Parents queuing to send their children to one of New Zealand’s most expensive schools

One of New Zealand’s most expensive schools has a record number of students and a waiting list, even though the country is experiencing its worst recession in decades.

Christ’s College in Christchurch has increased its tuition to $ 28,500 a year, which means it costs more than many of the more elite schools in Wellington and Auckland.

The annual fee equals $ 770 per week, when spread across the 37-week academic year, making it higher than the weekly wage of someone earning minimum wage.

For students living away from home, the internship at Christ’s College costs $ 18,000 a year, while the mandatory school uniform costs another $ 1,500. This includes $ 315 for a black and white blazer, $ 245 for formal pants, a $ 75 T-shirt and a $ 60 swimsuit.

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Not all private schools make their fees available to the public, but the annual tuition at King’s College Auckland is $ 24,860- $ 25,885, Wellington’s Scots College is $ 22,212 for seniors and St Peter’s Cambridge in Waikato is $ 18,950- $ 24,750.

Some independent schools charge additional fees for education outside the classroom (EOTC) and “incidentals.” Many offer a discount if the siblings also attend the school and a reduced rate if the fees are paid in full.

Christ’s College CEO Garth Wynne said the $ 28,500 a year represented “good value for money.” It offered a “no-surprise” approach to fees for parents.

“We know that finances are difficult for many families and that parents make sacrifices to send their children to independent schools,” he said.

The rate includes:

• The promise of small classes, averaging 22 students in Years 9 and 10 and 15 students in Years 11, 12 and 13.
• All costs of the curriculum.
• Outdoor education, including school camps.
• Sports and coaching.

Wynne said the number of students has been “steadily growing every year” and that the roster of 676 students was close to its capacity of 700.

In 2019, independent schools made up 4% of New Zealand’s education providers, with around 30,000 students enrolled across the country.

Professor Carol Anne Mutch from the University of Auckland College of Education and Social Work said one of the great things about New Zealand’s education system is that it covers a “full range of opportunities”.

“If you have the money and you are looking for the kind of things that independent schools offer, you have that option,” he said.

“If you are interested in a particular philosophy or religion, have integrated schools, or if you just want to send your child to local schools, you have the state option.”

The advantages of independent schools were that they offered smaller class sizes, teachers with specialized experience, and a “lifetime network” for later life.

“A lot of people like to send their kids to the school they went to and they like that tradition,” Mutch said.

A 2011 OECD report found an “advantage for private schools” in its international student assessment (PISA) program, even in New Zealand, where PISA reading scores were 50 points higher for school students. private than for public schools.

However, the same OECD research showed that, internationally, public school students in a socio-economic context similar to that of private schools did just as well.

Richard Winter, director and co-owner of Spagalimis Pizzeria, Christchurch’s oldest restaurant, is the oldest of five siblings who attended Christ’s College.

The education and experiences he received served him well in later life, he said.

“I had a really good time there,” he said.

“The opportunities we were given, the friendships that were forged, and the structure you need as (a teenager).”

She hopes to send her two young children to school one day.

Christ’s College opened in 1851 and was inspired by the public schools of England, attended by many of the men of the Canterbury Association.

The emphasis was on a classical education, which included Greek and Latin.

Notable alumni include WWII soldier Sir Charles Upham, a two-time Victoria Cross recipient, Hollywood actor Sam Neill, All Blacks endorsement Joe Moody and former Crusaders rugby coach Robbie Deans.