School Fees and
Contributions

St Bede’s College has three types of fees: compulsory fees and levies; voluntary fees and contributions; and cost recoveries:

Type Charge $ May be eligible for tax credit
Compulsory Fees
Boarding Fee
19,500
Attendance Dues Levy
1,600
Contributions
St Bede’s Old Boys’ Association Membership
80
Special Character Contribution
395
Yes
Building Contribution
750
Yes
Co-Curricular Contribution
100
Yes
School Contribution
1,000
Yes
Proprietors Contribution
190
Yes
e-Learning Contribution
80
Yes
Foundation Levy
50
Yes
Recoveries
Classroom costs
Usually
Sports costs
Activity/EOTC costs

Many of the costs associated with running St Bede’s are not paid by the Government. Some of our teachers, parts of our academic programme, our chaplaincy and special character program, our wellbeing program, our school psychologists, and many of our facilities (like the swimming pool) are not funded. Instead, we must rely on parents to contribute to the cost of their son’s education.

Because of that we ask that all parents pay all the fees and contributions on their school fees account. However, if you find it hard to pay all the fees, we may be able to provide financial assistance. To learn more please contact Rachel Pitcaithly rpitcaithly@stbedes.school.nz the head of our Ministry Team.

All contributions are voluntary and included on statements as a form of request. For most people they will be eligible for a donation tax credit, and we issue a donation certificate each year to allow you to claim the credit from Inland Revenue.

There are optional activities and sports that your son may choose to join while at St Bede’s College. As this relies on parent payments to cover the cost of the activity, if you have agreed for you son to participate then you will be required to pay these charges. Unfortunately, if these fees are not paid it may result in your son not being able to participate in the associated sport or activity.

An explanation of how your school fees and contributions are used is shown below.

Payment of Fees

Fees are charged at the start of each term and should be paid before the end of term.

We encourage all parents to setup a direct debit for all their fees – it makes your and our lives simple and means your sons’ fees are paid without you having to organise anything. Boarding fees must be paid monthly by direct debit.

Information on how to sign on to a direct debit will be sent at the start of the year, or you can email at any stage to receive a form. Statements are emailed at the start of each month, and on the 20th of each month from February to November, the monthly portion of your fees plus any recoveries loaded during the month will be direct debited from your nominated account.

Other ways of paying your fees are online payment through the Parent Portal, eftpos at the office, automatic payment, or online banking. Fees paid by credit card are charged an additional 2% to cover bank fees.

Our bank details are:
02 0816 0253094 00
Please include your son’s first and last name and year level on any of these payment methods.

To check your sons’ fees and payments at any time, please log in to the Parent Portal

If you have any queries regarding payment options or require further information about the fees and charges, please contact the school office.

Financial Assistance

St Bede’s, with the support of our parent community, the Christchurch Diocese, and the Society of Mary, has funding available to assist families who are struggling to pay their school fees. If you need assistance, or would like to learn more, please contact Rachel Pitcaithly (rpitcaithly@stbedes.school.nz) the head of our Ministry Team.

Overdue fees

St Bede’s does follow up unpaid school fees. When compulsory fees remain unpaid, they may be referred to a debt collection agency. If Boarding Fees are unpaid your son’s place in boarding may be withdrawn.

How School Fees and Contributions are Used

Charge Purpose
School Contribution
Many of the programmes and facilities which are offered by St Bede’s College are not funded by the Ministry of Education. The School Contribution helps us to: employ more teachers than are Government funded and help keep class sizes down; to provide learning resources in classrooms.
Co-curricular Contribution
Some of the costs associated with our (out of class) sports and arts/music/drama/kapa haka/PolyFest programmes are met from the Co-curricular Contribution.
Special Character Contribution
The Catholic Special Character Contribution is collected to cover costs associated with chaplaincy services, our sacramental programme, the teaching of Religious Education in the College and pastoral care of our students and their families.
e-Learning Contribution
The e-Learning Contribution helps to pay for providing a secure IT environment for our boys. It also helps meet the costs of software used in the classroom and for communicating with parents and the school community.
Classroom Recoveries
When your son is using a specific classroom resource, like a workbook which can only be used once, we ask that you meet the cost of that resource. Classroom Recoveries vary depending on your son’s year level and subject selection. Classroom Recoveries are generally tax deductible.
Sports Recoveries
Participation in a sport requires payment of fees to sports associations or unions, tournament and competition fees, and turf/playing field fees. Sports Recoveries meet these costs of your son’s involvement, as well as the costs of sports equipment, travel, and accommodation. Sports Recoveries vary depending on the sports your son plays.
Activity/EOTC Recoveries
When your son participates in activities outside of the classroom, such as field trips and camps, the Activity/EOTC Recovery meets the cost of participation. This can include any travel, accommodation, and entry costs for the activity. Activity/EOTC Recoveries vary depending on the activities your son participates in.
Boarding Fees
These fees recover the costs of feeding, housing, and providing pastoral care for boys boarding at St Bede’s. This is a compulsory fee which must be paid for all boarders.
Attendance Dues Levy
The land and buildings at St Bede’s College are owned by the Board of Proprietors but only some of the buildings are funded by the Ministry of Education. Buildings which are not funded are called ‘non-integrated’ and include the Centre of Wellbeing, the Chapel, the Gymnasium, the Whare, the Arts Block, and the RE block.

Attendance Dues are used by the Proprietors to maintain integrated property and to repay loans taken out to fund the earthquake rebuild and new or improved facilities (such as the Grimes Teaching Block, strengthening of the Performing Arts Centre, and building the Chapel.
Building Contribution
The Building Contribution pays for significant new facilities or major building upgrades. It has been paid by many generations of parents to help fund the facilities your son benefits from now.
Proprietors Contribution
The Board of Proprietors helps meet the costs of the College’s Special Character and Ministry to students and the St Bede’s community. It also helps meet the cost of some of the Board of Trustees’ obligations for the maintenance of integrated buildings.
St Bede’s Old Boys’ Association Membership
The annual payment of $80 pays the full cost of the SBCOBA lifetime membership fee over the five years your son is at St Bede’s. Keeping Old Boys connected with the St Bede’s Community beyond school years.
Foundation Levy
The St Bede’s College Foundation was established to help ensure the long-term future of St Bede’s College. It is responsible for the investment of donations and bequests to the school and uses the returns on those investments to help fund building projects and to support new projects and initiatives which support the education and wellbeing of our boys. Your contribution to the Foundation helps to pay forward the benefits your son receives now from the gifts of our past students and donors.