Qld private school fees 2023: Price spike sees some parents paying up to $460k for two children

Parents with children at 58 of Queensland’s elite private schools are set to be slugged with thousands of dollars extra as fees for 2023 – with some paying close to $500,000 for two siblings’ full education. SEE THE LIST

2023 school fees for Brisbane Grammar, Churchie, Stuartholme and The Southport School have been released along with more than 50 others.

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Parents will have to fork out nearly half a million dollars to send two children to Brisbane’s most expensive private school, where fees have climbed to more than $30,000 a year.

Brisbane Grammar School has increased its fees by 4.5 per cent to $30,320 per child per year in an all-inclusive fee however, other prestigious GPS institutions have had more considerable spikes.

While Grammar and Brisbane Boys’ College have become the state’s first members of the $30k club, fellow elite schools in Anglican Church Grammar and St Margaret’s Anglican College aren’t far behind.

The figures do 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.

Based on the 2023 set fees, it would cost parents more than $460,000 to send two boys to Brisbane Grammar from Year 5 to Year 12.

Meanwhile at Churchie in East Brisbane parents would be required to fork out more than $320,000 for the full Prep-Year 12 experience for one child.

The headmasters of both schools say the rising inflation and overall cost of living pressures were considered in the decision to increase fees.

It comes after The Courier-Mail warned parents in September of a looming fee hike of between 4 and 10 per cent, according to education expert Jack Stevens.

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

Brisbane Grammar School headmaster Anthony Micallef said its set school fees allowed it to trade in a “solvent” position and over time, generation capital to be sustainable.

Brisbane Grammar School headmaster Anthony Micallef.

Mr Micallef said the 4.5 per cent fee increase was set below the rising cost of living outlook and was being managed through budgetary measures that he said would not compromise its educational programs.

“Our increase is understood to be well below the percentage increases announced so far by other comparable independent schools in Brisbane,” Mr Micallef said.

He said Grammar’s government funding had continued to decline and its personnel costs had continued to rise.

Churchie headmaster Dr Alan Campbell said the school was conscious of the prevailing economic conditions particularly rising inflation and cost of living pressures when it determined its fees for next year.

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

“The 2023 fee structure reflects the school responding to these issues in a way that ensures a sustainable economic future whereby our students continue to receive the highest standard of teaching and learning, supported by quality programs and facilities,” Dr Campbell said.

Churchie’s headmaster Dr Alan Campbell.

Dr Campbell said Churchie offered a unique set of academic and curricular programs with a focus on quality teaching and world-class facilities.

“We hope that parents who entrust Churchie with the education of their sons do so because they see value in what the school provides,” he said.

At Brisbane Boys’ College, fees are set to increase by 7.5 per cent, principal Andre Casson confirmed in a letter to parents.

“It is important that we are prepared and have the flexibility to cover any unforeseen financial challenges that may arise in 2023 due to the current inflationary environment and the uncertain economic outlook,” Mr Casson wrote.

“In addition, we are investing more into our staff to ensure we maintain the highest quality and calibre of teachers, especially in a time of considerable teacher shortages worldwide.’’

Originally published as Qld private school fees 2023: Price spike sees some parents paying up to $460k for two children