Private school fees vary dramatically from state to state and even from school to school.
In some areas, the average total cost of a year at a private institution can be between $10,000 and $40,000, with higher education costs the older the child is.
You tend to get what you pay for and it's generally accepted that non-government schools have smaller classes, better facilities and experienced teachers who are able to focus solely on their pupil's needs as compared to public schools.
In some areas, private education has a long history and a prestigious reputation. In other areas, experience has taught public school parents that they can often get just as good an education for lesser school fees at a government school. This is particularly the case with high schools because of their size and the fact that the bulk of year level planning only needs to cater for one year group.The answer really depends on individual circumstances. Some parents are happy to pay high private school fees of around $30,000 as compared to public schooling or catholic schooling.
But with the rising cost of living, stagnant wage growth and less discretionary money, for the many families who are paying off a mortgage and trying to feed their kids at the same time, it's not easy to justify spending thousands of dollars each year on private school fees of up to two children or more just so they can have 'a good education'.Some people manage their livelihood and family budget by sending their children to public schools or catholic education such as a Catholic school or a Catholic college. This option has the advantage of offering educational values and a caring environment, but this advantage comes at a price: usually under $5,000 per year.
Other Australian families may choose to receive scholarship funds in order to provide their children with quality education.
Many people choose to send their kids to catholic education from a Catholic school to a Catholic college because they feel that the system is more stable than those operated by non-denominational private institutions.
Parents often cite smaller class sizes as another reason why their children do better at private schools. Research has shown that this isn't always the case, but it makes sense intuitively because most teachers are able to focus more on individual child's learning without having to worry about management issues with larger classes.
In other areas, research has shown that the number of years a student spends at a private school is not necessarily indicative of how well they will do in their final exams as it's easy to underestimate the value of a good education at a disadvantaged school.
This is a question that only the parents who send their kids to a private school can answer. Generally, though, secondary school fees are going up all over Australia and especially in capital cities. And this has been borne out by the increasing fees charged by many of the country's top private schools. The futurity investment group's planning for education index showed that the estimated cost of the complete private education of a single child born in 2018 for Sydney parents is around $448,035 which is way more above the national average cost. Independent school parents pay these sorts of private school fees because they feel that they're getting value for money. Private schooling tends to have smaller class sizes and better facilities than state-run institutions, so from this perspective, it makes sense to pay top dollar for an education that will give your child a huge advantage in life. In addition, non-government schools' reputations often precede them: this means parents often want their children to be part of something special and justify paying higher fees by focusing on what will be gained rather than lost. There are also a number of non-financial benefits that come with an expensive private school education, including the fact that they may encourage school children to try their hardest and, through this process, they learn how to set goals for themselves and maintain high standards throughout the course of their lives. Whether or not private schooling is worth the money varies according to individual circumstances, but for many parents, this isn't really the point. They're more interested in making their children happy and giving them an education that they will cherish forever.
As well as increased private school fees, it's important to consider all of the extra expenses and extra tuition fees that can be incurred by a school when deciding whether or not to send your kids to a private school. While you don't pay directly for textbooks at government schools, most non-government institutions expect students to purchase their own books every year. Of course, this doesn't just apply to textbooks: there are also outside tuition fees, stationery costs and any other sports equipment or resources needed for extracurricular activities and school camps. Australian families can spend around $100,000 on extra expenses such as uniforms, sports equipment, outside tuition etc.
Private schools have some advantages over government institutions: they generally employ better-qualified staff, offer smaller class sizes and provide more opportunities for kids in terms of sport, music and drama. '
This becomes highly valuable as the child progresses to secondary education. However, this comes at a cost: Usually, schools charge around $40,000-$50,000 per year depending on the individual school.
An added bonus for most parents is the way in which many private institutions encourage everyone involved (students, teachers and parents) to work together towards one common goal: providing the very best educational experience possible for all of its pupils.
At the end of the day, private schooling works for some families but not others. Parents need to decide if they're willing to pay more money for their child's education or whether they'd be in a better position with something more affordable instead such as a public primary school. This decision will ultimately come down to the individual family and whether or not their values align with those of the school.
Several private schools in Australia schooling fees start at between $30-$50k per year depending on grade level for regular day students and boarding fees could reach up to $70-$90k per year. They offer a wide range of extracurricular activities and school camps too.
Also, it is compulsory that all children participate in one team sport each term. This helps them practice teamwork and leadership skills while staying physically active. For more information on schooling in Australia, take a look at the Australian Government's Study Australia website.