Somerset College on Gold Coast to increase fees by more than 10 per cent after unexpected letter

Parents at one of the Gold Coast’s most prestigious private schools are fuming at an unexpected fee increase that will see families fork out thousands of dollars more next year.

Parents at one of the Gold Coast’s most prestigious private schools are fuming at an unexpected fee increase that will see families fork out thousands of dollars more next year - but some are not worried at all.

Families of Somerset College, already paying up to $20,000 a year per student, were told after the bell on Friday – the last day of the school year – that fees would go up by more than 10 per cent.

In an end-of-year letter to parents, published on the school’s website, Chairman Tony Hickey said the school faced a $1.6 million budget shortfall after its Federal funding was reassessed.

“The significant drop in government funding along with inflationary pressures in our economy, particularly with respect to general labour costs, have presented a challenge to the Board to prudently maintain a healthy and sustainable balance sheet for the business of Somerset College, without any compromise on the standards of excellence for our families and their children,” he wrote.

“The result will be an increase of the tuition fees for Junior and Senior school students in 2025 of approximately $2300 per student.”

While some parents are dismayed at the sudden hike, others are happy to hand over more cash, and have leapt to its defence.

“The community at Somerset is generally very grateful to have our children there and we all make the choice to be a part of the school, knowing that comes with a relatively high fee schedule,” said Carly Eva-Benci.

“I have four children at the school next year and could do with the $10,000 that the fee hike will cost me, but every single day I pull into Somerset, I’m filled with gratitude I get to send them there.

“We are all enjoying the benefits of the new multi million dollar upgrades the school has just made, along with the privileges our children are afforded at being a part of Somerset.”

Somerset College, Gold Coast. Photo: Luke Ballard

Somerset currently has around 1700 students, which means the increase – based on the $2300 hike – could total more than $3.9 million.

One parent said some families had cancelled holidays after the announcement, while others were weighing whether they could afford to remain at the school.

“The bell rang at 3.20pm and the letter was published between 3.30 and 4pm,” they said.

“The fee increase was buried, I guarantee half the school hasn’t read it yet.

“It’s disappointing that it was just slipped into a newsletter on the last day of school as the bell rang.

“There’s been no other form of communication apart from what was in the newsletter and there will be some parents who won’t find out until they turn up next year and get their first invoice.”

Somerset’s 2024 fee schedule listed fees per student of between $17,652 for Prep up to $20,676 for Year 12.

The 2025 schedule of fees had not been released this week, with parents concerned about Mr Hickey’s message that the increase would be “approximately $2300 per student”.

“What does that mean? Our fear is that it could be much more for some students – it’s nerve-racking,” a parent said.

Parents say the timing of the information was unfair as the school demands one full term’s notice for enrolment cancellations.

It means parents were not able to consider if they could afford the hike in time to avoid paying for the first term of 2025.

Somerset College Headmaster Craig Bassingthwaighte.

Chairman Tony Hickey.

A statement from outgoing headmaster Craig Bassingthwaighte said the college always announced fee increases at the end of the year.

“This is done at this time of year every year based on the full year financial performance of the College and enrolments for the new year,” he said.

“It is particularly relevant this year with the late advice of our Federal funding.

“The increase is the result of a very late notification by the Government of a $1.6 million reduction in Commonwealth Grant Funding across two consecutive years, based on an assessment process which reviews the taxable income of parents to establish the capacity to contribute and direct measure of income.

“The assessment and review process is not subject to any consultation or feedback from the College and is completely beyond our control.”

Mr Bassingthwaighte said the school understood the “significant impact the rising cost of living has on families”.

“(This)is why our College Board continues to actively explore all possible measures to minimise tuition fee increases, keeping them as low as possible for as long as possible,” he said.

“The partnership we have with families is very important, and we will not disadvantage any families due to the late advice from the Federal Government.

“We will continue to welcome and respond to any concerns from parents and caregivers.”

Somerset College, Gold Coast. Photo: Google Maps

Parents say they are not all wealthy, with many sacrificing lifestyle choices to give their kids a well-regarded education.

“We’re not all rocking up in Bentleys,” said one.

“If it was about covering the loss of government funding, most of us understand that, but we see building after building going up – they’re building another cafe at the moment – why does the school need three cafes?

“It’s just left a nasty taste for all of us. I’m disgusted.

“This is supposed to be an educational institution and they’re treating it like a high-rise development.”

Originally published as Somerset College on Gold Coast to increase fees by more than 10 per cent after unexpected letter