How much principals at Victoria’s most elite schools earn
The pay checks of senior leaders at Victoria’s most elite private schools have been made public for the first time – with some earning more than the premier.
Education
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The executive salaries of dozens of the state’s most elite private schools can be revealed, with some top schools paying senior staff on average nearly half a million dollars.
The budgets allocated to private school leaders have been made public for the first time under changed federal reporting laws.
One of the most generous employers is Melbourne Grammar, which pays its leaders on average $450,000, along with $415,000 on average at Caulfield Grammar and $399,000 at Ivanhoe Grammar.
At the other end of the scale is the senior management team at Loreto Mandeville Hall in Toorak, which pays an average of $134,000 to 15 staff.
The profit and loss of the state’s most secretive private schools can also be disclosed, with leading schools such as Eltham College, Geelong Grammar, Wesley College, Melbourne Grammar, all posting losses in 2022.
The figures show the pressure some girls’ schools are under financially, particularly Mentone Girls’ Grammar and Genazzano which both posted significant deficits and small incomes.
The disclosures come amid the state government’s controversial payroll tax, which is expected to lead to schools with average fees of more than $10,000 pay between $800,000 and $7m in additional taxes from mid-year.
The data doesn’t show principal salaries, which can reach packages of between $750,000 and one million for the top schools and $300,000 at smaller private schools.
It comes as state school principals in Victoria will obtain pay packets $238,000 by 2025.
This is the fourth instalment in the Herald Sun series on private school leaders’ salaries, with other stories available here, here and here.
Bialik College
The coeducational Jewish school in Hawthorn pays nine executive staff members a total of $2,174,087, which averages out to $241,000 each. The school, headed by Jeremy Stowe-Lindner, attracted income of $37m in 2022 and posted a healthy surplus of $4.3m.
Billanook College
The co-ed Mooroolbark school founded in 1980 has been led by principal Roger Oates since 2010. It has seven key leaders paid a total of $1,629,000, with each receiving on average $271,000.
The school in 2022 attracted an income of $20m and posted a slim surplus of $226,000.
Brighton Grammar
The powerhouse private boys’ school in up-market Brighton pays 14 top leaders a total of $3,461,000, with each receiving on average $247,000. The school, led by principal Ross Featherston, is in a healthy financial position, with income in 2022 of $60m and a substantial surplus of $14m.
Catholic Schools
The body which runs around 300 Catholic schools, the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, has seven staff paid a total of $2,815,160, which averages out to more than $400,000 each. The body attracted income of more than $2.3bn in 2022 and posted an overall surplus of $245m. Its total assets are more than $3.9bn.
Carey Grammar
The in-demand coeducational Kew school, which has more than 2500 students, has seven top staff paid a total of $2,463,000. This equates to more than $350,000 each on average.
The school, headed by Jonathan Walter, posted a 2022 income of $98m and a surplus of $8.3m. The surplus – one of the highest posted of any school in Victoria – should help the college meet its hefty payroll tax obligations.
Caulfield Grammar
The popular Caulfield co-ed school based in St Kilda East and Wheelers Hill, is one of Victoria’s largest colleges, with more than 3300 students. The school, which is about to take over Shelford Grammar, has four senior managers each paid an average of $415,000. These include principal Ashleigh Martin. The school in 2022 had a gross income of $134m and posted a surplus of $8.8m. Mr Martin has been outspoken about the impost of the state payroll tax, increasing fees by seven per cent to meet the $7m annual bill.
Edmund Rice Education Australia
The Catholic body which runs a small number of Catholic schools in Victoria, pays 18 key staff members a total of $3,362,221, which averages out to more than $186,000 each.
The group, which recently severed ties with St Kevin’s College, has total revenue of just over $1bn and a surplus of $67m.
Eltham College
The popular Eltham co-ed school pays eight staff members a total of $1,920,818, which averages out to $240,000 each.
The school, which has a new principal and chief executive, Richard Lisle, attracted $23m in income in 2022 and posted a $915,000 deficit. The school is expected to pay the payroll tax from July. Mr Lisle replaced longstanding leader Simon Le Plastrier.
Fintona Girls’ School
The small Balwyn girls’ school led by principal Rachel Falloon has not publicly reported its management salaries. The school in 2022 attracted income of $17m and posted a surplus of $1.2m.
