AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF GOVERNMENT
SCHOOLS
PRESS RELEASE 853
WHAT ARE CASH=STRAPPED PRIVATE SCHOOL PARENTS
DOING IN TIMES OF PLAGUE?
Private school fees are fast becoming an unnecessary luxury for Melbourne parents as their businesses plummet into Covid-19 insolvency. Only taxpayer funding is keeping them afloat. Although, even in the best of times, such funding has long been crucial to their survival. Public schools are bracing for extra enrolments as stressed private school parents fall back on the system which will not and cannot turn them and their precious children away. And soon they will discover that the public system is as good if not better than the overpriced private alternative.
Not unsurprisingly, the private sector is screaming for help from taxpayers. The market that their promotors have bowqed down and worshipped, is punishing them.
Perhaps it is time for them to forget about fees, open their schools to all comers and become genuinely public schools.
Perhaps the moment of truth has arrived, if not for their administrators, then for the parents taken in by their blandishments.
NEW SOUTH WALES
In April Jordon Baker from the Sydney Morning Herald informed us that student recruitment by the private sector was faced with shutdowns and social distancing. Face-to-face open days and tours were out of reach. Schools reported lower enrolment interest as parents got bogged down by remote learning in term two and the COVID-19 recession.
After all, what exactly would parents be paying for?
In April Up to 60 per cent of families at some independent schools in Sydney asked for fee relief, putting pressure on school budgets. Most private schools in Sydney resisted blanket discounts for families, instead focusing on those doing it toughest and extending payment
. Geoff Newcombe, chief executive of the Association of Independent Schools of NSW, said many independent schools were now suffering financial stress, "with an increasing number of parents, as high as 60 per cent in some schools, requesting part or full fee remission," he said.
"With the government’s decision not to allow decoupling of the financial arrangements of boarding schools and early childhood centres from the main school accounts, a number of these facilities are now facing imminent closure.
"Independent schools in NSW provide the majority of boarding places and if facilities close, many students from regional and remote areas will be denied the opportunity to complete their education at called on the federal government to bring forward the July funding instalment, give non-government schools access to the JobSeeker threshold and give private schools in financial stress emergency interest-free loans.
Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan said the government "could look, potentially, at bringing some of those [scheduled] payments forward to help with cash flow".
Mark Spencer, director of public policy at Christian Schools Australia, which represents 155 sites across the country, said his schools were reporting between 20 and 30 per cent of families asking for fee relief or deferral. "Schools are obviously working hard with those parents to keep them there, it's really dislocating for kids to have to move schools," he said.
Mr Spencer is calling on the federal government to use enrolment figures at the beginning of term one, rather than the usual census in August, to determine the school's student numbers, and therefore its funding allocation.
He feared schools' government funding, on which they determined their budget forecasts at the beginning of the year, will be reduced if students are forced to drop out because their parents have lost their jobs.
"Schools are budgeted on what they got in the door at the beginning of term one, [knowing they will receive] no less would be a real safeguard," he said.
Independent schools were last week given permission to reduce non-teaching staff members' pay by 25 per cent and ask them to swap jobs – grounds keepers doing cleaning, for example – to help meet the fee shortfall.
That was NSW in April. But what is happening in Victoria?
VICTORIA
That was NSW in April. But what is happening in Victoria? We are now in the second shutdown, so, really, what on earth would private school parents be paying for?
Madeleine Heffernan in the Age of May 31, told us that :
The coronavirus recession will kill off above-inflation fee rises at Victorian private schools, and may lead to hefty staff cuts and even school closures.
Peter Goss, the Grattan Institute's school education program director, said loss of employment and tightened household budgets would probably reduce the number of people able to pay high school fees in 2021.
"That shifts the balance of supply and demand, and will put pressure on fees," Dr Goss said.
"Some schools, if they lose a moderate proportion of enrolments for 2021, may become economically unviable.
"Unfortunately, I expect a number of schools will have to take drastic action – sacking teachers and support staff – to reduce their costs. And some may have to close down."
"That shifts the balance of supply and demand, and will put pressure on fees," Dr Goss said.
"Some schools, if they lose a moderate proportion of enrolments for 2021, may become economically unviable.
"Unfortunately, I expect a number of schools will have to take drastic action – sacking teachers and support staff – to reduce their costs. And some may have to close down."
Thirty-six per cent of Victorian students attend a non-government school, the second-highest rate in the country. This leaves Victorians sensitive to price rises that have exceeded inflation for more than a decade.
Many school budgets have already come under pressure as parents seek fee discounts and deferrals.
