The secret to getting your child in a top Adelaide school and avoid wait lists of up to eight years
Securing a spot at some of Adelaide’s elite schools is becoming increasingly competitive. Here’s your complete guide to land a spot at your school of choice.
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Parents intent on getting their kids into a private school of choice are not taking any chances, lodging enrolment applications when their babies are just a few weeks old.
When it comes time to accept a place, normally about two years before starting at the school, some parents will pay up to $3000 to secure the position.
The most popular independent schools have waitlists for entry at certain year levels extending out to 2031, with entry at reception, years 5, 7 and 10 typically in highest demand.
Several schools The Advertiser spoke to said Year 4 was emerging as an increasingly popular year to transition from the local primary or parish school to an independent one.
At least two major independent city schools have added extra Year 4 classes to their schools in 2023.
School administrators reveal it is “not uncommon” to receive school enrolment requests from parents of “weeks-old” babies, planning ahead for their child’s primary or high school years.
“For parents looking for a sure entry into an independent school, they should consider enrolling for ELC at that school they’re looking at,” one says.
Not surprisingly in Adelaide, tradition plays a big part with fourth – and even fifth – generation students from the same family now enrolled at some of the state’s oldest schools.
While applications are generally considered in the order in which they are received, many schools offer priority enrolment to the children or grandchildren of old scholars, or with siblings already at the school.
Most of the top independent schools charge non-refundable fees of between $50 and $150 to lodge a child’s enrolment application with parents required to pay between several hundred and more than $3000 to secure a spot once a place is offered.
Most schools recommend applying at least two years before the preferred start date.
Adelaide dad of two Josh Carver and wife Emily are among a growing number of South Australian parents getting in early to enrol their kids at a school of choice.
The couple, both aged 34, have already lodged applications for their young children – Charlotte, who is 3, and two-month-old baby Henry – to attend Pulteney Grammar School for high school.
Charlotte is due to start Year 7 in 2032 with her little brother to follow in 2035, also starting in Year 7.
The Westbourne Park couple say having their kids’ enrolled for high school early provides peace of mind.
“We couldn’t see any down side of getting in and doing it early … you don’t want to be caught out (and), as we have learned from childcare, all these things require a lead time,” Mr Carver said.
“Life gets busy and before we know it Charlotte will be 10 … it’s just good knowing they’ll both have a spot – it is one less thing to worry about down the line.”
Pembroke School
The Kensington Park coeducational school, which charges $29,418 in year 12, regularly updates student places available on its website.
“Pembroke is fortunate to have strong enrolments and a healthy waitlist for each of its intake years,” a spokeswoman says.
“The school encourages families to make an application for enrolment as early as possible, as offers of enrolment are made in order of date of application, meaning those who apply early maximise their chances of receiving an offer for their preferred year of entry.
“Being a coeducational school, Pembroke strives to maintain a true gender balance in every year level (meaning) the school may grant preferential treatment to girls or boys on the waitlist should either gender represent less than 45 per cent in any year level.”
Priority enrolment is also given to siblings, students who are offered a scholarship, students seeking enrolment as a boarder, children of permanent staff and children of a Pembroke old scholar.
“The nature of a relatively large school is that we can experience movement in enrolments due to families relocating and other considerations, and so we continue to make offers of enrolment as soon as a place becomes available – even within the current calendar year,” says principal Mark Staker
It costs $110 to submit an application with an admission fee of $750 and $1000 tuition bond on acceptance of an offer.
Prince Alfred College (PAC)
The Kent Town all-boys’ school, which charges $29,190 in year 12, recommends parents enrol their children “at least two years prior” to wanting them to start in a particular year level.
“Our largest intakes at PAC are reception and years 3, 5 and 7 with a larger intake of boarders coming to the college from Year 9,” the school’s admission’s director Rachel Marchetto says.
“In 2023, we also added a third class to our Year 4 cohort.”
“Some year levels have varying available spaces so it is recommended that parents contact the college to discuss enrolment options for their son/s.
“There are many reasons why families choose to send their sons to PAC … (we are) focused on developing young men of character and purpose.”
She says applicants are “invited to attend an enrolment interview so we can get to know the boys personally and answer any questions families may have”.
Application fee, $100; Enrolment acceptance fee is $1250 and includes $660 for lifelong membership to the Prince Alfred College Old Collegians Association.
Westminster School
The Marion coeducational school, which charges $25,564 for students in year 12, reports enrolment interest from parents of newborns – as well as expectant mums and dads.
“We have guidelines around enrolment offers, which don’t come into effect until after a child is born, but we certainly have interested families touring and applying for an early start at Westminster, even if they are still a few weeks off welcoming their child into the world,” Principal Simon Shepherd says.
“We have intergenerational families who are very excited about the prospect of continuing with another Westminster education in the family tree … it is very exciting to see families across generations come back to the school with a myriad of memories to share.”
Mr Shepherd says while students are accepted into each year level, it is dependent on availability, as well as subject selection for older students.
“We have recently experienced student growth across many of our year levels. Waitlists currently exist for entry level at years 7, 8 and 9, 11 and 12 through until 2025.
Simon Shepherd’s tip is for families to start the “school selection process” early.
“Our first round offers are made generally two years in advance of a school start date … we will always work with families to see what is possible,” he says.
It costs $100 to submit an application for admission, and the enrolment fee is $1000 on acceptance of an offer.
