The salaries of Victoria’s top private school principals revealed

Senior leaders at some of Victoria’s most exclusive private schools are raking in big bucks. See what they’re earning.

Korowa Anglican Girls School in Armadale. Picture: Ian Currie

The executive salaries at more private schools can be revealed, with four leaders at one Christian school earning more than $250,000 each.

Beaconhills College is one of the most generous employers, with four key senior managers sharing $1.1m in annual salary, with an average of $275,000 each.

But it’s still less than other independent schools, such as Ballarat Clarendon College, which has five people sharing $1.6m, with each earning an average of $330,000.

More schools have published their 2022 budgets, which do not detail individual principal salaries, but for the first time disclose the amount shared by senior leaders.

As the Herald Sun has already revealed, top principals can be on packages of more than $750,000 and $1m for the top schools.

Other salaries previously disclosed include St Leonard’s College, which has 16 managers sharing $3.4m – an average of $216,000 each and Peninsula Grammar which is spending an average of $344,000 on each of its five leaders.

Eltham College

Eltham College principal Simon Le Plastrier.

The in-demand independent school on the city’s northeastern outskirts has eight key managers paid $1.9m, or an average of $240,000 each. These include principal Simon Le Plastrier

The school’s 2022 financial report shows it has revenue of $23m, but posted a loss of $915,000. The school, which has a leafy campus in Research, has total assets of $29m.

Geelong College

Geelong College principal Dr Peter Miller with students.

The leading Newtown coeducational school has 20 senior managers on its books, sharing $2.6m, or an average of $130,000 each. These include principal Dr Peter Miller.

The school in 2022 attracted revenue of $59m and posted a $7.5m surplus.

Founded in 1861, it has total assets of $112m, primarily due to its expansive campuses and historic grounds.

Korowa Anglican Girls’ School

Korowa Anglican Girls' School principal Mrs Frances Booth.

The up-market day school for girls in Glen Iris has eight senior managers sharing $1.5m, or an average of $187,000 each. These include principal Frances Booth. The high-achieving school attracted revenue of $27m and posted a surplus of $1.2m. The school, which was founded in 1890, has assets of $120m, most of which is due to its single-location campus in the eastern suburbs.

Ballarat Christian College

Ballarat Christian College principal Ken Nuridin.

The coeducational independent Christian college in Ballarat has five senior leaders sharing $720,000, with each earning an average of $144,000. These include principal Ken Nuridin.

The small school attracted revenue in 2022 of $7m and posted a $414,000 surplus. The P-12 school which has 300 students, has total assets of $11m.

Lighthouse Christian College

The non-denominational Christian coeducational school in Keysborough has seven key leaders sharing $980,000, with each earning an average of $140,000 each. These include principal Wing Hoe Leong.

The school, which has more than 800 students, has revenue of $17m and in 2022 posted a surplus of $118,000. It also has total assets of $39m, mostly due to its large campus on Springvale Rd.

Heathdale Christian College

Heathdale Christian College principal Ross Grace.

The well-regarded non-denominational Christian coeducational school in Werribee has seven leaders sharing $1.2m, with each earning an average of $171,000. These include principal Ross Grace. The popular 40-year-old school, which has nearly 2000 students, has total revenue of $40m and in 2022 it posted a surplus of $2.3m. It has two main campuses in Werribee and Melton and total assets of $115m.

Beaconhills College

Beaconhills College principal Stephen McGinley.

The coeducational ecumenical school has four senior leaders sharing $1.1m, with each earning an average of $275,000. These include principal Stephen McGinley. The college, which has two campuses in Pakenham and Berwick, had $68m in revenue in 2022 and posted a $13m surplus. One of Victoria’s largest colleges, it has total assets of $188m.

Waverley Christian College

Waverley Christian College principal Peter Sheahan.

The coeducational independent Christian school has 11 leaders sharing $2.1m, with each earning an average of $190,000. These include principal Peter Sheahan.

The school, which has more than 2000 students, had total revenue in 2022 of $47m and posted a $7.5m surplus.

The school is spread across two campuses in Wantirna South and Narre Warren South and has assets of $65m.