 school year, but not all topped the list for their 2021 academic results.

Data sourced by The Courier-Mail has revealed the priciest independent educations and their most recent ATAR scores, as well as how some of the cheaper school compared.

The results show parents don’t always need to pay the highest price for their children to top the academic ladder.

All Hallows’ was one of the top performers for ATAR scores, despite charging about half as much as the state’s most expensive schools.

One of the state’s most expensive schools Brisbane Boys’ College, which costs $27,948 in Year 12 fees, had a lower median ATAR than most of Queensland's leading private schools.

The 2021 cohort received a median ATAR of 87.3, only slightly ahead of St Saviour’s College Toowoomba, which scored 86 and charges just $6175 for Year 12 students.

More-expensive schools Brisbane Grammar, Brisbane Girls’ Grammar and Churchie all returned a median ATAR above 95 in 2021.

Cost and academics aside, Queensland Independent Schools Parents Network executive officer Justine Cirocco said choice and diversity were also major drawcards for families joining the independent sector for the first time in 2022.

“Parents have the right to choose how and where their children are educated in line with their own personal values and beliefs, and independent schools in Queensland embody this,” Ms Cirocco said.

Independent schools across the state are expected to welcome more than 138,000 new and returning domestic students in 2022.

The Courier-Mail has taken a look at the merits of the most expensive and cheaper private schools, and their respective median ATARs

Some of the fees listed are tuition-only, while others are all-inclusive.

MOST EXPENSIVE PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Brisbane Grammar School

BRISBANE GRAMMAR SCHOOL, SPRING HILL

Fees for Years 7-12 in 2022: $29,000

Median ATAR in 2021: 95.3

Brisbane Grammar School is one of Queensland’s leading day and boarding school for boys in Years 5 to 12.

The school has a rowing shed on the Brisbane River, a tennis centre, an indoor sports centre, playing fields and an outdoor education property at Lake Moogerah.

The top ATAR rank of 99.95 was achieved by 11 students at the Spring Hill school in 2021.

Headmaster Anthony Micallef in December commended the senior cohort for their academic excellence despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Their outstanding ATAR results speak to their resilience but also to the culture of excellence fostered over many years at Brisbane Grammar School,” he said.

Mr Micallef became the school’s 12th headmaster in 2014.

He is a graduate of the University of Sydney and completed a sabbatical at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Mr Micallef taught in several independent boys schools in Brisbane and Sydney where he fulfilled leadership roles in the academic, student wellbeing and cocurricular domains.

He has served Brisbane Grammar School for 25 years in various leadership roles.

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL, SPRING HILL

Fees for Years 7-12 in 2022: $27,325

Median ATAR in 2021: 96.25

Brisbane Girls Grammar School touts a broad, liberal education for girls from Years 7 to 12.

The main campus at Spring Hill is home to the Cherrell Hirst Creative Learning Centre and Elizabeth Jameson Research Learning Centre, a 25-metre suspended swimming pool, a theatre and sports centre.

The school also owns a dedicated outdoor education campus near Imbil.

More than 17 per cent of the 2021 graduates achieved an ATAR score above 99 with two students attaining a 99.95, the highest possible score.

Principal Jacinda Euler said the results were made possible by expert and caring teachers who negotiated the challenges of a new system and pandemic, without losing sight of the joy in learning.

“The girls have been remarkable this year – positive, hardworking but never selfish,” she said.

“They have attained these results for themselves but also for their teachers and for their School.”

Ms Euler holds a Bachelor of Arts (Cold War History and Literature) and a Master’s Degree in Education Studies.

She first taught at Girls Grammar from 2000-07 and returned as principal in 2013.

Ms Euler is passionate about inspiring girls to be adventurous and maintain an open-minded approach to life.

Brisbane Boys’ College

BRISBANE BOYS’ COLLEGE, TOOWONG

Fees for Years 7-12 in 2022: $25,468

Median ATAR in 2021: 87.3

Brisbane Boys‘ College is an independent GPS school for boys From Prep to Year 12 with boarding available from Year 7.