While most schools do their budgets in July or August, Scotch College – the second most expensive place to educate a year 12 student, with fees of almost $40,000 – has already announced it will not increase fees for next year.
Meanwhile, high-fee co-educational school Peninsula Grammar has said 40 per cent of parents are having trouble paying fees, and forecast a minimum 10 per cent decline in enrolments next year.
Dr Goss predicted schools in the mid- to high-fee market would moderate fee increases or freeze fees. "I think they will avoid cutting fees because that would send a signal to the market we need to drop fees to attract enrolments, and being oversubscribed or being perceived as being oversubscribed is a marker of success," he said.
Dr Goss said lower-fee to mid-fee non-government schools might be harder hit. "The so-called aspirational market is where families might be hit with a double whammy of loss of income due to COVID-19 without the family wealth to ride it out."
Education consultant Paul O'Shannassy said there were a "significant number of families who are struggling to pay fees and are on deferred fee arrangements or discounts, so how many of those will withdraw their children will be very interesting to see".
"Many have lost businesses and may have to cut discretionary spending, such as school fees," he said.
"If a private school loses 5 to 10 per cent enrolments, that could equate to as many as 200 students, which could have serious implications for staffing, funding and programs.
Peninsula Grammar has predicted a fall in enrolments for next year.Credit:Simon Schluter
"While each school is different, girls' school are more vulnerable because that market is more competitive."
Catholic Education Victoria said fees were a matter for individual schools and families affected by COVID-19 should contact their school for fee relief. Independent Schools Victoria was contacted for comment.
Dr Goss said the government would need to carefully assess whether a school was a genuine victim of the COVID-19 recession or was marginal and should be allowed to close.
Peninsula Grammar sheds staff as cash-strapped families quit school
"The best thing to do would be to bring forward the Choice and Affordability Fund [$1.2 billion for non-government schools] as needed to support viable schools that are high-quality and are hit hard by a short-term disruption."
School marketing expert Stephen Holmes said schools might need to get creative to boost their balance sheets during the downturn, such as increasing class sizes, dropping some services and charging for others.
"It's making schools look at their intrinsic worth," he said. "What would people give up for lower fees? What would they want more of if they [schools] said they were going to increase their fees?"
WHAT FEES DO PRIVATE SCHOOLS CHARGE IN VICTORIA?
Consider the following list of schools and fees charged for secondary education. Private School News Australia, has compiled all the available 2019 Private School secondary school fees, from Melbourne’s largest catholic and independent Private schools. Now you can compare Private Schools fees for March 2019 in Melbourne below .
What they will be in 2021 is another questions. But the following figures will give readers some idea of pressures on parents whose businesses or jobs are going under.
