Al-anwar Newspaper English news in Australia
Parents with children in Year 5 at the embattled Cranbrook School have been told they will be charged $50 a day to use an after hours homework program in the school’s study centre which was built on the back of generous donations of current families and alumni.
The move has outraged the less well heeled parents at the school who are already paying tens of thousands of dollars in fees every year– and say those fees should cover entry into any of the school’s existing facilities.
But the school defended the fee, which they say is commonplace for an after school study program, which has been operating successfully for five years for students from Year 7 to Year 12.
Star Cranbrook teacher Daisy Turnbull sent an email to Year 5 parents on Tuesday about the option for students to use the study centre two days a week but said they would be billed for it.
“In 2023, when your sons are in Year 6 students, they will have the opportunity to attend the Senior School Study Centre in the Vicars Centenary Building in the Senior School,” the email said.
“For Year 6 Junior School students, it will be available on Mondays and Tuesdays from 3.30pm — 5.30pm.
“The Study Centre costs $50 per afternoon and will be billed at the end of each term.”
For their $50, Ms Turnbull said they would be given a toasted sandwich, some fruit and a drink.
Under the plan, students would make their way to the centre on foot or by catching a local bus.
“While we recognise making their own way to the Senior School may seem a big jump for your sons, it is an opportunity to promote and practise responsibility and independence.”
The study centre is housed in the newly built Vicars Centenary Building which was named after billionaire Will Vicars who made a $10 million donation to the school.
The $50 bill to use buildings at the school outraged some parents who can’t believe that they have to pay an entrance fee after so many parents and alumni have already generously donated millions of dollars.
One parent said they were already paying $32,000 a year to send their son to the primary school and $50 was exorbitant for what they were getting.
“The students will be given a toasted sandwich, drink and fruit … for $50?” the mother said.
“Is this the beginning of parents having to fork out more than expensive school fees to use these ‘amazing’ facilities? Wasn’t the building funded by ‘donations’.
“Money might not be an issue for Daisy Turnbull, Nicholas Sampson and Vicars but for the ‘normal families’ this is a real concern.”
A Cranbrook spokeswoman said the study programme was an “optional programme” which had been successfully in operation for five years– and was normal practice.
“The Study Centre is an optional programme currently available to students in years 7 to 12 which is run after school hours by qualified teachers in the Senior School.
