Parents looking to maximise their child’s chance of educational success often deliberate over a number of schools. You are probably considering facilities, programs, teaching style, ATAR outcomes, extracurriculars… the list goes on. Amongst these criteria is the type of school itself: private or selective?
Selective schools are less common in number, so they often fly under the radar for many deliberating parents. Victorian Selective Entry High Schools are schools that provide for academically high-achieving students in years 9 to 12. They require students to sit an entrance exam in year 8 and will accept students based on academic merit. This ensures a cohort of academically rigorous, high-achieving students who are extended intellectually.
So, which of the two is better for your child?
Table of Content:
Comparing the Pros and Cons of the Schools
The truth is, making broad, sweeping statements about the characteristics of private and selective schools will inevitably be invalid in some cases; there is far too much variation between each individual school. So take note that this list is not specific, and does not apply to every school!
| Characteristics | Private Schools | Selective Schools |
| Fees | Dramatically more expensive than public schools. | Typically emulate fee-structure similar to a state school. Less expensive than private schools. |
| Culture (varies depending on schools, so take this with a pinch of salt) | Culture varies depending on the area, price and prestige, as well as whether they are single-sex or co-ed schools. There are varying levels of segregation, elitism and entitlement, as well as rigour, competitiveness and safety. | Selective schools cultivate a cohort of students based on academic excellence rather than socioeconomic status, and hence, often produce a culture more often focused on success in school, competitiveness and discipline. |
| Holistic School Experience | Private schools are much more likely to offer a host of activities, across sports, fine and performing arts, service and leadership and more. | Selective schools offer a school experience tailored to cultivate academic excellence, but they may lack a variety of extracurricular activities. Of course, this is not the case for every selective school. |
| Academics outcomes (significant variation between individual schools) | Variation in teachers, subjects available and support for a diversity of students. | Might have a more competitive cohort, and a more successful cohort will typically uplift the results of each individual in selective schools. |
| Religious Affiliations | Many private schools are associated with a particular church of religions, and more likely to have religious beliefs integrated into the school curriculum (particularly in the formative years of 7-9). | Might not be as religiously affiliated. |
| Accessibility | In states like Victoria, there is an abundance of private schools. | Might be further out, requiring more transport time. |
| Single-sec or co-education | More common to have both options available near you. | Might be harder to find both options near you. |
Application Process
In private schools, the greatest admissions test will likely be a brief interview and questionnaire completed by the parents, or an internal test if applying for a scholarship.
In contrast, in a selective school, an academic test must be undertaken prior to entry. In Victoria, a student will select an order of preference for their prospective schools, and they will only be offered the highest preference they achieve. Testing is primarily handled by the Department of Education and Training, who administer and process the examination. The test is typically conducted a year before entry, and the exam results are considered by the school’s panel. Find out more about the Victoria Selective Entry test here.
FAQs
When do Victorian selective school examinations open for 2025?
The precise dates vary from state to state, however, examinations for selective schools are typically held mid-year, the year before entry. For entry into selective schools in 2025, in Victoria, applications closed on 3rd May 2024 and the examination was held on 15th June 2024.
What are ACER and Edutest exams?
ACER Scholarship Tests are used by schools to differentiate between the ability and reasoning of scholarship applicants. The test consists of written expression, humanities, and varying levels of mathematics and science. These may be online or paper-based.
Edutest Exams also offer entrance testing, but instead structure their examinations based on ‘Ability’ in verbal and numerical reasoning, and ‘Achievement’ in reading comprehension, mathematics and written expression. Each test varies in length per section and overall.
What is a partial scholarship?
A partial scholarship involves a discounted, but not completely covered fee. Partial scholarships typically fund a portion of a student’s school fees, the amount varying on their performance in the scholarship testing.
There are significant differences between private and selective schools: cost, culture, opportunities and more. However, ultimately, there is a high level of variation amongst both private and selective schools, and what must be considered most carefully are the individual strengths and weaknesses of each school, particularly in regard to how they accommodate your child, their needs and their goals.
Written by KIS Academics Tutor for UCAT & VCE English and Literature, Kiaara Taia. Kiaara is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine at Monash University. She has received excellent reviews from her past and current KIS Academics students. You can view Kiaara’s tutor profile here to request her as a tutor.
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