Private Schools Melbourne Compare secondary School fees
The fees listed below are for general tuition, with some school levy’s included. Uniforms and additional school levy’s are not included.
|
MELBOURNE PRIVATE SCHOOL FEES 2019 |
SUBURB |
YEAR 8 |
YEAR 10 |
YEAR 12 |
|
Geelong Grammar School |
CORIO |
$34,120 |
$41,260 |
$41,260 |
|
Mount Scopus Memorial College |
BURWOOD |
$34,980 |
$36,950 |
$37,880 |
|
Melbourne Girls Grammar |
SOUTH YARRA |
$33,896 |
$35,448 |
$36,276 |
|
Bialik College |
HAWTHORN |
$33,100 |
$35,950 |
$35,950 |
|
Lauriston Girls' School |
ARMADALE |
$32,664 |
$34,528 |
$34,528 |
|
Melbourne Grammar School |
MELBOURNE |
$32,160 |
$36,720 |
$34,260 |
|
Wesley College |
MELBOURNE |
$29,900 |
$33,520 |
$33,520 |
|
Ruyton Girls' School |
KEW |
$31,119 |
$32,148 |
$33,246 |
|
Camberwell Grammar School |
CANTERBURY |
$31,945 |
$32,605 |
$33,135 |
|
Brighton Grammar School |
BRIGHTON |
$32,691 |
$33,685 |
$32,693 |
|
Haileybury College |
KEYSBOROUGH |
$32,245 |
$32,580 |
$32,580 |
|
St Michael's Grammar School |
ST KILDA |
$32,920 |
$32,684 |
$32,535 |
|
Trinity Grammar School Kew |
KEW |
$30,960 |
$31,832 |
$32,280 |
|
Methodist Ladies' College |
KEW |
$29,790 |
$31,170 |
$32,130 |
|
Firbank Grammar School |
BRIGHTON |
$30,387 |
$31,803 |
$32,085 |
|
St Leonard's College |
BRIGHTON EAST |
$29,493 |
$30,968 |
$31,991 |
|
Carey Baptist Grammar School |
KEW |
$30,896 |
$30,896 |
$31,936 |
|
Caulfield Grammar School |
ELSTERNWICK |
$28,755 |
$31,254 |
$31,842 |
|
Presbyterian Ladies' College |
BURWOOD |
$28,620 |
$31,652 |
$31,652 |
|
Fintona Girls' School |
BALWYN |
$28,188 |
$29,216 |
$30,340 |
|
Xavier College |
KEW |
$28,100 |
$29,870 |
$29,870 |
|
Mentone Grammar School |
MENTONE |
$29,040 |
$29,580 |
$29,472 |
|
The Geelong College |
NEWTOWN |
$26,412 |
$29,284 |
$29,284 |
|
Genazzano FCJ College |
KEW |
$25,470 |
$28,680 |
$28,680 |
|
St Margaret's School |
BERWICK |
$27,160 |
$28,520 |
$28,520 |
|
Yarra Valley Grammar |
RINGWOOD |
$24,568 |
$26,596 |
$28,101 |
|
Shelford Girls' Grammar |
CAULFIELD |
$25,054 |
$27,154 |
$27,948 |
|
Loreto Mandeville Hall |
TOORAK |
$25,070 |
$27,420 |
$27,420 |
|
Ivanhoe Grammar School |
IVANHOE |
$26,540 |
$27,400 |
$27,400 |
|
Peninsula Grammar |
MOUNT ELIZA |
$25,533 |
$27,120 |
$27,120 |
|
Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School |
IVANHOE |
$24,200 |
$26,100 |
$27,120 |
|
Woodleigh School |
LANGWARRIN SOUTH |
$23,483 |
$25,181 |
$26,345 |
|
Penleigh & Essendon Grammar School |
KEILOR EAST |
$20,996 |
$21,936 |
$21,564 |
|
Westbourne Grammar School |
TRUGANINA |
$20,236 |
$21,208 |
$21,208 |
|
Ballarat Grammar |
WENDOUREE |
$16,960 |
$20,180 |
$20,600 |
|
The Hamilton and Alexandra College |
HAMILTON |
$18,312 |
$19,616 |
$19,617 |
|
Ballarat Clarendon College |
BALLARAT |
$16,400 |
$19,130 |
$19,570 |
|
St Kevin's College |
TOORAK |
$19,100 |
$19,100 |
$19,100 |
|
Gippsland Grammar |
SALE |
$15,100 |
$15,560 |
$16,730 |
|
Overnewton Anglican Community College |
KEILOR |
$12,684 |
$15,568 |
$16,416 |
|
Luther College |
CROYDON |
$14,830 |
$15,670 |
$15,890 |
|
Christian College Bellarine |
DRYSDALE |
$13,348 |
||
|
Christian College Highton |
HIGHTON |
$13,348 |
$14,144 |
$15,468 |
|
Girton Grammar School |
