At Mansfield State High School we offer quality learning in a supportive environment. State schools do not charge teaching, facilities and administration costs; however the government does not fund classroom learning resources as these are the responsibility of parents.
Historically, Mansfield has charged a general levy and subject fees to cover the consumables, hire scheme and incidentals that are used in the classroom to enhance the learning experience of students.
From 2025, a Student Resource Scheme (SRS) will replace the general levy and subject fees. This is inline with the Department of Education policy on fees and charges at state schools.
The purpose of the SRS to provide parents with one simple payment to ensure that their child can access the learning materials they require in the classroom at the lowest possible cost. Parents are encouraged to take part in the scheme by agreeing via the QParents consent form.
Key information about the SRS and supporting documents
Advantages of the SRS include:
- Comprehensive resources to support your child's learning in the classroom: The SRS provides access to a wide range of resources that are used to support learning and teaching in the classroom. Students who were enrolled in 2024 have been able to access these resources as the subject fees you paid covered the cost. The SRS replaces all subject fees in 2025. Students who are not part of the SRS will not have access to classroom resources which are provided by the school. You will be responsible for sourcing and providing the resources that are required in the classroom.
- Cost savings: The school benefits from bulk purchasing discounts and exemptions from GST, allowing us to pass these savings on to families. The Resource List provides an indication of what you can expect to spend on purchasing these resources for your child.
- Hired resources: Some items included in the SRS are hired items as they are only required for a short period eg; English novels for a learning unit. The hire charge within the SRS for these items is much lower than the cost to purchase the novel. For example, instead of the $5 hire fee in the SRS, you could expect to pay $20 to purchase the same edition novel.
- Cost-effective and convenient: Individual classroom resources for each student are not covered by Department of Education funding and parents are responsible for providing these items. The SRS offers parents an affordable and convenient way to provide these resources instead of purchasing them individually for your child.
- Simplified invoicing: Families will receive a single consolidated invoice, replacing multiple subject fee invoices throughout the year. The SRS fee of $80 replaces all individual subject fees and is not an additional cost. Instead, it replaces the subject fees meaning you will not be charged for both.
User pays scheme
There are charges and items that are not covered by the SRS. The cost for these optional activities or items are paid by the user ie; the student's parents/caregivers. This is a Department of Education policy to cover the costs of activities such as;
- CYOD school laptop program
- Excursions and camps
- Programs of Excellence fees
- Extracurricular activities including sport, clubs and special events
- Publications (school magazine) and school photos
- Cocurricular programs such as music, music tuition and the hire of musical instruments.
Costs incurred in the User Pays Scheme will be invoiced directly to the family of the student. This can include the cost of replacement items where the original is lost or damaged eg; each student receives a student diary in the SRS, but a replacement copy is charged if needed.
Payments for extracurricular activities
Students who wish to participate in extracurricular activities must have paid all outstanding fees including the SRS (or have an approved payment plan) to participate in extracurricular activities.
When a parent or caregiver provides consent to participate in the excursion or activity, they are agreeing to pay the invoiced cost of the excursion or activity. This payment may be non-refundable if a student withdraws from the excursion or is unable to attend on the day.
Further details are provided in the Mansfield State High School Refund Guidelines.
Queensland Government Textbook and Resource Allowance
The Queensland Government provides a Textbook and Resource Allowance to parents and caregivers of eligible students to offset the costs of education. The allowance is paid to the school and is used by the school in the SRS to keep the cost to parents as low as possible. In 2025, the credit to the school will be:
Year 7, 8, 9 and 10: $160
Year 11 and 12: $348
What happens if I don't participate in the SRS?
Participation in the SRS is not compulsory. If you choose not to participate, you are required to supply all incidentals, hire items and other learning materials that are specified on the Resource List for your child's year level. These will be required to be delivered to the school by Week 2, Term 1 2025 so as not to disadvantage your child who will not have access to the supplies that are funded by the SRS.
If you are unsure and would like to speak with someone in person or email, please contact our finance department at accounts@mansfieldshs.eq.edu.au and our staff can assist you to learn more about the SRS and payments for activities at Mansfield State High School.