The private primary schools worth paying for

Some Victorian schools charge $30,000 for year 5, but is it a wise investment? These are the primary schools where splurging on your child’s education will pay off.

Presbyterian Ladies’ College topped the list of primary schools for year 5 NAPLAN results. Picture: Mark Stewart.

There are select private schools across Victoria where splashing your cash on primary school fees is worth it.

The Herald Sun has compiled a list of the 20 top-performing private primary schools in Victoria, using average year 5 NAPLAN scores from last year.

Students are marked in key learning areas: reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy.

Presbyterian Ladies’ College topped the list with a median score of 598.4. The prestigious school charges more than $28,000 in fees for a year 5 student.

Korowa Anglican Girls’ School also achieved high NAPLAN results for year 5. Picture: Ian Currie

Harkaway Hills College came in second with 592.4, charging a more modest $9239 in tuition.

In the state’s east elite independent schools Fintona, Camberwell Grammar and Camberwell Girls Grammar ranked closely behind, scoring 587.8, 587.4 and 581.4 respectively.

Fintona and Camberwell Girls’ charge around $25,000 in fees, whereas Camberwell Grammar charges more than $30,000.

Lighthouse Christian College in Cranbourne and St Andrews Christian College in Wantirna South were other lower paying schools that ranked in the top 20 with scores 576.6 and 575.4.

They charge $6291 and $8200 in fees respectively.

Girls’ schools Shelford, Korowa and Strathcona also came in high, achieving scores between 567 and 570.

In the state’s regions, Olivet Christian College in Campbells Creek and Ballarat Clarendon College ranked in the top 20, scoring 571.6 and 567.8 respectively.

Further down the list were high-fee schools Haileybury College, Scotch College, Christ Church Grammar and St Catherine’s, who all charge about $30,000 in tuition for a year 5 student.

They were beaten by government schools including Canterbury Primary, Balwyn Primary, Wheelers Hill Primary and Glendal Primary.

For parents wanting to save thousands of dollars in school fees a year, the two public primary schools to rank in the top 10 overall for NAPLAN scorers were Serpell Primary in Templestowe and Beverley Hills Primary in Doncaster East.

The government schools ranked sixth and seventh, with scores of 579.2 and 577.6 respectively.

Camberwell Girls’ Grammar school achieved a median NAPLAN score of 581.4 for year 5. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Harkaway Hills College Principal Mary Broadsmith said focusing on the “basics” enabled her students to receive top marks.

“We teach phonics and expose the children to quality, classical literature from foundation,” she said.

“We focus on number sense and get the children used to problem solving early in primary school.

“And we have no iPads – we truly believe that reading from hard copy books, and using pencils, paper and tactile materials have a direct impact on student retention and memory.”

The Narre Warren North school charges considerably less than other private schools to make the list.

“We pride ourselves in being able to offer an education that is competitive with the most expensive schools in Victoria,” Ms Broadsmith said.

“We understand that $9000 is still a challenge for many families, and we strive to cut costs as much as possible by having class sets for textbooks, being selective about our resourcing and limited technology when it is not needed.”

Camberwell Grammar headmaster Dr Paul Hicks said he is “proud” of how hard his students work at their studies.

“We are also proud of our talented and committed teachers, who encourage and support our students to be good students and good people all year round,” he said.

“And we are also blessed with wonderful support and encouragement from our parents and the wider community.”