Families with children at Western Australia's most exclusive private schools are bracing for significant financial pressure, with fees set to rise by as much as 7.4 per cent next year. This increase nearly doubles the current national inflation rate, placing a heavy burden on household budgets.
Prestigious Schools Lead the Charge
The cost of educating a Year 12 student will surpass a staggering $35,000 at several top-tier institutions. Among them, Methodist Ladies' College in Claremont will see fees reach $38,037. The school has communicated to parents that this new figure incorporates levies previously billed separately, resulting in an overall increase of 6.5 per cent.
"This year, there is a single quoted tuition fee for your daughter’s education," MLC stated in a letter. The college attributed the 2026 adjustment to ongoing operational needs and rigorous fiscal management.
However, the steepest rise among published schedules comes from Penrhos College in Como. The girls' school is implementing a 7.4 per cent fee hike, pushing Year 12 costs from $29,895 to $32,137.
Rising Costs Drive Increases Across the Board
Other prominent schools are following suit. Christ Church Grammar School in Claremont will increase fees by 7.2 per cent, adding over $2,500 to bring the annual Year 12 cost to $37,173. Scotch College in Swanbourne rises by 5.5 per cent to $35,932, while Hale School in Wembley Downs and All Saints' College in Bull Creek will both implement 5.9 per cent increases, reaching $34,470 and $30,604 respectively.
School authorities point to mounting financial pressures. In a letter to families, Scotch College Council Chair Tim Wiese cited elevated costs from teacher salaries, superannuation, compliance, technology, and maintenance. He also noted that government funding increases lag behind inflation, exacerbating the strain.
These increases starkly outpace general price rises. While Australia's headline inflation sat at 3.8 per cent for the year to October, education inflation was significantly higher at 5.4 per cent, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
A Comparative Look and Catholic School Fees
Despite the sharp rises, Perth's private education remains less expensive than in eastern states, where some schools charge over $50,000 annually. Meanwhile, the Catholic education sector, which offers a lower-fee alternative, is also adjusting prices.
Catholic Education WA confirmed that most of its 111 schools will recommend fee increases of 5 per cent or less for 2026, with at least 56 schools keeping rises below the inflation rate. Annual fees for Year 12 in this sector typically hover around $6,000.
"We are committed to supporting families from a range of socio-economic backgrounds," a CEWA spokesperson said, emphasising that financial difficulty should not deny a child a Catholic education.
The widespread fee adjustments signal a challenging year ahead for parents prioritising private schooling, as institutions grapple with rising operational costs in a high-inflation environment.