BENDIGO |
$14,384 |
$14,384 |
$14,384 |
|
Kardinia International College |
BELL POST HILL |
$10,507 |
$12,413 |
$13,477 |
|
Braemar College |
WOODEND |
$11,200 |
$12,400 |
$13,184 |
|
The Kilmore International School |
KILMORE |
$9,970 |
$10,715 |
$12,820 |
|
Whitefriars College Inc |
DONVALE |
$11,780 |
$12,280 |
$12,780 |
|
Marcellin College |
BULLEEN |
$11,180 |
$12,480 |
$12,480 |
|
St Paul's Anglican Grammar School |
WARRAGUL |
$10,450 |
$11,641 |
$12,406 |
|
Star of the Sea College |
BRIGHTON |
$11,134 |
$12,223 |
$12,275 |
|
Donvale Christian College |
DONVALE |
$10,965 |
$10,965 |
$12,135 |
|
Oxley Christian College |
CHIRNSIDE PARK |
$9,158 |
$10,822 |
$11,970 |
|
De La Salle College |
MALVERN |
$11,957 |
$11,957 |
$11,957 |
|
Beaconhills College |
PAKENHAM |
$9,640 |
$11,610 |
$11,610 |
|
Melbourne Rudolf Steiner School |
WARRANWOOD |
$9,727 |
$10,079 |
$10,975 |
|
Waverley Christian College |
WANTIRNA SOUTH |
$8,550 |
$8,550 |
$10,440 |
|
Bacchus Marsh Grammar |
BACCHUS MARSH |
$9,060 |
$9,908 |
$10,232 |
|
Balcombe Grammar School |
MOUNT MARTHA |
$9,588 |
$9,588 |
$10,140 |
|
Heathdale Christian College |
WERRIBEE |
$9,580 |
$9,990 |
$9,990 |
|
Catholic Ladies' College Ltd |
ELTHAM |
$9,740 |
$9,982 |
$9,982 |
|
St Columba's College |
ESSENDON |
$9,300 |
$9,600 |
$9,600 |
|
Our Lady of Sion College |
BOX HILL |
$9,090 |
$9,410 |
$9,410 |
|
Our Lady of Mercy College |
HEIDELBERG |
$9,400 |
$9,400 |
$9,400 |
|
St Bernard's College |
ESSENDON |
$8,601 |
$9,505 |
$9,125 |
|
Flinders Christian Community College |
TYABB |
$7,835 |
$8,405 |
$8,925 |
|
Gilson College |
TAYLORS HILL |
$8,280 |
$8,280 |
$8,900 |
|
Hillcrest Christian College |
CLYDE NORTH |
$7,747 |
$8,356 |
$8,772 |
|
Newhaven College |
NEWHAVEN |
$7,572 |
$8,020 |
$8,652 |
|
St Joseph's College |
FERNTREE GULLY |
$8,320 |
$8,320 |
$8,320 |
|
Aitken College |
GREENVALE |
$7,132 |
$8,006 |
$8,006 |
|
Lakeside College |
PAKENHAM |
$7,380 |
$7,740 |
$7,990 |
|
Sacred Heart Girls' College |
OAKLEIGH |
$7,950 |
$8,250 |
$7,950 |
|
Hume Anglican Grammar |
CRAIGIEBURN |
$6,520 |
$7,190 |
$7,920 |
|
Emmaus College |
VERMONT SOUTH |
$8,325 |
$7,650 |
$7,870 |
|
Salesian College |
CHADSTONE |
$6,780 |
$6,780 |
$7,690 |
|
Heritage College |
NARRE WARREN SOUTH |
$6,693 |
$7,357 |
$7,688 |
|
Avila College |
MOUNT WAVERLEY |
$7,390 |
$7,390 |
$7,590 |
|
Loyola College |
WATSONIA |
$6,939 |
$6,939 |
$7,538 |
|
Chairo Christian School |
DROUIN |
$6,590 |
$6,950 |
$7,527 |
|
Sacred Heart College |
NEWTOWN |
$7,000 |
$7,000 |
$7,500 |
|
Assumption College |
KILMORE |
$6,993 |
$7,254 |
$7,413 |
|
Mazenod College |
MULGRAVE |
$7,350 |
$7,350 |
$7,350 |
|
St Bede's College |
MENTONE |
$7,400 |
$7,610 |
$7,030 |
|
Loreto College |
BALLARAT |
$6,395 |
$6,615 |
$7,030 |
|
Lighthouse Christian College |
CRANBOURNE |
$5,593 |
$6,338 |
$6,976 |
|
St Patrick's College Ballarat |
BALLARAT |
$6,100 |
$6,550 |
$6,950 |
|
St Monica's College |
EPPING |
$6,055 |
$6,390 |
$6,850 |
|
Parade College |
BUNDOORA |
$6,143 |
$6,534 |
$6,806 |
|
Mount Lilydale Mercy College |
LILYDALE |
$6,800 |
$6,800 |
$6,800 |
|
Santa Maria College |
NORTHCOTE |
$6,610 |
$6,610 |
$6,610 |
|
Salesian College |
SUNBURY |
$6,400 |
$6,400 |
$6,400 |
|
Padua College |
MORNINGTON |
$5,770 |
$5,770 |
$6,380 |
|
