The private school raising fees by almost 10 per cent

One of Sydney’s private schools will hike fees by almost 10 per cent next year to cover the rising costs of teachers’ wages, spiralling inflation and a projected reduction in government funding this decade.

Waverley College in Sydney’s east had one of the sharpest rises of any school yet to release its 2024 fee schedule, with costs to jump by 9 per cent, or almost $2000, for year 12 students to $20,900 in 2024.

Principal Graham Leddie said a shortfall in government funding was partly behind the fee rise.

“Due to a cumulative reduction of $27 million in Commonwealth and State Government funding until 2029 as well as a competitive pay increase for NSW public school teachers, we have made the difficult decision to marginally increase our tuition fees in 2024,” Leddie said.

“The slight increase in fees, commencing 2024, will ensure that we can continue to offer both staff and students the very best education and environment possible.”

A new system introduced from 2022 began taking parents’ tax income data to generate a more accurate “Capacity to Contribute” score for each school. For some schools, the amount of taxpayer funding they receive has been altered accordingly. Some schools have seen a reduction in funding.

Trinity Grammar believes it will have to pay competitive salaries in order not only to attract but also to retain teachers.

Trinity Grammar in Summer Hill has not yet decided by how much fees would rise next year but indicated the school had to offer competitive salaries if it wanted to retain staff.

“Trinity’s budget preparation process will continue; the increase in salaries for NSW state school teachers is necessarily part of that, given non-government schools will need to continue to offer competitive salaries in order not only to attract but also to retain teachers of the highest calibre,” it said.

The King’s School in North Parramatta will raise year 12 fees by five per cent to $43,560 a year, while boarding charges will jump six per cent to $33,200, bringing the total cost to $76,760.

For parents of students in other years, the technology fee has jumped to $1600, the lunch bill for day boys will increase to $2080 and the year 6 camp is expected to set parents back $1276.

A spokesman said the school council was also mindful of the financial commitment made by families when they enrolled their child at the school.

“Balancing the need to ensure that the School can continue to provide the education families expect while minimising fee increases is a key focus of the School Council,” he said.

Independent Education Union NSW deputy secretary Carol Matthews said some schools were offering teachers pay rises in a bid to keep them after those in the public system were given a significant pay bump which saw more experienced teachers’ salaries increase to $122,100.

“There would be some teachers in independent schools who would be earning less than their counterparts in government schools…some of those schools have decided they have to pay extra money to attract and retain staff,” Matthews said.

Association of Independent Schools of NSW chief executive Margery Evans said salaries were about 70 per cent of a school’s overall costs but there had been other prices hikes schools had to grapple with.

“Schools, along with many other organisations, have been significantly impacted by the increases in operational costs, including salaries and IT costs such as cybersecurity over recent years.”

The sharp rise in school fees is not expected to dampen demand for private schools, according to the head of behavioural and industry economics at National Australia Bank Dean Pearson.

“Historically, parents are most reluctant to cut back on education for their children and the waiting list for these schools are still incredibly high,” he said.

A consumer insights survey conducted last year by the bank found one in 10 parents relied on family members such as grandparents to fund private school. “If you look at the people who are doing financially better at the moment, it is the over 65s who have savings, who have money in the bank,” Pearson said.

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