Jonathan Cattana on School Fees

Schooling in Australia

Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world.
Nelson Mandela

To start with, it is important that we look at schooling in context of Australia today. To do this we will look at the education system in Australia; the critical factors you should be thinking about when deciding whether or not to place a child in private school, and historical and projected figures for private school fees.

Never before has a good education seemed so important. An increasingly global economy and competitive workforce means the foundations for success need to be set early. With this thought in mind, many parents look to the schooling system to deliver the best outcome for their child.

In Australia, there are two main types of schools:

Government – these schools are fully funded by both the federal government and state and territory governments. Under most state laws they must accept any student. Around 67% of students attend government schools.1

Non-government or private – these schools are governed independently. Many provide a religious or values based education and others promote a particular education philosophy. Around 33% of students attend non-government schools. The non-government schools sector includes:
• Catholic schools – about 60% of non-government schools 2
• Independent schools – about 40% of non-government schools.

Catholic schools are run by the Catholic Church and generally they are less expensive than other independent schools. Overall, Catholic schools make up about 20 per cent of the Australian schooling system. 3

Independent schools are a diverse group and include: Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian, non-denominational Christian schools, Islamic schools, Jewish schools, Montessori schools, Rudolf Steiner schools and schools that specialise in meeting the needs of students with disabilities.

Family belief systems will strongly influence the type of school that you send your child to. The fact you have picked up this book means you are seriously considering the option of a private school education for your child.

Stages of schooling
Although the terminology and age ranges vary from state to state, generally speaking there are four main stages of schooling:
Preschool Age 5
Kindergarten, preparatory or reception year Age 6
Primary school Years 1–6 Ages 7 to 13
Secondary school, high school or college Years 7–12 Ages 13 to 18

If you decide to send your child to a private school, it is important to think about at which stage this might happen, although most parents are not concerned with preschool. MORE