Private school application fees: Who is charging the most?
Queensland’s private schools are forcing parents to drop big bucks just to put their name on a waiting list, with no guarantee of success. Then, the lucky ones are slugged thousands more, even before the five-figure annual fees kick in. SEE THE LIST OF BIGGEST BILLERS
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PARENTS are forking out hundreds of dollars in application fees to multiple private schools, with no guarantees their kids will be accepted.
A Courier-Mail analysis of dozens of schools has found parents who want their kids to be considered for a place at some of the state’s top institutions must spend up to $500 to apply, with thousands more in non-refundable fees handed over to take up offers.
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Of the top schools, the in-demand Brisbane Grammar School charges the most for parents to apply, with a $500 fee and a further $2650 to confirm a place – more than $3100 in fees before school even starts.
Other hefty amounts include Brisbane Girls Grammar ($470 application fee), Anglican Church Grammar School ($425), Brisbane Boys’ College ($420), and Somerville House ($350).
These schools also charge parents a minimum $1200 confirmation fee to lock in a spot if their child is successful in gaining a place, a non-refundable cost on top of the tens of thousands in standard tuition fees.
The most recent Independent Schools Queensland survey found almost half of all families who opt for private schooling apply for at least two, with 16 per cent registering at three or more schools.
But parents whose kids end up languishing on the wait list are left out of pocket, and those that land a spot don’t get the amount deducted off tuition fees.
Brisbane Grammar School headmaster Anthony Micallef declined to comment on how many kids didn’t make the cut into gaining a place into the prestigious school, but said the school continued to experience “healthy waiting lists”.
“Parents are making informed decisions about the right school for their children and therefore may be lodging applications with multiple schools,” Mr Micallef said.
One Brisbane mum, who asked not to be named, told The Courier-Mail she had applied for a place for her eight-year-old son at five different private schools, spending hundreds of dollars in fees per school.
She said though she felt the application fees were too high, she and many of her fellow parents felt the pressure to apply for multiple schools while their kids were still very young.
“It’s a bit of an anxious wait because you’ve spent a lot of money, and there is no guarantee they will get in,” she said.
“But there is clearly a huge demand, so you do feel a pressure to be on the wait list early.
“It’s difficult because you don’t really know what school fees you will be able to afford once they reach high school – you’re making those decisions while they’re still young.”
ISQ executive director David Robertson said almost a quarter of parents start thinking about school options from birth, or even before their child is even born.
“School choice is a very important and personal decision for families,” he said.
“Many parents invest significant time assessing schooling options to determine the one they believe will bring out their child’s best and which aligns with their family’s values and aspirations.”
Finder money expert Bessie Hassan said parents who want to send their kids to a private school should keep these fees in mind, and start saving early.
“Some parents start applying just days after their baby is born, and their child can be accepted within a few months,” she said.
“When you factor in the acceptance fee, parents could be forking out over $1000 before their child is even one.
“You shouldn’t jeopardise your financial security for something that isn’t guaranteed.”
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