St Thomas More School Fee Information for Families
  

Diocesan School Fee Management Policy

Diocesan School Fees Frequently Asked Questions

FORM: Diocesan Request to Pay School Fees by Instalment

PAYING SCHOOL FEES

School fees are due thirty (30) days after annual accounts are issued, however schools offer a variety of methods of payment and flexible repayment terms to provide families with support to meet their commitments. To facilitate this flexibility, families are asked to complete a Diocesan Request to Pay School Fees by Instalment to advise the school of their intended payment option. These forms are also available from the school office.

Payment methods include BPAY, Centrepay, cash and EFTPOS. Parents may also access the Compass Parent Portal to make payments.

FEE CONCESSIONS - FAMILIES EXPERIENCING GENUINE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP

While enrolment carries an obligation to pay all school fees and levies, Catholic Social Teaching and the Gospel imperative of a ‘preferential option for the poor’ means that our practice in the Diocese of Wollongong has always been to find a place for families who support its Catholic ethos and are seeking a Catholic education for their child. Families experiencing genuine financial hardship are eligible for assistance via fee concessions.

Our working definition of genuine financial hardship is: a situation where a family is unable, reasonably, because of illness, unemployment or other reasonable cause, to discharge their financial obligations to pay school fees, rather than an unwillingness or reluctance to do so. Financial hardship can be of limited or long-term duration.

Please note, no student will be denied a Catholic education because of a family's genuine financial hardship.

A parent/carer experiencing genuine financial hardship and who is unable to pay school fees is urged to approach the school and request an application for a fee concession form. On receipt of an application the school will respond to the situation with care and sensitivity. Early communication with the school regarding a family's financial situation is essential. Please be assured that your situation will be treated with absolute discretion and confidentiality and an appropriate fee concession arrangement may be made with you.

Further details regarding fee concession arrangements are included in the Diocesan School Fee Management Policy.

Read more about the management of school fees across the Diocese of Wollongong