Keebra Park student Bailey Thompson-Rowsell sneaks into formal after being denied ticket over unpaid fees
He was denied a ticket to his Year 12 formal because of unpaid school fees – but he was desperate to be at his girlfriend’s side. READ THE FAIRYTALE ENDING >>>
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AFTER being denied a ticket to his formal because of unpaid school fees, Bailey Thompson-Rowsell was so desperate to dance with his long-term girlfriend he snuck into the event.
On Wednesday the Year 12 Keebra Park High School student attended his graduation ceremony with Jenna, dressed in formal wear thanks to his aunty and uncle. He then chaperoned Jenna to the celebration.
But instead of leaving his girlfriend alone for the night, the 17-year-old made a last-minute decision to sneak into his formal.
His mother said he just wanted to have one dance with Jenna.
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“He was hiding in the toilet until they finished eating and then he managed to get a dance in with his girlfriend,” she said.
“At least he’ll have a pretty funny formal story.”
It’s understood his mates kept him hidden from staff throughout the night but that he stayed for the majority of his formal.
Bailey’s mother said she spoke up about her son’s situation because she wanted the community to be aware of the hardship that many Gold Coast families were in.
The single mum admitted she was years behind in her school fees but had only just secured 23 hours of work a week and was trying to pay back massive debts she had acquired over the years due to a series of unfortunate events.
“But there’s lots of other families out there in a worse position than us, something has to change because good kids are falling through the cracks because of their parents’ financial situation,” she said.
“Quite a few kids couldn’t attend because of unpaid fees and they said they didn't mind in front of other kids but they do.
“They’re just too proud to admit that they’re not even in a position to dream of going to their formal because they don’t have the money for a ticket.
“At one stage my rent was $450 a week and I was getting $560 from Centrelink, school fees just weren’t in the budget.
“I’m just doing the best I can at the moment, and Bailey knows that.”
It’s understood Keebra Park High School has in the past approached Bailey’s mother to help her find a way to pay off school fees.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education and Training said: “Parents who choose to join the student resource scheme in any year have the option to approach the principal to request a payment plan or fee waiver in cases of financial hardship.
“Parents can also approach the school to discuss any difficulties paying other fees and charges, for example for extra or non-curricular activities.
“In some instances, and only after all reasonable steps have been undertaken to assist parents to resolve outstanding debts, principals have the option to exercise their discretion to prevent the participation of students in optional, non-curricular activities (e.g. formals).”
COAST PARENTS STRUGGLING WITH STATE SCHOOL FEES
FINANCIALLY stricken Gold Coasters from all postcodes are struggling to afford their public high school fees, says community leader Vicky Rose.
“Every day community services across the city are contacted by desperate parents because their school fees are out of their budget, particularly as many are jobless because of COVID,” said Ms Rose.
“For the average Joe, the fees might be able to be paid off, but the truth is thousands of parents are choosing between feeding their kids every day or paying fees.
“It’s especially hard at this time of year when there’s pressure to have fees paid so students can attend formals and excursions.”
The revelation comes after an outpouring of support following an incident on Wednesday whereby a Gold Coast state high school denied a Year 12 student a ticket to his formal in front of his peers because his school fees weren’t paid.
Ms Rose, the co-ordinator of the Nerang Community Centre, said even before COVID public high school fees were a battle for parents, but the pandemic was causing far-reaching poverty across the city.
“It’s not just confined to one suburb, I’ve been contacted by parents in Benowa, Merrimac, Palm Beach, Upper Coomera and Currumbin,” she said.
“A lot of people don’t actually realised that public high schools aren’t free, parents must pay hundreds in resources fees every year and most require kids to have an iPad or laptop.
“This can cost parents, especially those who have multiple kids, thousands of dollars every year.”
Ms Rose fears that excluding teenagers from events because of their parent’s financial situation would further isolate those already struggling with mental health issues.
“Education is supposed to be free and supposed to be attainable for all, but the reality here on the Gold Coast is that families are struggling to make ends meet,” she said.
“With the average weekly rent cost often double the price of a benefit, good parents are unable to prioritise school fees and unfortunately kids are falling through the gaps and missing out.”
Ms Rose said her emergency relief funding did not cover school fees so that kids could go to a formal, so what most centres did was reach out to personal networks of generous donors.
