Parents are being charged thousands of dollars to lock in their child’s place at some of Sydney’s top private schools, with non-refundable fees billed years before entry and months ahead of the release of public selective school places.
Critics say the enrolment fees - or down payments - are designed to stop parents “school shopping” by joining multiple waiting lists, but then withdrawing applications once a spot is secured at a preferred option or after being offered a selective school place. “As school fees and cost of living pressures rise, enrolment charges will go up. Schools need to be wary of fee gouging before a child has started at the school. A modest enrolment fee is justified - but what we are seeing in the sector cannot any longer be described as modest.”for year 12, and parents forfeit the payment if the family decides to enrol elsewhere.
Cranbrook School, which is planning to lift its enrolment cap by 260 students, charges $7275 in non-refundable enrolment fees.In NSW, the Department of Education releases thousands of public selective school places about six months before the start of the new school year. About 4200 offers went out for 2024 entry at the end of last month.
Another eastern suburbs school, Ascham, makes enrolment offers two to three years before entry, and parents are required to pay $6000 fee that is not credited towards tuition. The King’s School charges an enrolment fee of $4500, St Ignatius’ College, Riverview, $4800, Newington $5000 and Sydney Grammar $7032.