Elite education in the country
SCOTS PGC cuts fees to benefit regional kids
FOR country kids, being sent off to a city school with thousands of students can be incredibly daunting.
But education doesn’t have to be any less elite by studying on home soil.
Priding itself on its tight-knit community, SCOTS PGC College is all about retaining the small-group philosophy while making a big impact.
And with a 40% reduction in school fees from 2018, the Warwick independent day and boarding school looks all the more attractive.
Principal Simon Shepherd said the option for students to stay in a regional area and receive a quality education to rival that of city schools was one of the biggest benefits of SCOTS PGC College.
“Not having to go to a metropolitan area to receive a quality education at a boarding or day school means country kids don’t have to miss out,” Mr Shepherd said.
With agriculture a focus within the curriculum, he said students considering a career in the industry would benefit from early exposure.
“We’re a registered training venue for agriculture and we offer a Certificate III in Agriculture for any student who chooses to study it,” Mr Shepherd said.
“Plus we have animals on campus where students can learn animal husbandry, and the equestrian program where we compete regularly.”
The principal said it was these opportunities that made the decision to reduce school fees by 40% a simple one.
“It means parents get more choice and more opportunities to give their children a quality education,” Mr Shepherd said.
“Education is a passport to your future so the notion there is that we can give students that key.
“We know what students need for the future and that’s to be collaborative interpersonal thinkers and we have programs that enable that.”
The college made the announcement of the fee decrease after the Federal Budget in May which provided an additional $18.6 billion in school funding over the next decade.
But despite the influx of new funds, Mr Shepherd said SCOTS PGC College received only a marginal increase.
He said the school received less funding than similar independent schools within the region, to the tune of about 15-25%.
"This does not perturb us from our planned fee reduction. Existing families and students will benefit from 2018," Mr Shepherd said.
He emphasised the reduction in fees would not lead to an overload in student numbers.
“We currently have 380 students and I never want to have more than about 550. I know every kid in the school and I don’t want to lose that.”
For more information, head to scotspgc.com.au.