Parents feeling the pinch as private school fees soar in cost-of-living crisis

Thousands of Queensland parents say the cost of private education has become too expensive, with nearly 40 schools to command annual fees of more than $15,000 in 2024. SEARCH SCHOOLS

Fees at Hillbrook Anglican School have risen by more than eight per cent. Picture: Liam Kidston

Thousands of Queensland parents say the cost of private education has become too expensive, with nearly 40 schools to command annual fees of more than $15,000 in 2024.

The Courier-Mail’s exclusive sentiment survey, which collected responses of more than 6700 people, revealed 76 per cent felt private school fees were too high.

Brisbane Grammar School is the state’s most expensive, with annual fees of more than $32,000. File picture

This represented a 16 per cent increase compared to the last sentiment survey in 2020 which asked the same question.

The 2023 survey also revealed that 64 per cent of respondents believe private schools do provide a “better” education.

It comes as new analysis of dozens of Queensland independent and Catholic schools 2024 fees reveals nearly 40 will charge parents more than $15,000 this year.

Brisbane Grammar School sits top as the state’s most expensive school charging parents an all-inclusive fee of $32,760 for Year 12 students. It’s closely followed by inner-city neighbours Brisbane Girls Grammar with $30,054.

Anglican Church Grammar School, Brisbane Boys’ College, Somerville House, St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School and St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School are all above $28,000.

Queensland Secondary Principals Association president Mark Breckenridge said even minimal increases to annual private fees would have an impact on average family household budgets.

Queensland Secondary Principals Association president Mark Breckenridge File picture: Josh Woning.

Mr Breckenridge, the head of the state’s peak body for state high schools, said the current cost of living pressures would mean parents were considering all expenses.

“Three years can make a difference,” Mr Breckenridge said when asked whether private education had become too expensive for parents.

“If parents were looking at certain private schools in 2020 and the fees they charge, then they look again in 2023 and those private schools have increased their fees – even just by a small amount each year – it can add up.

“But people would also be looking at their local state high school to see what’s on offer, and I think parents continue to decide that their local state high school offers the raft of programs their child needs.”

Last year, Queensland private school fees spiked by an average of 5.59 per cent with education experts Edstart predicting a similar increase on the cards for 2024.

Somerville House at South Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

Several schools have had increases of more than eight per cent for 2024, including Hillbrook Anglican School, Matthew Flinders Anglican College and Somerset College.

In an email to a parent regarding its new fees, the leadership team at Hillbrook Anglican School said it acknowledged that some families would be facing financial pressures.

The college said it expected to see a significant reduction in government funding in 2024.

“When setting our fees each year we carefully consider our ongoing financial sustainability balanced with maintaining our ability to provide a quality education for our students,” the email read.

“After careful discussion, the school board has set out fees at $17,070 and this will ensure we will meet these objectives, especially during the current, uncertain economic environment.

“We acknowledge that some families will be facing various financial pressures over the next year, and we have many payment options available,” it continued.