Coronavirus: Top private schools cut fees to help parents

The nation’s top private schools are slashing thousands off fees in a bid to prevent financially embattled families from dropping out of the $25,000-a-year institutions.

Carey Baptist Grammar School in Melbourne’s Kew. Picture: Sarah Matray

The nation’s top private schools are slashing thousands off fees in a bid to prevent financially embattled families from dropping out of the $25,000-a-year institutions.

Carey Baptist Grammar in the east Melbourne suburb of Kew has notified parents it will cut next term’s fees for primary and secondary students by 15 per cent, which is $1239.45 for Year 12 student and $800.70 for prep.

“It is our intent that no family will need to leave Carey this year as a result of financial hardship,” principal Jonathan Walter said in a notice to parents.

Melbourne Grammar School in South Yarra is offering rebates for term two worth up to $1786.25 for primary students and $1782 for secondary, a fee reduction of 25 and 15 per cent respectively.

In Western Australia, private schools have already begun cutting tuition costs for the first time since the state’s mining downturn in 2016.

St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls will slash fees by 25 per cent for all students in term two, which begins in WA on April 28. It charges $27,120 for Year 12 students.

In Queensland, Catholic Education schools in the Brisbane archdiocese have offered a 10 per cent reduction in fees for all students for term two.

In Sydney, The King’s School in Parramatta is responding to requests to lower their $38,000 tuition fee as parents struggle during the COVID-19 crisis.