What you pay vs what you get at Queensland’s ritziest schools
Queensland’s schools aren’t always cheap but you will be amazed what it’s like inside this prestigious school.
Regional News
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Parents are paying up to $30,000 a year for their children to attend the most prestigious private schools in South East Queensland.
For many it is money well spent considering the standard of facilities and programs – both sporting and academic – on offer.
From Olympic-grade sports centres to tuckshops run by chefs and massive auditoriums that can seat 1500, we have broken down what you pay versus what you get at Queensland’s ritziest schools.
ANGLICAN CHURCH GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Year 12: $29,176 a year
For almost $30,000 a year in tuition you and your child will get your money’s worth.
Ranked as one of the most expensive schools on this list, Anglican Church Grammar School has 10 sports fields, three heated pools, seven tennis courts and a rowing facility that overlooks the Brisbane River.
This school’s sporting facilities have produced 16 Wallabies including Keith Bell, Walter Bennett and Ross Teitzel.
And fear not if your child isn’t athletically inclined.
There’s also a state-of-the art library with 10 study rooms, two outdoor learning areas, a 250-seat lecture theatre and The Arches Cafe open to students, staff and the general public.
A second cafe – the Viking Café – is staffed by two chefs and offers hot meals, cold food and beverages as well as a 120-seat dining area with microwaves and sandwich presses available for student use.
But it doesn’t stop there – this school even has barbecues, water refill stations and four table tennis tables for your child to enjoy.
ST MARGARET’S ANGLICAN GIRLS SCHOOL
Year 7-12: $29,036 per annum
You won’t believe what’s on offer at this elite school in Ascot.
For $29,036 a year, your child will have full access to a gym with an indoor full-size court which can be used for volleyball, basketball, badminton, netball and more as well as a rock climbing wall.
St Margaret’s also has a 50m sized pool as well as outdoor courts and an art facility with a library that has six science labs.
The school has three visual arts practical classrooms, drama room and gallery space.
St Margaret’s even has a ‘foyer’ which can be used for weddings and other functions.
There is also a ‘pottery area’ for students to access with famous Australian sculptor Daphne Mayo having graduated from the school.
THE SOUTHPORT SCHOOL
Year 12: $27,750 a year
Possibly one of the Gold Coast’s most prestigious schools, The Southport School has two heated pools, nine playing fields and indoor gymnasium.
For $27,750 a year, students with a vast majority of interests will enjoy this school.
Located near the main beach is also a perk.
Ironman surf lifesaving champion Caine Eckstein graduated from this school and broke the Guiness World Record for more pull-ups in 24 hours with 7620 in 2016.
A sports courts, climbing wall and purpose-built buildings for the performing arts are all on offer.
Boasting a very strong swimming program, director David Thomas has coached many swimmers to state and national titles while orchestrating a decade of GPS campaigns.
BRISBANE GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Years 7-12: $32,760 a year
A senior library, teaching laboratories and an indoor sports centre are just some of the facilities available at Grammar School.
With a tuition of $32,760 a year, this school also has an Olympic-grade gymnastics stadium with full-size sprung floor, vaults, trampoline, bars and weights room.
There’s also a 10-lane pool, indoor cricket net, ten tennis courts and spin bikes.
The school has produced a number of athletes across a broad range of sports including V8 Supercar driver Lee Holdsworth and Olympic water polo player Toby Jenkins.
BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Years 7-12: $30,054 a year
Those who grace the halls of Brisbane Girls Grammar will find beautiful architecture as well as modern learning spaces.
For $30,054 a year, students can access a historic building opened in 1884, a $17.4m Research Learning Centre with more than 55,000 resources and a $25m, six-level Cherrell Hirst Creative Learning Centre.
This school also has a number of renowned academic programs, which helped 13.48 per cent of last year’s Year 12 cohort graduated with an ATAR of 99 or above.
Main campus facilities also include a 25-metre suspended swimming pool, the Gehrmann Theatre and the McCrae Grassie Sports Centre.
BRISBANE BOYS’ COLLEGE
Years 7-12: $29,436 a year
Brisbane Boys’ College boasts some impressive sporting facilities, including a large indoor sports complex for basketball and volleyball, a state of the art gymnastics hall, playing fields, tennis courts and a heated swimming pool.