“I’ve done that in the past and through them kids have been able to get to formals, buy a dress,” she said.
She said it was especially hard for single parents or those who have left violent situations to get on top of fees or pay in advance to get a slight discount.
”A lump-sum payment of say $400 for a family who is struggling is just not a priority. So they let it go and then another year passes and the debt is unmanageable.”
RESPONSE FROM THE QUEENSLAND EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
A spokesperson for the Department of Education and Training said while it could not comment on individual students for privacy reasons, all state schools told Year 12 students and families the terms for eligibility to attend the end-of-year formal at the start of the year.
“Keebra Park State High School, like all state schools, has established expectations to be met by students in order to attend extra-curricular activities, including school formals.
“From the beginning of this year, all year 12 students and families received numerous communications clearly stating the terms for eligibility to attend the end of year formal.
“The communications have all stated that fees were to be paid in full or a payment plan could be arranged.
“All families experiencing forms of hardship are able to negotiate reduced fees with the school.”
It added that under the Education Act 2006, the cost of ‘instruction’, ‘facilities’ and administration’ are met by the State.
“State funding for schools does not extend to individual student resources such as textbooks, equipment for personal use and items used/consumed by the student in the classroom. Parents are responsible for supplying these resources to support student learning.
“The Student Resource Scheme (SRS) provides parents with a convenient and cost-effective alternative to individually sourcing curriculum resources, personal computing devices and other educational programs.
“Parents who choose to join the SRS in any year have the option to approach the principal to request a payment plan or fee waiver in cases of financial hardship.
“Parents can also approach the school to discuss any difficulties paying other fees and charges, for example for extra or non-curricular activities.
“In some instances, and only after all reasonable steps have been undertaken to assist parents to resolve outstanding debts, principals have the option to exercise their discretion to prevent the participation of students in optional, non-curricular activities (e.g. formals).”
WEDNESDAY 17TH NOVEMBER
A YEAR 12 Keebra Park High School student who was told he couldn’t attend his formal on Wednesday night because of unpaid fees has slammed the school for being “elitist” and only caring about the wellbeing of a select few.
Graduating student Bailey Thompson-Rowsell, 17, said he and his long-term girlfriend Jenna had been looking forward to the attending the event all year.
But he said because his mother, who has gone through recent personal hardship, is behind in her school fees, a staff member told him in front of his peers he couldn’t buy a ticket.
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“I met every other requirement and then was told I wasn’t allowed to go because my fees weren’t up to date, I felt kinda hopeless,” said Bailey.
“Most of the footy boys have been given scholarships to pay off the rest of their school fees but when it comes to the other students like me, who have also had to work hard all year to graduate, it’s like no one cares.”
Bailey, who intends to get a carpentry apprenticeship after graduating, said he was gutted he was unable to be at his girlfriend’s side during the formal.
His mother said she tried to get financial support a few years ago to see if her son could access indigenous funding through the school but was told all indigenous support had been stopped at the school and that “elders had been fired”.
“With my son well aware of our financial issues, he took it on himself to speak to the principal in the middle of the year who informed him he would be able to attend so long as his attendance was good and he passes,” she said.
“He worked so hard to pass, he’s a good kid.
“Last week, after assistance from his aunty and uncle he had the money to pay for a formal ticket, but when he went to purchase the ticket he was informed he couldn’t go due to unpaid fees.
“This was obviously very embarrassing as other students were around.”
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Despite numerous attempts to contact the school to sort something out, Bailey’s mother said she had not heard whether her son would be allowed into the formal.
She said the school even suggested her son should pull out of school altogether.
“But he didn’t want to leave and he not only finished the year but finished before all the other students in his class,” she said.
“I personally think this is social discrimination at its best and this only proves to disadvantaged young people no matter how hard you work in school it still will not be enough to celebrate with your peers and not feel like as my son would say a poor kid.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Education and Training said Keebra Park State High School, like all state schools, had established expectations to be met by students in order to attend extra-curricular activities, including school formals.
“From the beginning of this year, all year 12 students and families received numerous communications clearly stating the terms for eligibility to attend the end of year formal.
“The communications have all stated that fees were to be paid in full or a payment plan could be arranged.
“All families experiencing forms of hardship are able to negotiate reduced fees with
the school.”
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