The Toowong school is governed by the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association and prides itself on “future-proofing” its students.

Students have access to several ovals, tennis courts, a library, multi-games courts and weights area of the Barbara Helen Thomson Sports Complex, a swimming pool and music facilities.

Data released in December shows 6 per cent of its graduating class attained a ATAR score of 99 or above.

Andre Casson has been appointed as the 10th Headmaster of Brisbane Boys’ College, commencing this month.

Mr Casson was most recently the Head of the Australian International School in Singapore.

He graduated from the General Management Program, Harvard Business School, and also has a Diploma in Education from The University of Notre Dame Australia and a Bachelor of Science from The University of Western Australia.

“Brisbane Boys College is a school of magnificent tradition and amazing history,” Mr Casson said in his introduction video.

St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School

ST MARGARET’S ANGLICAN GIRLS SCHOOL, ASCOT, BRISBANE

Fees for Years 7-12 in 2022: $25,360

Median ATAR in 2021: 92.25

St Margaret‘s Anglican Girls School is a private, Anglican, day and boarding school for girls.

The Ascot school has a state-of-the-art new sports precinct with a water polo sized heated swimming pool, a gymnasium and outdoor courts.

St Margaret’s has a focus on academic excellence and offers an extensive global exchange program in Year 10.

More than 8 per cent of the Year 12 cohort received an ATAR score of 99 or above.

Principal Ros Curtis said she was grateful for the generosity and goodwill of those associated with the school in 2021.

“We are a community which has highly involved parents, active students and interested past students who volunteer a tremendous amount of time and effort and, therefore, contribute greatly to the success of St Margaret’s,” she said in the end-of-year newsletter.

Ros began her career as a teacher with Education Queensland with the teaching areas of history and drama.

She completed her Masters of Education in Leadership and Management in 2005 and in 2011 received the John Laing Award for her significant contribution to the professional development of senior leaders.

Anglican Church Grammar School

ANGLICAN CHURCH GRAMMAR SCHOOL, EAST BRISBANE

Fees for Years 7-12 in 2022: $24,784

Average ATAR in 2021: 95.2

Anglican Church Grammar School, also called Churchie, is an independent school for day boys and boarders with about 1800 students from Reception to Year 12.

Churchie‘s extensive sports facilities include 10 turf sports fields, an aquatics centre with three heated pools, a rowing shed on the Brisbane River and a tennis centre.

In 2021, two students achieved the maximum possible ATAR of 99.95.

The cohort achieved an average IB score of 37, equivalent to an ATAR of 95.2.

Headmaster Alan Campbell said the results were spectacular and a tribute to the combined effort of students, teachers and parents.

“Well done to all,” he said.

Dr Campbell was appointed eighth headmaster of Anglican Church Grammar School in 2014.

He completed a Diploma in Teaching and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Queensland University of Technology and the University of Queensland respectively.

Dr Campbell then began teaching in independent education with majors in English Literature and Geographical Science.

He has a love of literature, music and sport and an enthusiastic involvement in recreational and charity cycling.

SCHOOLS WITH CHEAPER FEES

All Hallows‘ School

ALL HALLOWS’ SCHOOL, BRISBANE CITY

Fees (Tuition) for Years 7 in 2022: $12,650

Average ATAR in 2021: 92.6

All Hallows’ School is an independent Catholic girls’ school for Years 5 to 12.

A facilities master plan is currently underway including science facilities, a new library and study areas.

Despite charging about half the fees of the most expensive schools in Queensland, All Hallows’ was among the top when it came to ATAR scores.

A dozen students achieved an ATAR of 99 or more.

The school credited the results to the students’ hard work and diligence, and the support of families and teachers.

“Our Class of 2021 will long be remembered at All Hallows’ for their remarkable leadership, resilience and their caring compassionate hearts,” principal Catherine O’Kane said in her 2021 newsletter.

