Marist College Ashgrove parents outraged at 2026 fee price rise

Parents at Marist College Ashgrove have slammed a fourth consecutive major fee hike that will see some families paying $2200 more per student next year.

Fees at Marist College Ashgrove are as high as $18,710 for Year 12s. Picture: David Clark

The latest of four huge back-to-back fee rises at Marist College Ashgrove has left parents furious amid claims of money being “wasted’’ on law suits.

Parents were sent a letter on Monday, November 17, breaking the news that tuition would cost $2200 more per student next year.

That worked out to a hike of 13-18 per cent, depending on the student’s year level.

The whopping increase came after a $900 across-the-board rise this year, or about 6-8 per cent.

Fees climbed 8.9 per cent last year and also by 8 per cent in 2023.

Next year’s fees would range from $11,920 for Year 5 up to $18,710 for Year 12.

Boarding fees and other school levies also went up, by 4 per cent.

Marist College Ashgrove.

While tuition fees were half the amount charged by some GPS schools, including Brisbane Boys’ College, Marist parents pointed out that many of them were not well off.

Marist was now also considerably more expensive than the comparable Padua College in Kedron where parents were this year charged from a total of $11,294 for Years 5-6 students up to a total of $13,986 for Year 12s.

About half of Marist students lived in Mitchelton and Enoggera, near Padua College.

Padua was also set to welcome popular former Marist deputy Head of College Bruce McPhee next year as its new school leader.

The letter sent out on Monday partly blamed wages, something which has angered teachers after modest rises for Catholic school teachers of 3-4 per cent in recent years.

Head of College Michael Newman also blamed a large drop in federal funding.

“As forecast in my 2024 letter, it is now necessary to increase fees in 2026 to specifically address a further $2 million reduction in government funding,’’ he wrote.

“Over the past seven years the college has already managed a $5 million reduction in government funding in real terms under the national Gonski funding model.

“We do not anticipate any similar fee increase for the remaining three years of this present Gonski funding model, which expires at the end of 2028.

But one parent, who declined to be named, questioned whether at least some of the steep fee hikes were due to legal costs.

The westside school has faced two high-profile cases recently including an unfair dismissal case before the Fair Work Commission brought by former science teacher Stanislaw Kosiek.

He was fired in August, 2023 after accidentally firing off a reply-all email, critical of a colleague, which he had meant only for his union.

Another teacher allegedly pelted with food by a group of students had also taken legal action after being unable to return to work because of mental trauma.

It was believed the legal actions would have cost at least $100,000 each to defend, although it was unclear if those costs were borne solely by the school or its governing body.

Head of Marist College Ashgrove Michael Newman. Picture: Richard Walker

Marist said in a statement that it had faced significant reductions in government funding under the Gonski model including a $5 million reduction in real terms since 2018.

“A further $2 million reduction in real terms over the next two years – alongside wage increases and inflation - means we have no alternative but to increase our fees for 2026 to bridge this gap,’’ the statement said.

“We understand that any movement in fees can be challenging and we will work with any affected families confidentially and compassionately to manage any difficulty.

“We have an obligation to ensure the sustainable financial management of the college in the context of funding reductions, rising wages and inflation, as well as maintaining our

outstanding teaching, programs and facilities.

“Notwithstanding the increase for 2026, Marist College Ashgrove will remain among the more accessible full-service independent schools in Brisbane, with one all-inclusive fee covering on-site sport, music ensembles, excursions and co-curricular opportunities for every student in the Marist tradition.’’

But the parent said there was anger among the school community at what they claimed were “unnecessary’’ costs included holding inauguration masses and prize ceremonies at QPAC, instead of on site, and an expensive refurbishment of the Cyprion Pavilion which hosted events such as the Old Boys annual lunch.

The parent said the tuition hikes came on top of other expenses such as a requirement, introduced several years ago, for expensive blazers for Years 5-6 students and pricey new felt hats.

School fees were reviewed and approved by various local and national committees.

The school was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Marist College Ashgrove parents outraged at 2026 fee price rise