A school’s financial struggles have left hundreds of families shocked that their school will not reopen in 2024.
Charlotte Mason College, a Christian school in Queensland’s Moreton Bay, emailed families Monday afternoon to explain the school closed its doors for the last time on Friday.
The Prep-to-Year 10 school offered distance education, as well as on-campus classes.
“Many of you have been aware of the tumultuous history of the school,” Parents’ National Education Union [Australia] Inc board chair Sarah Biggs emailed parents.
“This year we experienced challenges from past decisions leaving the school in a tough financial position. The new management team took over in March and have worked exceptionally hard to try and remedy the issues.
“We were audited with an unusual intensity and although each audit was passed, the final act of NSSAB [Non-State Schools Accreditation Board] came, as we had employed the services of an administrator to assist in dealing with historical debt. NSSAB withdrew the school’s registration and funding and made it impossible for us to continue.”
The board was, Ms Biggs said, “shocked by this outcome”.
School uniforms – but no school
Parents who had recently received emails advising them that school uniforms for 2024 would be arriving soon reported feeling surprised and confused at Monday’s email announcement.
Since starting with just 109 students in 2017, the school had grown to 313 students in 2022, supported by a 44 full-time equivalent staff.
A financial report lodged with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission shows the Parents’ National Education Union (Australia) Inc, which trades as Charlotte Mason College, posted an operating loss after tax of $743,689 in 2022. It posted a loss of $32,346 in 2021.
The school received $3.58 million in state and federal funding last year, and $439,980 in tuition, enrolment, and application fees.
Although the report, submitted in June 2023, noted the school had forecast positive cash-flow for the 2023 financial year “following a recent increase in its parent fees and revenue from other sources of income”, it was in negotiation with the Australian Taxation Office for a repayment plan of its superannuation and taxation liabilities.
“At the year end (of 2022), the liabilities owing to the ATO were approximately $1.1 million, including administration charges and interest,” the report said.
The next financial report is due in June.
