Victorian private schools: Senior leader salaries revealed

A dozen more upmarket private schools – including Ballarat Clarendon College and Geelong Grammar – have been forced to reveal how much they pay their senior leaders.

More up-market private schools have been forced to publish the millions of dollars they pay their senior leaders.

Their 2022 budgets – which have only just been released – also show some surprising profits and losses of some of the wealthiest schools in the state.

The Herald Sun can reveal the senior wages bill of 12 more independent schools, with financial reports revealing schools such as Ballarat Grammar and Overnewton College have 17 people sharing $3m.

The most generous employer of the dozen is Ballarat Clarendon College, which has five people sharing $1.6m, each earning an average of $330,000.

The budgets do not separately list principal salaries, which can reach packages of more than $750,000 and $1m for the top schools.

Smaller schools pay around $300,000, while state school principals in Victoria will reach $238,000 by 2025.

The initial tranche of financial reports – released in early June – revealed the senior wages bills of schools including Camberwell Girls Grammar, Our Lady of Sion and Marcellin College.

While the second tranche revealed the senior salaries bills of schools including St Leonard’s College, Camberwell Grammar and St Columba’s College.

The disclosures in this third tranche of financial reports come amid the state government’s controversial payroll tax, which will lead to 60 schools paying between $700,000 and $7m depending on the size of their wages bill.

Mentone Grammar

The large co-ed school has an executive salary bill of $3m, shared by 13 people on an average of $237,000 each.

The school, led by principal Mal Cater for more than 15 years, is a dominant force in the Mentone area.

Its 2022 financial report shows it had a total income of $61m and made a surplus of $2.3m.

It has total assets of $99m, receives $13m from taxpayers each year and will have to pay the payroll tax.

Geelong Grammar

This co-ed college in Corio, which is widely regarded as the country’s most expensive school, says it does not have more than one remunerated key staff member.

It thus has not divulged its senior salaries bill.

However, its 2022 financial report shows it had $90m in total revenue and yet posted a shock $2.4m net deficit.

This follows a $11m surplus for 2021.

The school receives around $7m from the federal government and $1.3m from the state and will have to pay the payroll tax.

Geelong Grammar is widely recognised as the country’s most expensive school.

Southern Cross Grammar

This large co-ed school in Caroline Springs has four people sharing just over $1m, with an average payment of $250,000 each.

The principal is Matthew Dodd and the school had total revenue in 2022 of $18m.

It made a surplus of $1.3m and received more than $8m from government grants.

It will not have to pay the state payroll tax.

Xavier College

The exclusive Catholic boys’ school in Kew has seven people sharing $1.8m, each earning an average of $257,000. These include the principal Bill Doherty.

The school had a total revenue in 2022 of $71m, including $7m from government sources.

It made a profit of $4.5m and has assets, which include its expansive Barkers Road campus, of $122m.

It will have to pay the payroll tax.

Xavier College is an exclusive boys’ school in Kew. Picture: Mark Stewart

Ballarat and Queen’s Anglican Grammar

The historic Ballarat school has one of the largest senior management teams, with 17 people sharing $3.1m.

The leaders, including principal Adam Heath, are paid on average $187,000.

The school had total revenue of $51m and posted a surplus of $3m in 2022.

The revenue includes $20m in government grants.

The school will not have to pay the payroll tax.

Ballarat Clarendon College

This high-achieving school in Ballarat has five people sharing $1.6m, each earning an average of $330,000.

This includes the school’s controversial longstanding principal David Shepherd, who is retiring after holding the position since 1997.

The 2022 financial report shows the school earned $48m in revenue and posted an impressive surplus of $10m.

It has total assets of more than $100m.

Ballarat Clarendon College Principal David Shepherd congratulates 2022 Dux, Zachary Hengel.

Overnewton College

The Keilor co-ed Anglican school is another college with a large senior management group, with 17 people sharing $3m.

They are paid on average $176,000, including principal Emily FitzSimons, who replaced James Laussen after more than two decades.

In 2022, the school had total revenue of $46m and made a loss of $2.6m.

The school receives $21m in government grants and will not have to pay the payroll tax.

Siena College

This Catholic girls’ school in Camberwell has two people sharing $480,900, including principal Elizabeth Hanney. The average payment is $240,000.

The school had total revenue of $19m and posted a $1.5m deficit, according to the 2022 financial report.

The school has total assets of $52m and receives $6m from governments.

It will have to pay the payroll tax.

Siena College is a Catholic Girls’ school in Camberwell.

Braemar College

The Woodend independent ecumenical co-ed school has three people sharing $868,000, including principal Russell Deer. They earn an average of $289,000 each.

The school in 2022 had $25m in total revenue and posted a net surplus of $2.2m.

It receives $11m from governments and will not have to pay the payroll tax.

Yarra Valley Grammar

This distinguished co-ed school in Ringwood has four senior leaders sharing $1.1m.

These include principal Dr Mark Merry, who has held the post since 2009.

The school received $49m in total income in 2022 and posted a surplus of $8m.

It receives $11m from governments and will have to pay the payroll tax.

Beaconhills Christian College

The co-ed Christian school, which has been around for 41 years, has four senior managers sharing $1.1m, each earning an average of $275,000.

These include executive principal Stephen McGinley.

The school had $68m in total revenue and made an impressive surplus of $13m.

It has assets of more than $186m, including its extensive Pakenham and Berwick campuses. The school gets more than $30m in government grants and will not have to pay the payroll tax.

Tintern Grammar

This historic co-ed Ringwood East school paid ten people $2.1m, with an average of $200,000 each. They include principal Brad Fry.

The school in 2022 had a total income of $31m and posted a surplus of $1.3m.

It receives $6m in government grants and will have to pay the payroll tax.

Tintern Grammar is a historic co-ed school in Ringwood East. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

Other schools which do not have more than one remunerated key staff member, and thus do not have to divulge the senior salaries bill, include Gippsland Grammar, Fintona, Lowther Hall and Sacre Coeur. The latter posted a loss of $1.5m in 2022.