Firbank Grammar School
The Anglican girls’ school located in Brighton and Sandringham in 2022 paid eight senior managers a total of $2,348,542, which averages out to around $293,000 each.
Jenny Williams is the school’s 10th principal and started in 2017.
The school attracted income of $40m in 2022 and posted a $2m surplus.
Geelong Grammar
Widely acclaimed as Victoria’s most expensive school, this Geelong private school icon does not divulge its senior management payments. However, the recent statements show the school in 2022 had a gross income of $100m and a deficit of $1.6m. The school, led by Rebecca Cody, is expected to take a significant hit financially due to the payroll tax.
Genazzano
The prestigious Kew Catholic girls’ school has five key leaders paid a total of $1,158,000, which averages out to $231,000 on average each. The school in 2022 attracted revenue of $28m and posted a $3m deficit. The school, which has been led by Loretta Wholley since 2021, is in line to pay the state government’s payroll tax mid-year.
Girton Grammar
The Bendigo co-ed school, which has been operating for more than 125 years, in 2022 paid eight top executives an average of $176,000 each.
They include principal Dr Emma O’Reilly, who was appointed in 2022.
In the same year the school attracted income of $27m and posted a surplus of $1.6m.
Haileybury
The international multi-campus educational behemoth has a whopping 17 senior staff sharing a total of $5,232,000. The group, which includes principal Derek Scott, is paid on average just over $300,000. The school, which has 4600 students, earned income of $169m in 2022 and posted an impressive surplus of $15m.
Hamilton and Alexandra College
The popular Hamilton day and boarding school has four managers paid a total of $925,959 with each receiving on average $231,000.
They include the school’s principal Michael Horne who started at the school in 2023. In 2022 the school posted a healthy profit of $757,000 after attracting funding of $14m from grants, government and investments.
Huntingtower School
The Christian co-ed school in Mount Waverley pays its senior leaders a total of $1,471,339, which is divided between six people. This means each receives on average $245,000. The school in 2022 received $24m in income and posted a healthy $2.9m profit. The principal is Shan Christensen.
Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School
The popular Ivanhoe girls’ school has nine senior staff sharing $1,971,618. The group, which includes principal Narelle Umbers, are each paid on average $219,000. The school attracted $27m in income for 2022 and posted a $460,000 surplus.
Ivanhoe Grammar
The successful co-ed school in Ivanhoe in comparison has six senior staff sharing a total of $2,394,375. The group, which includes principal Gerard Foley receives on average $399,000. The school attracted income of $85m in 2022 and posted a significant $13m surplus.
Kingswood College
The Box Hill coeducational school which dates back to 1890 has seven senior staff members sharing a total of $1,591,000. This means the group, which includes principal Chrissy Gamble, receives on average $227,000 each. The school attracted $20m in income and posted a surplus of $750,000.
Loreto Mandeville Hall
The august Toorak Catholic girls’ school, which is celebrating its centenary this year, has 15 key staff members paid a total of $2,015,716. This averages out to $134,000 each. The school, led by Angela O’Dwyer, raised $44m in revenue but posted a deficit of $874,000 in 2022.
Lauriston Girls’ School
The leading Armadale girls’ school in 2022 paid its key leaders a total of $1.8m, with six staff receiving an average of $300,000 each.
The school, which is headed by Susan Just, received $46m in income and posted a substantial surplus of $5.7m.
Lowther Hall
The Essendon girls’ school has not divulged its payments to key staff members. However, in 2022 it attracted income of $27m and posted a slim surplus of $30,000. Its principal is Elisabeth Rhodes who is a passionate advocate for girls’ education.
Melbourne Grammar
The prestigious boys’ school has some of the most generously paid leaders in the state. In total, five key executives shared $2,276,446 in 2022, with each pocketing on average $455,000.
The headmaster is Philip Grutzner, who was formerly the head of Carey Grammar, and who went to the school as a pupil.
Melbourne Grammar in 2022 attracted $77m in revenue and, despite fees of more than $41,000 in year 12, posted a deficit of $1.1m.
Melbourne Girls’ Grammar
The exclusive South Yarra girls’ school has 11 senior staff sharing a total of $2,500,000 in salary. The group, which includes Dr Toni Meath, receives on average $227,000. The school received $47m in income in 2022 and posted a surplus of $715,000.
