Did you know that fees for Kambala School in Rose Bay have surged past the $50,000 mark for the very first time? Its latest fee structure has effectively made Kambala the most expensive school in the entire country
On Wednesday, 10 Jan 2024, Kambala School unveiled its 2024 fee schedule, revealing that parents of students in Years 9 and 10 will now be required to pay a substantial sum of $51,385 for the academic year, consisting of $45,200 in tuition fees and a compulsory levy of $6,185.
This dramatic increase in fees has placed a considerable financial burden on parents who aspire to provide their children with an education at Kambala School. For the parents of kindergarten students, the situation is no less daunting, with fees and levies surging by nearly 20 per cent to $31,400 for the current academic year.
The financial strain on families continues into the later years of schooling, with students in Years 11 and 12 facing a slightly lower annual levy compared to their peers in Years 9 and 10, amounting to $49,825 for each of the final two years of school.
The $6,185 levy imposed in Year 9 is designated to cover the costs associated with attending a cultural immersion camp in Cape York, while in Year 10, the annual fee includes an educational trip to Tasmania. Notably, these levies are inclusive of all activities throughout the year, setting Kambala apart from some other educational institutions.
2024 School Fees
- Preparation $30,325
- Kindergarten $31,400
- Year 1 $32,375
- Year 2 $32,375
- Year 3 $39,210
- Year 4 $39,210
- Year 5 $40,925
- Year 6 $40,925
- Year 7 $49,380
- Year 8 $49,380
- Year 9 $51,385
- Year 10 $51,385
- Year 12 $49,825
Total $587,925
The Commonwealth Government and the NSW Government contribute an average of $3,891 per student for Kambala girls in kindergarten through year 12. It’s worth noting that at least 20 independent schools across the nation are set to charge parents over $40,000 for Year 12 tuition, in addition to extra levies, in the year 2024.
Furthermore, several high-fee private schools have experienced a decrease in funding following the implementation of a new national system designed to calculate the amount families can afford to contribute to private school fees.
A spokesperson for Kambala mentioned that the school had increased teacher salaries by 7.5 per cent in alignment with the public teacher wage hike that occurred in 2023, aimed at retaining valuable staff members. The school intends to strike a balance between tuition and boarding fees while striving to provide academic and personal excellence for all students. Efforts have been made to minimise the impact of fee increases on Kambala families.
Following Kambala, The Scots College in Bellevue Hill emerges as the second most expensive school in Sydney, with fees just shy of those at Geelong Grammar, charging $49,720 for tuition in 2024. Other notable institutions with fees exceeding $45,000 for year 12 in 2024 include Cranbrook School in Bellevue Hill, SCEGGS Darlinghurst, Ascham in Edgecliff, Trinity Grammar in Summer Hill, and the King’s School in North Parramatta.
Kambala School is not academically selective. Nevertheless, for the past three years, it has consistently ranked among the top 25 schools in the state for HSC performance and offers the International Baccalaureate program. In NAPLAN testing conducted last year, the school demonstrated performance levels above those of statistically similar schools in almost all categories of literacy and numeracy testing for students in years 3, 5, 7, and 9, positioning it at the 97th percentile on the index of community socio-educational advantage.
Margery Evans, the Chief Executive of the Association of Independent Schools of NSW, pointed out that schools are attuned to parents’ financial circumstances, but the upward trajectory of fees is driven by increasing costs and government reductions in private school funding.
Despite these fee hikes, demand for places at such schools remains robust. Ms Evans added that many independent schools have lengthy waiting lists due to enrollment caps that limit the number of students they can admit.
Rose Cantali, President of the NSW Parents’ Council, an organization representing parents of children attending independent schools, acknowledged that parents across the board are grappling with years of significant fee hikes and higher mortgage repayments. While understanding the schools’ perspective, she highlighted that parents had not anticipated such substantial fee increases when they initially enrolled their children.
Coupled with unforeseen mortgage repayments, these financial pressures are placing parents in a challenging position with limited options. Parents are generally reluctant to withdraw their children from school due to the potential disruptions it could cause to their social circles and educational journeys. Ms Cantali concluded by suggesting that schools consider financial allowances for students who are already enrolled, acknowledging the difficulties many families face.
Published 15-Jan-2024