Ms O’Kane is the second lay principal at All Hallows’ School and part of a long tradition of women who have led the school since 1861.

She has almost 30 years’ experience as a teacher.

Ms O’Kane joined All Hallows’ in June 2015.

Loreto College Year 12 student Phoebe Reid in 2017

LORETO COLLEGE, COORPAROO, BRISBANE

Fees for Years 7 to 12 in 2022: $11,424

Average ATAR in 2021: 87.7

Loreto College Coorparoo is an independent Catholic Secondary School for girls within the Archdiocese of Brisbane.

On the cheaper end of the scale for private schools, a new master plan is currently in the works for Loreto which boasts several sporting facilities.

The cohort placed in the top 2 per cent in the state when 14 per cent of students achieved an ATAR of 98.00 and above.

All students in the 2021 cohort have graduated with a qualification, with all graduating

students achieving the Queensland Certificate of Education.

“In wishing the graduates of 2021 well, we recall Mary Ward’s adage that ‘women in time to come will do much’,” principal Kim Wickham said.

Ms Wickham began as principal in 2018 with over 30 years’ experience in teaching.

She holds a Masters Degree in Education (curriculum), Bachelor Degrees in both Education and the Arts (Qld Conservatorium), a Graduate Diploma of Teaching plus an Associate Diploma in Performance.

Matthew Flinders Anglican College

MATTHEW FLINDERS ANGLICAN COLLEGE, SUNSHINE COAST

Fees for Years 7 to 12 in 2022: $13,140

Average ATAR in 2021: 92.65

Matthew Flinders Anglican College is an independent Anglican coeducational primary and secondary day school on the Sunshine Coast.

The school is investing more than $30 million as part of its Flinders Masterplan to provide contemporary learning spaces, including a design centre, for its 1370 students.

Flinders already boasts an aquatic centre and two multipurpose floodlit sports fields.

The school had one of the highest median ATARs in the state despite being on the cheaper end of the scale for independent schools.

Principal Stuart Meade said the results were even more impressive given the Covid chaos that the 2021 graduates endured.

“Despite these challenges, our students have overwhelmingly remained focused and supportive of one another,” he said.

“Importantly, they have also participated in so many of the opportunities we offer at Flinders beyond academics, whether music, sporting, creative arts or service projects.”

Mr Meade joined Matthew Flinders Anglican College in 2017 and was previously Headmaster at one of Australia’s leading schools, Hale School, in Perth.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts, Diploma of Education, Master of Education degrees from UNE and USQ, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Mr Meade believes the core of any great school is the quality of teaching and the calibre of its teachers.

Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School

IPSWICH GIRLS’ GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Fees for Year 7 in 2022: $12,950

Average ATAR in 2021: 85.5

Ipswich Girls‘ Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, day and boarding school for girls.

The heritage-listed campus is situated in the heart of Ipswich overlooking Bremer River and has a university-style lecture theatre, multi-court gymnasium, fitness centre and human movement laboratory.

More than 5 per cent of the cohort achieved an ATAR greater than or equal to 99.

The school congratulated its students, citing their remarkable diligence, perseverance, resilience, and aspiration.

Dr Peter Britton began at the school as the first male principal in 2011.

In previous years, he held senior roles at Brisbane Boys’ College.

Immanuel Lutheran College

IMMANUEL LUTHERAN COLLEGE, SUNSHINE COAST

Fees (Tuition) for Year 7 in 2022: $10,064

Average ATAR in 2021: 80.45

Immanuel Lutheran College is a coeducational Christian private school on the Sunshine Coast.

The Buderim school’s music program is one of its key strengths as well as a new environmental centre, and its outdoor education program at a second campus- Mt Binga.

In 2021, 11 per cent of the graduating cohort received an ATAR over 95.

Principal Colin Minke said he was proud of the cohort’s achievements.

“At Immanuel, we have a very connected community where the academic is intrinsically linked with each student’s social and emotional wellbeing,” he said.

“Our philosophy is the whole person is the whole point.”