Mentone Girls’ Grammar
The beachside girls’ school in Mentone has four key management staff paid a total of $995,557. This averages out to $248,000 each. The small school had an income in 2022 of $22m and posted a deficit of $2.3m. The payroll tax impost is expected to put significant pressure on the school, which has lost more than 100 pupils in the past six years. The school is led by Natalie Charles, a popular leader.
Methodist Ladies’ College
One of Victoria’s largest schools with a total income of more than $86m in 2022, MLC does not divulge publicly its leadership salaries. The school, which has more than 2000 students, posted a surplus of $1.2m and is led by Julia Shea, who started in 2023.
Mount Scopus Memorial College
The popular Jewish school in Burwood has seven senior staff members who together share a total of $2,275,288. These include principal Dan Sztrajt following the retirement of long-serving leader Rabbi James Kennard. The school posted a total income of $38m in 2022 along with a surplus of $1.3m.
Penleigh and Essendon Grammar
The large Essendon co-ed school does not disclose the salaries of its senior staff, who are led by principal Kate Dullard. The school, which has 2860 students, posted an income of $75m in 2022 and a surplus of $1.4m
Presbyterian Ladies’ College
The top-performing Burwood girls’ school pays seven leaders a total of $1,854,729, with each receiving $264,000. This includes principal Cheryl Penberthy who’s been at the school for more than 12 years. PLC’s income in 2022 was $62m and it posted a surplus of $3.1m.
Sacre Coeur
The Glen Iris Catholic girls’ school did not disclose its payments to senior staff, including principal Adelina Melia-Douvos.
In 2022 it attracted an income of $20m and posted a deficit of $1.5m. The school is due to pay the state’s controversial payroll tax from July this year.
Scotch College
The prestigious Hawthorn boys’ school is one of the wealthiest in the state, pocketing $78m in income for 2022 and posting a $4.4m surplus. Five top managers were paid a total of $1,731,160 in salary, which averages out to $346,000 each. New principal Dr Scott Marsh is just the tenth leader in the school’s 170-year history.
St Catherine’s School
The up-market Toorak girls’ school has just two senior managers paid a total of $783,892, which equates to an average of $391,000 each. Smaller but more competitive than some of its rivals, it earned $24m in 2022 and posted a surplus of $583,924. The school has an interim principal in 2024, Robert Marshall, following the departure of Michelle Carroll.
St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar
The co-ed Berwick school has seven key leaders who are paid a total of $1,340,000, which averages out to $191,000 each. The school, headed by Dr Annette Rome, attracted income of $25m in 2022 and posted a slim surplus of $47,000.
Strathcona Girls Grammar
The Canterbury girls’ school has a million-dollar senior executive budget divided between three staff, with each receiving on average $361,442.
The principal Lorna Beegan, started at the school in January this year.
Despite many girls’ schools struggling, Strathcona attracted income of $28m in 2022 and posted a surplus of $412,000.
Toorak College
The co-ed boarding and day school, which is girls-only in years five to 12, is located in Mount Eliza.
Its six senior managers together are paid $1.6m, with each receiving on average $274,000. The group includes the school’s principal, Kirsty Kendall, who started back in 2016.
The school in 2022 attracted income of $31m and posted a $1.4m surplus.
Trinity Grammar
The 120-year-old boys’ school in up-market Kew pays eight senior staff members a total of $2,426,930, with each receiving an average of $303,000.
The principal is Adrian Farrer, who is only the 12th leader in the school’s history.
The school attracted $61m in income in 2022 and posted a surplus of $3.4m.
Wesley College
One of the biggest co-ed private schools in the state, Wesley College pays 10 top staff members a total of $3,525,097. This equates to $352,000 each on average.
The school, headed by principal Nicholas Evans, attracted gross income in 2022 of $130m although it posted a $3.6m deficit. Despite the loss, the school is in line to pay millions to the state government for the payroll tax.
Westbourne Grammar
The Truganina coeducational school has three senior staff sharing just over $1m in salary. This equates to $356,000 each on average for the leaders, which includes principal Adam Camm. The school attracted $54m in income and posted a significant surplus of $6m.
Woodleigh School
The Lanwarrin K-12 school spread across three campuses pays five of its key leaders $1,471,000, with each receiving on average $294,000.
David Baker is the sixth principal of the school, which posted a gross income of $37m and a surplus of $3.9m in 2021/2022.
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