Independent school families are facing mounting financial pressure, with many making significant sacrifices to keep their children enrolled, according to new polling by Independent Schools Australia (ISA). The findings highlight education funding as a key election issue, with parents urging politicians to prioritise school choice.
The ISA-commissioned survey, conducted by Insightfully in March 2025, polled more than 500 Independent school parents across Australia. The results underscore the financial strain on families, many of whom are adjusting household budgets, cutting essential expenses, and even considering moving to afford school fees.
Families under pressure
The poll revealed that 55% of Independent school parents consider cost of living the most critical election issue, while education ranks second at 22%. Economic concerns are widespread, with 75% of respondents believing national financial conditions will not improve in the next six months.
Key findings from the survey include:
- 78% of parents would need to significantly adjust their household budget if school fees rose by 15% or more.
- 26% would cut back on essentials like groceries, medicine, and transport to keep their children in an Independent school.
- 14% would reduce housing costs by moving or renting out a room.
ISA CEO Graham Catt dismissed the perception that Independent school families are financially insulated from economic hardship.
“The idea that families who choose Independent school are wealthy elites who are unaffected by the cost-of-living crisis is completely false,” Catt said. “These are families working extra jobs and often cutting back on essentials just to keep their children in the school that’s right for them.”
With the federal election approaching, education funding could sway votes in key marginal seats. The polling found that 46% of Independent school parents would be less likely to support a party that reduces funding for Independent schools, with ISA identifying 14 electorates where school choice could influence the outcome.
Recent remarks by the Australian Greens labelling Independent schools as “elite” and “overfunded” have also had electoral consequences, with support for the party declining by 3 percentage points among parents and 5 points among Green-leaning voters.
“This data confirms that school choice isn’t just a personal decision—it’s a voting issue,” Catt said. “Families deserve to be heard, and they deserve certainty in education policy, support and funding.”
Public school funding at risk
The cost-of-living crisis comes amid a parallel battle over public-school funding. The NSW Teachers Federation has launched a major campaign to protect a $4.8 billion agreement aimed at fully funding NSW public schools for the first time. The deal would increase federal contributions to the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) and provide much-needed resources to disadvantaged students.
NSW Teachers Federation president Henry Rajendra warned that a change in government could put the funding deal at risk. “Recent research shows that 59.6% of private schools in NSW now receive more combined government funding per student than comparable public schools. This agreement finally addresses this inequity,” he said.