Radford College Responds to Parent Concerns with Revised Fee Model
The board of Radford College has unveiled a new fee structure designed to address growing anxiety among parents about substantial fee increases scheduled for the coming years. The announcement came just ahead of a parent-organised town hall meeting scheduled for Monday, November 24, 2025.
Board chair Vicki Williams communicated the changes directly to parents via email, outlining a significant shift in how the college will manage its financial recovery following accounting errors that created an $840,000 deficit in 2024 instead of the anticipated $1.7 million surplus.
Breaking Down the New Fee Structure
Under the revised model, the additional increase required to compensate for the 2024 financial mistakes will be separated from tuition fees and instead added to a non-indexed levy set at $1,050 per student. This strategic move aims to reduce the compounding impact of fee increases on families over time.
Ms Williams confirmed that this levy will not increase and will be reviewed annually with the intention of reducing it as the college's financial situation improves. "The aim being to review the levy annually and adjust it downwards as our financial circumstances permit," she stated in her communication to parents.
With the new levy removed from annual tuition calculations, the revised tuition increase now ranges between 11.18% and 17.88% depending on year levels, with Year 7 and 8 students facing the most significant increases for the 2026 academic year.
Financial Impact on Families
Despite the restructuring, the total amount parents will pay in 2026 remains unchanged from the original proposal announced in early November. When combining tuition fees, the new non-indexed levy, compulsory capital levy, camps, and resources fees, the overall financial burden on families stays consistent with previous communications.
The college maintains that this restructure "will reduce the compounding impact of the fee increase on families, whilst also enabling the college to maintain a position which is revenue neutral to that previously advised and move into 2026 supporting the basis of the required increase."
The financial challenges stem from multiple mistakes in accounting and loan calculations during 2024, which the school discovered in February 2025 but only recently communicated to parents following backlash over the proposed fee increases.
Parent Response and Future Projections
Parents have expressed significant criticism regarding both the fee announcement and the school's communication approach, citing concerns about transparency around financial decisions. The delayed disclosure of the financial errors has particularly frustrated families facing substantial fee hikes.
Looking ahead, Ms Williams indicated that the school board, principal, and finance team are actively reviewing finances to "minimise fee increases needed for 2027 and beyond." Previous communications suggested fees in 2027 could increase between 9% and 12%.
The college is taking additional measures to address cost concerns, including expanding the finance and risk committee to create a working group that will review areas "where cost efficiencies might be attainable." Staff members have been invited to participate in this initiative.
Enhanced Financial Transparency
In response to community concerns, Radford College has committed to providing regular financial updates to the school community. The institution will report on finances at the end of each term and will present the 2025 annual report once the audit is complete, expected in May 2026.
Ms Williams acknowledged the emotional impact the situation has had on families, staff, and the wider college community, stating, "We recognise the significant personal emotional toll this has caused families, staff and the wider college community. I assure you all Board members equally share the burden of that distress, as we endeavour to work through the solutions together."
As parents organise their own meeting to discuss concerns and proposals regarding school fees, Ms Williams appealed for consideration of the college's reputation, warning that ongoing public conflict could damage the institution's standing and ultimately harm students' interests.