The sports program is underpinned by respected and professional coaching staff.
But for $29,436 a year, you get more than great sporting facilities.
Brisbane Boys’ College offers 27 music programs including stage band, theatre production and theatre sports as well as a rock band with songs available on iTunes and Spotify through the college’s imprint label ‘Big Green Records’.
Former Powderfinger lead guitarist and songwriter Darren Middleton is of the notable alumni from this prestigious school.
SOMERVILLE HOUSE
Years 7-12: $28,200 a year
For $28,200 a year, Somerville House has Chambers, foundation building, a performing arts centre all of which can be used for private functions and events.
The school also has am Olympic-size swimming pool, multipurpose courts, gymnastics annex and a strength and conditioning gym equipped with fitness equipment including free weights, squat racks, bar weights, medicine balls, chin-up bars, and a synthetic grass area for sled pushes.
This prestigious school also has choirs, band ensembles and offers private music classes.
CLAYFIELD COLLEGE
Years 7-12: $25,236.00 a year
For $25,236 a year, Clayfield College has a 25-metre outdoor pool, tennis and netball courts, green space and ovals and fitness studios.
There are also a number of whole school facilities including the Chapel, Learning Resource Centre and technology labs.
The school also has a number of co-curricular activities such as visual arts (artbox), chess club, community services, and the ‘She Can STEM’ program.
Choir, band and orchestra programs are also available.
STUARTHOLME SCHOOL
Years 10-12: $24,864 a year
Stuartholme School is set on a 21ha site with spectacular views across Brisbane and Moreton Bay matched only by the stunning architecture.
At $24,864 a year, sporting facilities on offer include five tennis courts and aquatic precinct.
There are also 47 co-curricular activities on offer including equestrian, water polo, rowing and more.
Stuartholme also offers its Red Earth cultural immersion program to students in Year 10 or above, connecting them with First Nations communities in the Cape York.
ST HILDA’S SCHOOL
Years 10-12: $23,500 a year
St Hilda’s School is home to an elite gymnastics program with state-of-the-art specialist equipment.
For $23,500 a year, students can access a 50-metre heated pool, tennis and basketball courts and a grass oval for hockey, touch football, athletics, rowing and softball.
The school offers over 100 co-curricular activities including gymnastics, yoga, chess club, tennis and speech and drama.
IPSWICH GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Year 12: $20,580 a year
Students who go to Ipswich Grammar School can access a 1000-seat auditorium and two huge sporting fields as well as a new STEM building which only opened in 2021.
This $20,580-a-year school also has a gymnasium, weights and fitness facilities, a 50m heated pool and multipurpose sports dome.
Ipswich Grammar School also supports a range of extra-curricular activities such as debating, chess, rugby, swimming, football, cross country, volleyball and tennis.
There is also a green room for multimedia courses.
ST JOSEPH’S NUDGEE COLLEGE
Years 7-12: $20,340 a year
St Joseph’s Nudgee College, at $20,340 a year, boasts an expansive athletics facilities, auditorium, a 12-court tennis centre and cricket training centre.
The school’s aquatic centre features two pools, including a nine-lane 50m pool, while the McKennariey Centre consists of indoor courts for basketball, volleyball, futsal, badminton and European handball, along with a 250-seat grandstand.
Nudgee’s conference centre has capacity for 1500 people while its auditorium is equipped with a bar.
TOOWOOMBA GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Years 11-12: $19,825 a year
Toowoomba Grammar School’s 21ha campus is considered one of the most picturesque in Queensland with its heritage buildings and expansive, tree-lined grounds.
The school, at $19825 a year, boasts five sporting ovals, an aquatic centre with two indoor swimming pools and eight tennis courts.
The Glen McCracken Sports Centre includes specialised teaching and learning areas, staff offices, two basketball courts and three volleyball courts.
The lower level is a large indoor netted facility that can be converted to six cricket nets for specialised training day and night.
Some of the school’s unique co-curricular activities include debating, drone photography, show cattle, Latin, writers, chess, Interact, and mountain biking.
Originally published as What you pay vs what you get at Queensland’s ritziest schools
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