Private school fees rise as education gap widens

July 19, 2026 — 5:00am

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There is a school of thought, so to speak, among many anxious parents in Sydney. It goes something like this: selective school is the first choice, private school second, then a scramble to get the child into the best possible, somewhat nearby comprehensive school in last place.

With no discernible change in the number of selective places at our public high schools each year, it’s been left to independent and Catholic schools to capitalise on the increased demand for a perceived better education.

State authorities have tried to fill the gap – introducing high performance and gifted education (HPGE) places at comprehensive state schools, and allowing students at any school that does not offer challenging subjects to enrol in........

© The Sydney Morning Herald