Shelford Girls’ Grammar scholarship families threaten legal action to avoid fees

Students on scholarships at one of Melbourne’s top all-girls schools have been told they must repay their fees in full after leaving amid concerns the institution will become coeducational.

Shelford Girls' Grammar is in a dispute with families about scholarship school fees.

Up to a dozen Shelford Girls’ Grammar families are planning legal action to stop the school pursuing them for unpaid fees of up to $500,000 after they pulled their daughters out of the school.

The families are on 40-per-cent-off scholarships which contain a condition stating that the difference between full and discount fees must be repaid if the student leaves before year 12.

The parents argue the clause should not be upheld because of the school’s potential merger with Caulfield Grammar, expected to take place in 2024.

They say the school’s inability to confirm a continuation of single-sex education makes the repayment clause null and void as the school has changed the condition of enrolment.

Shelford Girls’ Grammar is exploring a merger with Caulfield Grammar.

One parent who received a letter confirming the intention of the school to bill them for the fee discounts said they were “shocked, saddened and angered by this communication”.

“We made the decision to exit the school because they could not guarantee fulfilment of their scholarship arrangement/contract with us beyond 2024,” the parent said.

“Given this fact and in the interest of our daughter, we felt that we had no choice but to move on. We won’t be penalised for protecting our child’s welfare/future and nor will we be bullied into remaining at a school whose future is in serious doubt in its current form”.

An October 10 letter sent to parents from incoming principal Pauline Cutajar and board chair Pam Russell states: “We are all in this together”.

It notes the school is in a “viable financial situation” and continues to enrol students for 2024.

Shelford has raised its fees by 9 per cent for 2024, in line with other schools preparing to pay a new state payroll tax.

However, in other communication, the school has acknowledged current numbers of 425 are too low and it needs 500 to 550 plus students for long-term viability.

Numbers are likely to dip below 400 next year as this year’s year 12 students leave and the school suffers withdrawals from other year levels.

The school’s finances are also expected to close out the year in deficit for the fourth year in a row.

In letters to parents confirming the intention to pursue the fee rebates from parents who pull their daughters out, the school said it “expects school fees to be paid upon the premature conclusion of a scholarship”.

“In due course, we will ask the school’s accounts team to prepare an updated account statement to reflect the early conclusion of your child’s scholarship,” it says.

Chair Pam Russell said in a statement: “The Shelford Board continues to review a range of ideas and initiatives to strengthen the school and continue to benefit our girls, our staff, and our community in 2024 and beyond.

“Forward planning is critical for the governance and management of any independent school, and even more so for a school such as Shelford.

“Subject to enrolments any decisions about the future direction of Shelford will be carefully considered with the education and wellbeing of our students and families – and particularly for those girls in critical learning years as our primary consideration. Contracts and agreements regarding scholarships are considered on a case-by-case basis and as such families are in very transparent communication with the school.”