Exclusive school probed amid drop in enrolments

An exclusive primary school is being investigated by the education watchdog amid a steep drop in enrolments and concerns over curriculum.

Erasmus Primary School is being investigated by the education watchdog. Picture: iStock

Parents are taking legal action against an exclusive primary school in Melbourne’s inner east where enrolments have plummeted as it faces probes by the state’s schools regulation body.

Erasmus Primary School in Hawthorn, which charges parents more than $15,000 in annual school fees, is under investigation by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA).

It is believed allegations the school was not meeting minimum standard requirements are a focus of the investigation.

The Herald Sun understands prep enrolments at the independent primary school almost halved over the 2021 school year, with just nine of the school’s 17 prep students remaining.

Several concerned parents told the Herald Sun they removed their children from the school after becoming concerned with the lack of academic support available for their children, several of whom are academically gifted.

One concerned father, who did not wish to be named, said he removed his academically gifted six-year-old prep son from Erasmus because the school did not provide advanced academic materials and support for his son despite psychological evaluations highlighting the need for more stimulating lesson content.

“This is worse than public school. Why were we paying these fees when (my son) could be getting this same level of education at the local primary school?,” he said.

“Every single child needs to be treated as an individual and be provided with individualised learning, and the school has been refusing to do that.”

The parent said he was taking legal action against Erasmus over being forced to pay term one 2022 school fees when he provided more than 90 days’ notice to remove his son from the school.

Parents have raised concerns over a lack of academic support for students at Erasmus Primary School. Picture: iStock

“I was really concerned about the lack of support,” he said.

“Whether it’s a public or private school, everyone needs to follow the minimum curriculum standards.”

Another parent said he removed his two young boys from the school and placed them in a nearby state school after a similar battle over pricey school fees that did not deliver tailored education for his boys.

One mother said her daughter would come home “bored” of lesson content well below her reading levels.

A VRQA spokesman confirmed the school was being investigated, but could not elaborate on the open probe.

“The VRQA is responsible for ensuring schools meet the minimum standards and other requirements for school registration, and can investigate complaints about breaches of standards and guidelines when the matter has not been resolved through a school’s complaints procedures,” the spokesman said.

Erasmus acting principal Melissa Albers denied a drop in prep enrolments and said the school, which had 73 per cent of its students perform above average in its NAPLAN results last year, offered academic and social support for students at all levels in line with VRQA policy.

“Erasmus Primary School is confident that we meet the VRQA’s standards. We have all the necessary policies, documentation and evidence to fully satisfy the VRQA requirements and to ensure we meet the educational and wellbeing needs of our students,” Ms Albers said.