Fees, results revealed: See what’s on offer at Ipswich’s priciest schools
They are the priciest schools in the region, with parents paying a small fortune for their child’s education – and from fancy facilities, to top marks and school prestige, here is what your money gets you at Ipswich’s most expensive schools.
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Thousands of Ipswich parents pay top dollar to give their children the best education the region has to offer.
Ipswich excels at both the old and the new in terms of schooling, boasting both the oldest grammar school in Queensland and newer schools in growing areas like Springfield which have risen impressively through the ranks over the last decade.
From top test results, to innovative opportunities, and traditional values that have stood the test of time, Ipswich schools charge a hefty fee for a range of desirable qualities.
The Queensland Times is breaking down fees, test results and everything that makes Ipswich’s priciest schools stand out.
See the list:
Bethany Lutheran Primary School
Founded in 1982, Bethany Lutheran Primary School is a contemporary school grounded in Christian values.
Located in Raceview, Bethany Lutheran boasts a “21st Century learning environment” – with modern classrooms and facilities, along with spacious grounds and nature play spaces.
Their website states they have a “strong reputation for high educational quality and dynamic, innovative programs”.
“To learn and grow in a safe, supportive Christian environment, our rich and diverse programs aim to meet each student where they are at in their learning journey, then support them to progress, flourish, and achieve to their highest God-given potential.”
Bethany Lutheran’s fees vary depending on year level,from $4,340 per annum in prep, to $4,852 in year six – including levies, and sibling discounts are available.
Their 2021 annual report revealed they had 315 students and 24 teaching staff last year, with an overall parent satisfaction of 4.5.
Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School
Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School is located in Springfield Lakes, and its teaching heavily centres around its Catholic values.
The Brisbane Catholic Archdiocesan School opened in 2013, and projects significant expansion as the Greater Springfield area continues to grow.
The school motto “Called by Name” reflects their ideal of “a community where everyone is known by their baptismal name, and are known as an individual person, respected, and valued,” according to its website.
“The motto proclaims a community where all belong, are included, and connect with each other.”
The school boasts modern, technologically-rich facilities – coupled with a safe and welcoming learning environment.
In 2022, Good Shepherd charged $3,555.00 per annum – including levies – and had discounts available for siblings.
Good Shepherd also performed highly in the latest NAPLAN – claiming the number three spot of highest performing primary schools in the region.
Immaculate Heart Catholic Primary School
Immaculate Heart Catholic Primary School comes in at a slightly lower price point – charging up to $2,550.00 per annum per student in 2022.
The Leichhardt school centres its school identity around the mother of Jesus, Mary, and her “Immaculate Heart.”
The Queensland Times recently spoke to Immaculate Heart principal Kurt Dutney, who explained how the school’s welcoming culture emulates that of a smaller country school.
“We must always ensure we maximise our student’s engagement with learning by ensuring they feel cared for, that they belong and that they want to learn,” he said.
Mr Dutney said the school is currently focusing on maximising quality of teaching and learning, with a strong focus on the teaching of English.
“With this strong focus, we will reduce variability in teaching across classrooms and develop our teacher’s skills in triangulating available learning data to inform teaching and assessment,” he said.
Ipswich Grammar School
Boasting an impressive 158-year-old history, Ipswich Grammar School charges top dollar of up to $6,311.33 per term.
The boys school charges different fees depending on the year level, and offers boarding for up to $13,411.33 per term.
The oldest grammar school in Queensland, Ipswich Grammar follows the motto ‘Labore Et Honore’ – to word hard with honour.
The school is steeped in tradition, but has also embraced innovation with projects such as the construction of its new $10.5 million STEM building.
Ipswich Grammar further came out on top last year in terms of NAPLAN results – with the highest grade averages in both year three and five, and second highest in years seven and nine.
“This is an innovation rich school that enthusiastically embraces the partnership we have with parents in developing fine young men ready to lead rich and rewarding lives,” states the Ipswich Grammar website.
Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School
Much like its male counterpart, Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School, has a significant history – and significant fees to match.
