Hello!

Does anyone else find school fees and the cost of school camps and excursions excessive? In my day school fees were minimal, we didn’t go to school camps, and excursions were infrequent, and I think I turned out just fine.


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  • Yes, absolutely ! And the fees per school differ quite a bit. My youngest is at Kindy and for the first 2 terms her invoice was $371, whilst we pay no-where near that for my 2 at high school !
    I agree that excursions are nice and interesting, but to add a higher number of excursions per school year is a bit over the top for me. We live in a time and age of luxury and everything needs to be possible, while for many people this can cause a problem.
    Nothing wrong with doing it a bit more moderate and sober and find educational moments in situations that doesn’t have a high price tag.


  • yeah you have pay more and to keep access to the basic things. way more expensive to go to school these days!


  • Everything at school these days are about cost and yes it won’t get lower . In high school for example ( say sport ) you may have to pay for the transport to and from the a sports ground, hiring of the sports ground, buying lunch ( unless you it is BYO . When I was growing up my overprotective mother wouldn’t let me go on exursions until I was in older years ( yr 10) and I missed out a lot of fun and education outside the school. It allows kids to see the “real world ” . I believe it is very important part of education , but like you said it was be great if they can make it cheaper for families. Also every school is different too . Fingers crossed it will get better .


  • Our local school has a lot of fundraising activities fir various camps and excursions so costs are kept to a minimum


  • I know they cost, but given the additional education value that cannot be provided at home or school, I think that overall they are not excessive. I find additional fees for things like excursions worthwhile.


  • I find it excessive but then I find the expectations on children are higher now than in the 1980-1990’s before NAPLAN and National Curriculum. Coupled with teaching degrees to gear class towards active learning (hands on) rather than passive learning.

    However I do feel camp should be more of a case of fundraise the money and if the amount isn’t reached use it for several excursions. Thats what I did as otherwise 70% ciuld afford to go but 30% couldn’t. This was more inclusive and more about team work than most lessons.


  • Education is expensive at times but worth it – some excursions are incredible sources of information and inspiration too.


  • Sure do. A camp that went from Monday to Wednesday cost $300, plus all the other things throughout the year. This is a public school I’m talking about as well. It actually caused me to do a bit of a price comparison for private secondary school, as some of the less expensive ones might actually work out almost on par with public


  • There are lots of excursions and they are fun – so we do not mind the cost. We budget for them,


  • For me my kids go to public school and i am a stay at home mum only my hubby works and i dont know if every one gets this but i have found the goverment payment for school kids ( i dont know what they call it) of 220 or so x twice a year or so covers the public primary school fees in full. I think you only get this if you get tax a and b. I dont see it a a bonus but save it for the kids school costs.


  • Our fees are all inclusive of the yearly costs, but as a private school fees certainly are not cheap.


  • Yes the older the child gets the more money the excursion costs.


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