Damascus College |
MOUNT CLEAR |
$5,505 |
$6,065 |
$6,355 |
|
Marymede Catholic College |
SOUTH MORANG |
$5,726 |
$6,037 |
$6,338 |
|
Kilbreda College |
MENTONE |
$6,300 |
$6,300 |
$6,300 |
|
St Joseph's College Geelong |
NEWTOWN |
$6,280 |
$6,280 |
$6,280 |
|
MacKillop Catholic Regional College |
WERRIBEE |
$5,330 |
$5,730 |
$6,165 |
|
Emmanuel College |
ALTONA NORTH |
$5,700 |
$5,290 |
$5,720 |
|
Catholic College Wodonga |
WODONGA |
$5,200 |
$5,640 |
$5,710 |
|
Sirius College |
BROADMEADOWS |
$4,775 |
$5,040 |
$5,700 |
|
Australian International Academy of Education |
COBURG |
$4,056 |
$5,290 |
$5,644 |
|
Lavalla Catholic College |
TRARALGON |
$5,322 |
$5,589 |
$5,589 |
|
Mount St Joseph Girls' College |
ALTONA |
$5,508 |
$5,020 |
$5,568 |
|
Mercy College |
COBURG NORTH |
$5,550 |
$5,550 |
$5,550 |
|
Thomas Carr College |
TARNEIT |
$5,680 |
$5,530 |
$5,530 |
|
Marist-Sion College |
WARRAGUL |
$5,390 |
$5,390 |
$5,390 |
|
Caroline Chisholm Catholic College |
BRAYBROOK |
$4,530 |
$5,140 |
$5,200 |
|
Catholic College Sale |
SALE |
$5,185 |
$5,185 |
$5,185 |
|
St Peter's College |
CRANBOURNE |
$5,150 |
$5,150 |
$5,150 |
|
Saint Ignatius College Geelong |
DRYSDALE |
$5,100 |
$5,100 |
$5,100 |
|
St Joseph's College Mildura |
MILDURA |
$5,021 |
$5,021 |
$5,021 |
|
Holy Trinity Lutheran School |
HORSHAM |
$4,142 |
$4,796 |
$4,796 |
|
St Francis Xavier College |
BEACONSFIELD |
$5,300 |
$5,300 |
$4,750 |
|
Galen Catholic College |
WANGARATTA |
$4,070 |
$4,540 |
$4,750 |
|
Emmanuel College Inc. |
WARRNAMBOOL |
$4,253 |
$4,503 |
$4,600 |
|
Catholic Regional College Melton |
MELTON WEST |
$4,070 |
$4,070 |
$4,330 |
|
FCJ College |
BENALLA |
$4,300 |
$4,300 |
$4,300 |
|
Penola Catholic College |
BROADMEADOWS |
$3,080 |
$3,499 |
$3,999 |
|
Al-Taqwa College |
HOPPERS CROSSING |
$3,175 |
$3,255 |
$3,885 |
|
Kolbe Catholic College |
GREENVALE |
$3,300 |
$3,600 |
$3,880 |
|
St John's Regional College |
DANDENONG |
$3,434 |
$3,645 |
$3,845 |
|
Notre Dame College |
SHEPPARTON |
$3,840 |
$3,840 |
$3,840 |
|
Sacred Heart School |
YARRAWONGA |
$3,810 |
$3,810 |
$3,810 |
|
Simonds Catholic College |
WEST MELBOURNE |
$3,390 |
$3,390 |
$3,780 |
|
Clonard College |
HERNE HILL |
$3,660 |
$3,660 |
$3,660 |
|
St Mary MacKillop College |
SWAN HILL |
$3,720 |
$3,880 |
$3,650 |
|
Victory Christian College |
STRATHDALE |
$3,330 |
$3,330 |
$3,440 |
|
Darul Ulum College of Victoria |
FAWKNER |
$2,800 |
$2,800 |
$3,280 |
|
Ilim College |
DALLAS |
$3,728 |
$3,728 |
$3,278 |
|
St Joseph's College |
ECHUCA |
$3,250 |
$3,250 |
$3,250 |
|
Highview Christian Community College |
MARYBOROUGH |
$3,180 |
$3,180 |
$3,180 |
|
Cobram Anglican Grammar School |
COBRAM |
$3,125 |
$3,125 |
$3,125 |
|
Mercy Regional College |
CAMPERDOWN |
$3,144 |
$2,839 |
$3,121 |
|
Minaret College |
SPRINGVALE |
$2,500 |
$2,800 |
$2,800 |
|
Killester College |
SPRINGVALE |
$2,130 |
$2,130 |
$2,130 |
|
Marian College |
ARARAT |
$1,815 |
$1,815 |
$1,815 |
|
St James' College |
BENTLEIGH EAST |
$6,400 |
$6,500 |
|
|
Trinity Lutheran College |
MILDURA |
$4,875 |
$5,845 |
|
|
Catholic Regional College St Albans |
ST ALBANS |
$2,318 |
$2,318 |
|
|
Islamic College Of Melbourne |
TARNEIT |
$2,000 |
$2,000 |
|
|
St Mary's College |
SEYMOUR |
$1,530 |
$1,530 |
|
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