The school charges different rates for different year levels, from $9,439 a year in prep, to $18,184 a year in grade 12 – plus additional fees for boarding students
Established in 1892, Ipswich Girls Grammar School said they are “frequently commended for [their] students’ high academic results, confidence, diligence, self-discipline and community service”.
The school claimed the number one spot earlier this year of the region’s highest NAPLAN secondary school performers – and was just edged out by its male counterpart, coming in at number two for primary school schools.
Its website boasts a history of strong and successful women, and an impressive range of facilities including their Peter Phillips Senior School Complex, a number of heritage buildings, Centre for Young Women’s Health and Wellbeing, and the recently renovated boarding facility, Cribb House.
“With strong moral and ethical values, our girls develop into responsible, capable, global citizens who create their own opportunities for higher learning, leadership and life,” it said.
Sacred Heart School
Sacred Heart School follows the Brisbane Catholic Education’s learning and teaching framework.
The Booval school prioritises contemporary pedagogies and inquiry-based learning within a technology-rich environment.
According to Sacred Heart’s website, “technology is integrated across the curriculum, supporting students learning within the digital world in which we live”.
The students from years one to six are each issued an iPad as part of the school’s 1:1 iPad program – which the school says is “to foster and promote students’ capacity to collaborate, share information and experiences, work across the domains of the curriculum and be self-directed in their learning”.
Sacred Heart charges different fees for different year levels, from $2,940 per annum in prep to $3,460 in year six – including levies.
St Edmund’s College
St Edmund’s College is a historic Catholic secondary school which follows the Edmund Rice tradition.
Located in Woodend, the all-boys school opened in 1892 and prides itself on cultivating its students to become kind, strong and gentle men.
In 2021, the school enrolled 1056 and employed 87 staff, and was the tenth highest performing secondary school on NAPLAN.
St Edmund’s offers a wide range of programs and opportunities, including their Future Pathways Program – sponsored by the University of Southern Queensland – their Defence Mentor Program, ‘Eddies Men Can’ Student Formation Program, and participation in the Gateway to Industry Schools Program in the area of Advanced Manufacturing.
Their goal, according to their website is “to enable our young men to be resilient in challenging times, responsive to the needs of others, reflective of their own character and respectful to all so that when they leave us in Year 12 they can effectively take their place in a society that is challenging, demanding and enriching”.
St Edmund’s currently charges an annual fee of $8,584 per annum across all year levels, with sibling discounts available.
St Joseph’s Primary School
St Joseph’s Primary School was established in 1913, and follows the Catholic Sisters of Mercy Tradition.
It operated as a Parish-owned school until 1975, when it was taken over by Brisbane Catholic Education.
The North Ipswich school charges $2555 per annum – plus levies – with sibling discounts available.
Its website states the school “inspires students to be lifelong, independent learners so that they may take their place as purposeful people with courage, wisdom and a will to shape and enrich our world”.
“Joeys’ is a happy, vibrant place where each person is known, valued and loved”.
St Mary’s College and Primary School
St Mary’s is comprised of an all-girls secondary school and a co-ed primary school – which welcomes the younger students of the school’s male counterpart St Edmund’s College.
Established over 157 years ago, St Mary’s charges up to $6,475 per annum, including levies, with sibling discounts available.
The Queensland Times recently spoke to principal Paula Goodwin, who said the school is “making cutting edge educational opportunities a priority this year”.
“This goes hand-in-hand with a commitment to ensuring student wellbeing so that all of our young women can thrive. Our strong Pastoral Care program and commitment to community engagement ensure this.”
“Above all, we are invested in helping our students become resilient, capable and inspiring young women, ready to embrace the opportunities before them.”
St Mary’s performed slightly higher than its male counterpart on the last NAPLAN, coming in as the eighth-highest scoring secondary school and ninth highest-scoring primary school in the region.
St Peter Claver College
St Peter Claver College is a Catholic, co-ed secondary school based in Riverview.
The school charges different fees depending on year level – of up to $5,570 per annum, including levies.
The Queensland Times recently spoke to principal Terry Finan, who said the school’s goal is that “each young person will graduate with deep learning, personal growth and a moral code embedded in the Christian principles of concern, love and justice”.
He said the school is currently constructing a new technology block as part of the school’s ongoing building program to accommodate their growing enrolments.
