Education costs remain high despite the financial downturn, with the overall consumer price index in the year to September at 1.2 per cent while the education consumer price index sat at 5.6 per cent. Independent Schools Victoria chief executive Michelle Green also attributed fee increases to teaching salaries, saying they represented about 60 per cent of costs for most schools. Private schools were usually happy to make special arrangements with parents who were having trouble paying fees, she said.

 

Independent schools are funded using a socio-economic status formula - known as the SES funding model - that links student addresses to census data. Critics say it entrenches inequality because it does not measure individual parent wealth but rather the average wealth of the suburb parents live in, and does not take account of a school's fees, bequests and investments. Private schools have been guaranteed about $28 billion in funding under this controversial model until 2012, with a review of the formula to begin this year.

In 2009 Australian schools were also given billions in federal stimulus funding, with Victorian independent schools awarded more than $380 million for school repairs and refurbishment, new classrooms and science and language centres.

Before you send your child to a private school ask yourself:

· What is the registration fee?

· Is there a waiting list?

· Is there an enrolment fee? Is it refundable and when must it be paid?

· Is there a discount if more than one child attends the school?

· Do parents have to provide an interestfree loan to the school?

· Is there a building fund levy? Are contributions voluntary? Are contributions tax deductible?

· Is the use of technology (i.e. laptops or school intranet) included in the tuition fees?

· Is there an extra charge for books?

· What subjects incur extra charges?

· Are camps and excursions included in the tuition fees?

· What is the estimated cost of the uniform and the school bus service?

· What does extra sport or music tuition cost?

· Can special payment arrangements be made in case of financial hardship?