Elite Brisbane Girls Grammar School moves to bankrupt parents over unpaid fees

ONE of the city’s most exclusive private schools is chasing a Brisbane family facing bankruptcy over school fees. The school collected $29 million in tuition fees a year.

ONE OF the city’s most exclusive private schools is unable to locate a Brisbane family who are facing bankruptcy for not paying their fees, despite an exhaustive six month search.

In the Federal Circuit Court last week, a lawyer acting for Brisbane Girls Grammar School told the court that the firm Forbes Dowling was “still endeavouring to locate” Andrew and Rachel Roberts.

The couple, formerly of Murrumba Downs, were both slapped with creditor’s petitions on July 25 last year over unpaid fees.

Court registrar Katie Lynch allowed the case to be adjourned until March 15 to allow time to track the couple down.

It is the third time the case has been adjourned.

The school’s board of trustees is claiming $36,371 from each parent, claiming the debt has been outstanding for several years.

Documents filed in the Federal Circuit Court state the couple were originally ordered to pay the bill by the Brisbane Magistrates Court in February 2013.

When The Courier-Mail visited their townhouse on Northquarter Dr in Murrumba Downs in August, it was empty.

When parents struggle with job losses and business failures they are often unable to afford to pay private school fees.

However most schools are sympathetic and will allow parents to pay over an extended period.

They usually only resort to bankruptcy action after many letters, phone calls and official demands for payment have been successful.

Schools also only tend to bankrupt parents who have assets which can be sold to satisfy the debt.

Brisbane Girls Grammar collected $29.2 million in tuition from parents in 2015, according to its most recent annual report.

A school spokeswoman said Principal Jacinda Euler was “not able to comment on any matters before the court”.