Concordia College
The popular triple campus coeducational school, which charges $17,150 for year 12 students and prides itself on “challenging, connecting and empowering learning for a world of possibilities”, is in high demand with waitlists for entry at some levels currently sitting at eight years.
“We receive applications in the days following birth … we have up to five generations of families at Concordia College (reflecting) our 133-year history,” a school spokeswoman says.
“Applications are also received in early years of ELC or schooling, hoping to receive an offer for Middle School (year 7).
“Year 7 is strong with waitlists to 2031 … the wait for middle school is many years (while) our senior school has limited places available.
“ELC, Year 5 and Year 6 are also in demand for families wanting to guarantee enrolment to the end of Year 12.”
The schools two primary school sites – one at Highgate and a second which opened this year at Blackwood – feed into the secondary school at Highgate, guaranteeing placement.
“Where possible, we aim to facilitate enrolments as required,” she says.
And her top tip? “Get in early.”
Enrolment applications cost $75 per student application, or $100 per family. To secure the spot once an offer is made, the fee is $500 for ELC to Year 6 and $800 for Year 7 to Year 12 – which is then deducted from the Term 1 tuition fees.
Mercedes College
At coeducational Mercedes College at Springfield, where year 12 fees are $18,020, families will enrol up to 10 years in advance, with many starting their application for a reception enrolment during pregnancy.
“We recommend families lodge their application for enrolment at least two years ahead of when they would like to join,” a spokeswoman says.
“Our most popular enrolment intakes are reception, years 3, 5, 7 and 10; generally students joining us during their secondary education are eager to complete the IB Diploma, with Mercedes College one of the few schools proudly offering the IB program at all three levels.
“To avoid disappointment, we encourage families to get in touch as early as possible.”
The enrolment application costs $75. A confirmation fee of $1000 is payable for the first child, of which $500 will be credited to the initial tuition fee account.
Pulteney Grammar
One of Adelaide’s oldest schools, the coeducation school which opened in the city in 1847 charges $28,000 for students in year 12 and regularly gets applications for newborns.
“We have people applying to Pulteney at various ages and stages, and certainly have parents enrolling when their child/ren are infants … just last week we received an application for a three-week-old – (and that’s) not infrequent,” a spokeswoman says.
She said while several year entry levels have been traditionally popular, shifts were emerging.
“We have interestingly seen an uptake at Year 4, so much so, that to cater for this Pulteney opened a third Year 4 class in 2023,” she says,
However, she says, kids enter the school at different stages.
“(We) offer SACE Dance Stage I and Stage II both internally and externally, so as it is not only a subject for Pulteney students but also external students who want to do dance as a subject,” she says.
“The program has been successful and some external students have enjoyed it so much that they have ended up enrolling at Pulteney full-time”.
The school charges an application fee of $100 however the fee doesn’t apply to “families of current siblings or old scholars”. A confirmation fee of $750 is charged to secure the offer.
Walford Anglican School for Girls
The Hyde Park all-girls’ school, which started in 1893 and has had boarding students for the past 100 years, charges tuition fees of $29,420 in year 12.
A school spokeswoman says “early applications are encouraged to increase the likelihood of securing a place … in the selected entry year”.
“We always recommend putting an application in early – that way the family is on the waitlist (and) if a year level looks like it’s going to fill up, we will get in touch and make sure they have an opportunity to enrol,” she says, adding in some instances families will be placed on a “waiting list for many years ahead”.
“Walford does receive applications from birth.”
She says many proud old scholars are keen for their daughters to attend the same school.
“Some enrol as soon as they know they are having a daughter … it’s lovely that we have some staff here who have taught the mothers and remember them when they come for a tour of the school,” she says.
It costs $75 to lodge an enrolment application with an enrolment fee of $1020 on confirmation of enrolment. A reduced application fee is applied for the children and grandchildren of Walford old scholars.
St Michael’s College
To secure a Year 7 spot at the Henley Beach coeducational school – where fees are $10,741 in year 12 – parents will typically lodge an application for their child when they are in Year 3, if not younger.
“The youngest application we’ve received … was from the parents of a three-week old for Year 7 in 2034,” a school spokeswoman says.
“It is (also) common to speak with old scholars on college tours as they consider schooling for their own children … they offer fond memories, occasionally run into a few staff from their time here and always comment on how much the college has changed physically.
“For (those) looking at secondary enrolment, the best thing to do is to apply no later than the December 1 deadline in the year their child completes Year 4; families are also welcome to apply earlier.”
Enrolment application for a single student costs $55 with a $200 acceptance fee applied.
Rostrevor College
Year 7 is an increasingly popular year to enter the Woodforde all-boys’ school, established in 1923, which charges tuition fees of $14,260 in year 12 and aims to inspire its students to “become men … who make a positive difference in the world”.
“(We’ve a) growing trend for early lodgement of forms especially for Year 7 and we have some as far ahead as 2032 … demand for Year 7 and all junior year levels is always growing, with some classes already full in 2025,” spokeswoman says.
“Growth in the middle and senior years shows most classes at years 7, 8 and 9 are full well before the beginning of each year with some limited vacancies in years 10 and 11.
“If placed on a waitlist, it can be between two to three years before a place is available … if we have enough demand, the college will consider opening an additional class in the year.
“We often receive applications for sons of Old Collegians while their sons are young and usually very keen for them to stay in the same house they were in at school.
“We highly recommended families to begin the enrolment process at least two years prior to their son’s planned commencement date.”
The school charges an application fee of $60 and an acceptance fee of $500 to secure the spot.
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