Elite Victorian schools with years-long waiting lists refusing prospective students

Some of Victoria’s top schools are charging hundreds of dollars for enrolment applications, only to turn away prospective students who have been on wait lists for years.

Even more accessible schools such as Huntingtower have waiting lists of more than two years. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Some of Victoria’s most elite schools are turning away prospective students who have been on waiting lists for up to ten years, the Herald Sun can reveal.

Even more accessible schools such as Huntingtower and Casey Grammar have waiting lists of more than two years and are turning away parents who have paid hundreds of dollars to be considered.

Some schools are charging between $100 and $500 in waiting list fees regardless of a child’s chance of getting in. When an offer is made, enrolment fees of up to $3500 – which are non-refundable and non-transferable at schools like Xavier College – are paid to secure a place years in advance.

It can also be revealed that applications for 2024 and 2025 have already closed due to the high demand in families applying at schools such as Scotch College.

A Glen Waverley mother told the Herald Sun that wait lists were a “frustrating” process after her son missed out on a place at Huntingtower School.

Enrolment fees of thousands of dollars – which are non-refundable and non-transferable at schools like Xavier College – are paid to secure a place years in advance. Picture: Mark Stewart

“We applied to the school as it was the closest in the area with the best reputation. We thought applying two years in advance would be suffice, but it wasn’t as his application was declined,” she said.

“It’s very difficult when you’re forking out money for application fees that you don’t get back, we had to pay $150.”

Another parent from Melbourne’s southeast said his daughter was left “shattered” when she missed out on a place at Casey Grammar.

“She didn’t even get an interview, but had done so well academically in primary school. We paid $50 for the application fee and it was disheartening,” he said.

“My daughter was upset because she really wanted to go to school with her friends. I think the process needs to be much more affordable for parents.

“Schools should be refunding the fee back to parents especially if you’re applying to multiple schools.”

Large boys’ schools such as Scotch College have long been impossible for parents to get children into, even after nearly a decade of waiting. Picture: Tony Gough

Large boys’ schools such as Scotch, Xavier, Brighton Grammar, Melbourne Grammar and Trinity Grammar have long been impossible for parents to get children into, even after nearly a decade of waiting.

Co-ed schools such as Carey Grammar and Caulfield Grammar are also hard for boys to get into because their enrolments enable them to preference girls for gender balance.

A private school insider said parents are signing up kids before birth and making up gender-neutral names for foetuses such as “Stevie” in order to secure a top-drawer education spot for their kid.

He defended schools who juggled hundreds of parents on waiting lists, saying some families “hog spots” despite accepting places elsewhere.

“They pay the deposit but keep their options open, throwing things into disarray,” he said.

“Schools are trying to manage families mucking them around.”

Both Huntingtower and Casey Grammar were contacted for comment.