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, the two most notorious for maximising the potential of their students by providing them with an excellent education. 

Of course, there is variability between every school, regardless of its category. However, it is important and undoubtedly helpful to consider the advantages and disadvantages of each type, to determine which would be most suitable for your child, their future, as well as your circumstances. 

Selective schools are less common in number, and hence, 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, the question is: which of the two is better for your child? 

Pros and cons

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. However, as a private school alumna and a peer to many selective school alumni, the following list has been generated based on common experiences. 

1. Fees. An obvious concern for most parents considering private schools is the expense, which is often dramatically higher than public alternatives. In contrast, selective schools typically emulate a fee-structure similar to a state school, and hence, are considerably less expensive. 
2. Culture. Of course, the culture of a school is dependent on the individual school itself; however, without divulging into stereotypes and assumptions, it is important to consider how the nature of the school will affect the culture of the students. From a private school alumna, private school culture is variable; 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. In contrast, 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. 
3. Holistic school experience. While selective schools offer a school experience tailored to cultivate academic excellence, they may lack a variety of extracurricular activities, which are equally important. Of course, this is not the case for every selective school, but private schools are much more likely to offer a host of activities, across sports, fine and performing arts, service and leadership and more. 
4. Academic outcomes. As previously mentioned, there is significant variation between individual schools; some selective schools will produce better results than some private schools, and vice versa. However, it is important to consider the role of a competitive cohort, as would likely be generated in a selective school; a more successful cohort will typically uplift the results of each individual. Thus, if ATAR is a significant factor in determining school choice, a selective school may be suitable. Although, common to both selective and private are the variation in teachers, subjects available, and support for a diversity of students. 
5. Religious affiliations. While this may not be a concern to every parent, particularly if your spiritual beliefs align with that of the school’s, it is important to consider that many private schools are associated with a particular church or religion, and hence, this will likely be integrated into the school curriculum, particularly in the formative years (Years 7-9). 
6. Accessibility. In states such as Victoria, there are far more abundant private schools than there are selective; hence, there is more likely to be a local private school than a selective one. This is important to consider when factoring in transport time, transport methods, and study time, which may be reduced by travel. 
7. Single-sex or co-education. In both private and selective schools, there are variations in co-education or single-sex education. This is important to factor in alongside the accessibility of selective schools, as only one or the other may be local in your area. In contrast, there may be both options accessible to you in the private sector. 

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. 

The examination typically focuses on reasoning, verbal and quantitative ability and writing. Its duration is approximately three hours and varies between multiple choice and extended response type questions. The test is designed to evaluate problem-solving, reasoning and higher-order thinking, as opposed to content. 

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. 

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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.