Queensland private school fees increase 6.59 per cent, Brisbane spikes 8.19 per cent

The cost of a private education in Brisbane has surged at nearly double the national average while similar increases have occurred at most of Queensland’s most elite school.

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Brisbane parents will this year be hit with hiked fees for private schools at rates of nearly double the national average, an independent report has revealed.

The 2023 Edstart School Fees report, released on Monday, has revealed the regions with the largest average private education fee spikes.

Queensland private school fees increased by 6.59 per cent – a median cost of $10,380 a year – but Brisbane’s spike of 8.19 per cent was well above state and national increases.

School fees at Loreto College Coorparoo.have spiked this year according to the 2023 Edstart School Fees report.

At St Joseph's College Gregory Terrace at Spring Hill fees rose to $18,912 for secondary students – a 10 per cent increase.

There were similar hikes at fellow inner-city schools in All Hallows’ School, Ambrose Treacy College, Loreto College Coorparoo and Anglican Church Grammar School.

While Queensland’s most expensive school Brisbane Grammar School charges inclusive tuition fees of $30,320 and a technology package levy of $1310, its 4.5 per cent hike was consistent to national averages.

School fees spiked by 4.49 per cent nationally with a higher increase in metropolitan areas compared to regional, the report showed.

Edstart chief executive Jack Stevens said the bigger fee increases were expected with inflation figures of more than 7 per cent.

Mr Stevens said schools faced significant increases to input costs including facility maintenance and construction given the ongoing building materials crisis.

“Increases to teacher salaries, which represent the largest portion of expenses for schools, have also contributed to a material increase in operating costs,” Mr Stevens said.

Fees at St Joseph's College Gregory Terrace at Spring Hill increased to $18,912 for secondary students – a 10 per cent hike.

“Parents with higher incomes are bearing more of the cost of schooling while families on lower incomes are receiving some relief from fee increases.”

St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace headmaster Michael Carroll said the college spent a significant amount of time in preparing its budget.

Dr Carroll said Terrace was conscious of the sacrifice families would make to access Catholic education for their sons at the Spring Hill-based college.

Terrace last year had 17 per cent of its Year 12 cohort achieve an ATAR of 99 or above and a median score of 92.6.

Dr Carroll said Terrace had a similar increase to many other schools in the area.

“Our 2023 school fees remain under $19000,” he said.

“Like other schools, issues regarding increasing staff costs (proposed EB negotiations), an ongoing significant decrease in Federal Government funding and increases in others costs such as interest rates, insurance costs and general cost of living expenses.”

St Joseph's College Gregory Terrace principal Michael Carroll said college fees remained at less than $19,000. Photo: Sarah Keayes

At fellow GPS school Anglican Church Grammar in East Brisbane fees increased by 9 per cent.

Churchie headmaster Dr Alan Campbell told The Courier-Mail late last year the school was conscious of the prevailing economic conditions particularly rising inflation and cost of living pressures when it determined its fees.

Dr Campbell said its school fees were reviewed annually in consideration of several economic factors including operating costs, facility needs and government funding.

Even with the spikes, Brisbane’s elite still pale in comparison to interstate rivals like Geelong Grammar School, The Scots College and The King’s School where annual fees slug parents more than $40,000.