Caulfield Grammar, Haileybury College increase 2024 school fees

Caulfield Grammar and Haileybury College have blamed the Andrews government’s controversial payroll tax for a school fee hike set to hit parents next year.

Caulfield Grammar is the latest top school to increase school fees. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Two elite Victorian private schools have blamed the Andrews government’s controversial payroll tax for a school fee hike set to hit parents next year.

The Herald Sun can reveal Caulfield Grammar has increased some of its fees by 13 per cent, with tuition now costing $40,543 for year 12 students at the school’s secondary campuses in Caulfield and Wheelers Hill.

Haileybury College has also notified families of fee hikes next year, with a 5.5 per cent increase on ELC to year 12 tuition costs.

It comes after the Herald Sun revealed this week that Geelong Grammar had hiked its fees by 8 per cent – the biggest amount in years.

Caulfield Grammar has blamed the “imposition” of payroll tax, saying it represented an “unparalleled and punitive change” in the Victorian Government’s support of independent education.

Haileybury College has also blamed its fee increase on the payroll tax. Picture: David Geraghty

“The new payroll tax, including Covid and mental health levies, will cost Caulfield Grammar School almost $7m annually,” the school said in a letter to parents.
“The impact … fundamentally transforms Caulfield Grammar School into a profit centre for the Victorian state government, as we will be contributing 3.4m/year to … educate students.

“We strongly oppose the Victorian Government’s implementation of this new tax on education,” the school added.

In another letter to families, Haileybury College also blamed its fee increase on the payroll tax.

“No other independent schools across Australia pay payroll tax,” the school said.

“The Victorian Government claims that Government schools do pay payroll tax but that it is a circular arrangement under which the money moves from one governmental ‘pocket’ to another.

“Haileybury staff will receive a 3.5 per cent salary increase.

“We believe that the fee increase will be among the lowest of 54 schools impacted by the payroll tax and additional levies.”

Brighton MP James Newbury, who has received complaints from parents about the fee hikes, said: “Daniel Andrews should be ashamed of his new tax hit on little children and their schools.”

Education Minister Natalie Hutchins with Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Earlier this year, Geelong Grammar raised its fees by 5.4 per cent to $46,020 for year 12 day-boarding students for the 2023 school year.

It was the most dramatic increase in five years after the school froze fees for a year in 2021 at $41,792.

Jewish school Mount Scopus Memorial College also raised their fees to tip over the $40,000 mark – increasing from $38,960 in 2022 to $40,860 in 2023.

Other expensive private schools currently charging more than $38,000 for a Year 12 student include Lauriston, St Catherine’s, Scotch College and Melbourne Girls Grammar.

It comes as the state government announced the parameters for the controversial school payroll tax in June this year.

Education Minister Natalie Hutchins said at the time the exemption would instead be removed from just 60 schools.

Non-government schools with fees per student of more than $15,000 will be affected.

A total of 54 independent schools enrolling 63,123 students will be subject to the tax from July 1 next year.