Queensland parents warned of ‘inevitable’ private school fee spike

Parents have been warned of an ‘inevitable’ school fee hike with one major Catholic school already confirming a possible 10 per cent rise year on year for the next two years.

Queensland parents are set to fork out thousands of extra dollars to send their children to private school with fees set to spike on the back of rising inflation, building costs and teacher payrises.

At least one Catholic private school in Brisbane has told parents to expect a “significant” price hike while several other elite schools are considering raising their fees.

St Patricks College at Shorncliffe principal Chris Mayes said in an email to parents that the fee increase could be as large as “10 per cent year on year for the next two years”.

Education expert Jack Stevens, whose company Edstart works with schools to manage fees processes, said the price hike would be felt “across the board”.

St Patrick's College at Shorncliffe.

Mr Stevens said the school fee increase was “inevitable” and advised parents to plan to a spike of between four and 10 per cent.

Mr Mayes said the college was working to absorb as much of the increased fee as possible.

“As we enter the last quarter of 2022, our budget planning for 2023 is well underway. I am mindful that there would be very few among us who have not been impacted by the pressures in the economy and the future economic outlook,” Mr Mayes wrote.

St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe principal Chris Mayes.

“As a college, we have always endeavoured to keep fees as low as possible while ensuring we continue to deliver a quality Catholic education and invest in our college facilities to benefit students.”

Mr Mayes said the college’s 2023 budget was impacted by several external factors including state and federal government funding models, enterprise bargaining outcomes, increased building costs and inflation.

“Unfortunately, our current government funding is not keeping pace with the increase in college operational costs,” he said.

“I appreciate this is significantly higher than previous years and I can assure you we are working to absorb as much of the increased costs as possible.”

St Patricks College had an income revenue of more than $30m in 2021 broken down in $13m from Commonwealth funding, $4m in state funding and nearly $13m in tuition fees and levies, according to its annual report.

The annual report did not contain how much of the revenue was spent.

Mr Stevens said the school fees hike was inevitable given the rising inflation, skyrocketing building and maintenance costs and upcoming teacher pay rises.

He said despite the best efforts of schools to wear the costs, it would ultimately be passed onto parents.

“It’s been talked about for a little while and it is inevitable,” Mr Stevens said.

Marist College at Ashgrove.

Marist College Ashgrove principal Michael Newman said the school was considering increasing its fees but said no amount had been determined.

Mr Newman said any fee increase would cover the cost of proposed wage increases for Marist staff to match teachers in state schools who are set for a pay increase as part of the EB10 agreement.

“Our fee increase would simply cover the proposed wage increases,” Mr Newman said.

“The exact amount is being considered by our finance committee.”

St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School in Ascot, which this year charged parents $25,360, is another anticipating a fee increase.

Principal Ros Curtis said any fee increase would be communicated directly to families in coming weeks.

St Margarets principal Ros Curtis. Picture: David Kelly

“While we anticipate the necessity for a fee increase in 2023, particularly given the inflation rate, at this stage we cannot confirm what the fees will be,” Ms Curtis said.

“Given the impact the pandemic has had on some of our families over the past two years, St Margaret’s kept fee increases to a minimum in 2021 and 2022.

“For 2023, the budget process and therefore school fees are currently in the final stages of deliberation.”

A spokeswoman for Brisbane Girls Grammar School declined to comment when asked directly whether it would increase its fees.

A spokesman for Queensland’s most expensive school, Brisbane Grammar School, which charges $29,000, said it would finalise its fee plans for 2023 later in the year.

Anglican Church Grammar School principal Dr Alan Campbell said the school reviews and sets its school fees annually in consideration to several factors.

St Margaret's is also anticipating a fee increase. Picture: Jack Tran

Dr Campbell said the factors included government funding, operating costs, investment needs and the “principle of sound financial management”.

He said any school fees announcements were typically made in November.

Mr Stevens advised parents to plan ahead and be aware of looming hike.

“On the flip side, a lot of parents could be comfortable paying more if it helps the school attract and retain better teachers,” he said.

“In the months to come, what you will tend to see, is that the schools who lose the most government funding, will have the highest fee increases.”