Camberwell Grammar and Scotch College among Victoria’s most elite boys’ schools

Camberwell Grammar and Scotch College are among Victoria’s most elite private boys’ schools, racking up the highest number of students from rich families.

The most elite private boys’ schools in Victoria are Camberwell Grammar and Scotch College with 78 per cent of parents in the top income percentile, a Herald Sun analysis reveals.

Next is Melbourne Grammar on 76 per cent and St Kevin’s College on 74 per cent, followed by Trinity Grammar, Xavier College and Brighton Grammar. All of these schools have median ATAR scores of 33 or more and fees of up to $42,000.

When it comes to academic results, Yeshivah, a Jewish boys’ school, outperformed all others, with a median VCE study score of 36.

Scotch, Melbourne, Trinity and Brighton Grammar and St Kevin’s College tied next on 35 followed by Camberwell Grammar on 34 and Xavier College on 33.

But all this excellence comes at a price, with those schools – except for Yeshivah- commanding fees of between $22,000 and $42,000.

St Kevin’s College has a wealthy parent base and excellent results for fees of $22,000 in year 12.

Whitefriars, St Bernards and Salesian College in Chadstone all offer excellent academic results – median VCE study score of 31 in exchange for parent fees between $8000 and $14,000.

High-fee boys’ schools such as Scotch College consistently achieve excellent academic standards and are in high demand by parents. Picture: Kelly Barnes

The analysis comes as new research contains interviews private school “old boys” who have lifted the lid on the shame of being perceived as having attended a “rich racist school” and being a “wanker”.

Australian Catholic University researcher Cameron Meiklejohn interviewed former students from a range of top-drawer boys-only private schools in Australia.

He found that some were reluctant to say where they were educated, with one saying his school “comes with more baggage than prestige”.

Dr Meiklejohn interviewed nine old boys aged 25 to 44 about their experiences of attending elite boys’ schools and its continued meaning in their lives.

He said the participants “relayed how their elite schooling experiences were now associated with personal shame, guilt, or embarrassment”.

“There’s a public perception of these institutions that doesn’t reflect the socially progressive values of the men I interviewed as part of this research,” he said.

“There’s a sub-section of students who have a complex relationship with their former schools and have difficulty adjusting to life afterwards. The research shows there are complex pathways and trajectories that some students who emerge from these schools must navigate.”

One avoided any career path that reminded him of school, and another avoided telling anyone to avoid being seen as an entitled “wanker” from a rich privileged background.

“I don’t want to be seen as some, you know, a bratty rich kid from the rich school. The rich, racist school,” another said.

The participants did not include “the most influential and powerful old boys” employed in prestigious professions.

The comments come as boys’ schools around the country have come under intense scrutiny in recent years over elitism, bullying, misogyny, and homophobia.

Despite this, high-fee boys’ schools such as Melbourne Grammar, Xavier College, Trinity Grammar and Scotch College consistently achieve excellent academic standards and are in high demand by parents.

THerald Sun analysis of private boys’ schools in Victoria shows Melbourne Grammar is one of the most elite schools. Picture: Mark Stewart

Dr Meiklejohn also found the transition to university was a “bubble bursting moment” that led to the old boys questioning the idea that higher education would be “easy”.

One interviewee concluded that presumptions from his school that he was “better than others” was “bullshit”. Another was shocked to find at university that he “wasn’t important anymore” despite being a celebrated athlete and student leader at his school.

“Those interviewed experienced challenges, doubts and uncertainties both academically and socially that questioned their confidence,” Dr Meiklejohn said.

“The exposure to greater diversity at university and in their working life created an opportunity for self-reflection and the navigation of those perceptions that they were only successful because they went to a private boys’ school.”

Of the eight participants who pursued higher education, the majority attended Group of Eight universities and three studied arts/law. One student said he was “ashamed” at selecting a less prestigious creative course to study because he had “such a high ATAR”.

Dr Claire Charles from Deakin University, who also conducts research into elite private schools, said the findings reflected the feelings of a subgroup of boys who are more arty and less conventional.

“These views are not reflective of all alumni from these schools and show how complicated the relationship can be,” she said.

“It highlights the importance of having a social mix in all levels of education.”