Mr Finan said the school’s other projects include their completed Trade Trading Centre and upcoming Arts Precinct.
“The students we educate today will go into a world which is quite different to anything we have known … I have confidence these students will embrace it and make an even better world,” said Mr Finan.
St Peter Claver College performed highly in the latest NAPLAN tests, coming in at the ninth highest-scoring school in the region.
St Peters Lutheran College
St Peter’s Lutheran College is a modern kindergarten to year 12 school based in Springfield Central.
Fees range from $7,832 in prep to year seven, to $11,252 in year 11 to 12 (including levies).
The school was established in 2008, and follows the motto ‘Plus Ultra’, which its website says calls students to “to the heights of personal excellence and human endeavour”.
Enrolments have continued to grow as Greater Springfield expands, expected to peak at 950 students.
With access to many of the programs at its sister school in Indooroopilly, St Peters Springfield offers a range of facilities, clubs and initiatives – including the Ironbark Outdoor Education program, which the year nine students complete over the course of five weeks at Crows Nest.
St Peter’s Springfield further claimed the number five spot on the most recent NAPLAN among secondary schools and said its students have reached further distinction in leadership, sporting and artistic endeavours.
The Springfield Anglican College
The Springfield Anglican College is a co-ed kindergarten to year 12 school grounded in Christian values.
Fees range from $7,175 per annum in prep to $11,014 in year 12 – plus levies.
The school has historically excelled at shaping both high-performing students and teachers – with prep teacher Lorraine Breingan recognised last year as Ipswich and Springfield’s best teacher.
The school continued to perform highly in the most recent NAPLAN, ranking the third highest-scoring secondary school in the region.
The Queensland Times recently spoke to principal Steven Morris, who said the school is currently focused on widening curriculum offerings to better support students’ needs, and developing first-class facilities that optimise learning spaces and maximise students’ opportunities for success.
“As I look toward the future, I’m eager to continue to work alongside the entire College community to build students’ intellectual, spiritual and wellbeing capital,” he said.
“The Springfield Anglican College is also located in one of the state’s fastest growing regions and we are eager to take advantage of Springfield’s most exciting new infrastructure developments.”
West Moreton Anglican College
West Moreton Anglican College (WMAC) is located near the Amberley Defence Base in Karrabin.
It is known for supporting military families, and employs the only full-time Defence mentor in the Ipswich and Brisbane West region for a prep to year 12 school.
WMAC also performed consistently across all year levels on the most recent NAPLAN tests, ranking the eighth highest-performing primary school and the sixth highest performing secondary school in the region.
Fees vary depending on year level – from $6,956 per annum in prep to $12,808 per annum in year 12.
The Queensland Times recently spoke to principal Geoff McLay, who said the school is currently focusing on implementing a range of programs to strengthen their child safety culture and continuing to develop their teaching practice to reflect contemporary best practice.
The school is further planning construction for a multimillion Student Services Hub, which is just the first stage of their next Master Plan.
Westside Christian College
Westside Christian College is a multi-denominational Christian school in Goodna – originally known as Goodna Christian School.
It opened in 1977 with 56 children and has since expanded, with 1159 students enrolled across prep to year 12 in 2021.
The students performed highly in the latest NAPLAN tests, with the school ranking the fourth highest-performing secondary school in the area.
The school charges different fees depending on year level – from $4,779 per annum in prep, to $9,206 per annum in year 12 – plus levies.
Westside Christian College offers a range of programs to enrich the students’ wellbeing, including the primary wellbeing and resilience program ‘Bounce Back’, the secondary FIT (Fitness Integrity Tenacity) Chicks program and the BOB (Building Outstanding Blokes) program.
The students are further encouraged to participate in a range of community work such as the Helping Hands Program, the Queensland Cancer Council’s Relay for Life and World Vision’s 40 Hour Famine – run by a group of secondary students ‘Generation Justice’.
“We understand that different things energise, lift up and light up our young people so we offer a diverse range of co-curricular opportunities which bring them jobs, support their wellbeing and growth and enrich their learning,” states the school’s website.
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Originally published as Fees, results revealed: See what’s on offer at Ipswich’s priciest schools
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