New School Funding
Supporting the Establishment of New Independent Schools
The Queensland Independent Schools Block Grant Authority (QIS BGA) uses capital funding to help Approved Authorities establish new independent schools and campuses across Queensland.
The New School Funding Model provides a clear framework that:
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outlines how funding is allocated;
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identifies the information and evidence required in a funding application; and
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describes how applications are assessed.
The model is designed to:
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provide funding certainty once an Approved Authority has demonstrated a strong educational vision, accompanying design vision, enrolment demand, and a quality business case; and
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encourage an economies-of-scale approach to the staged delivery of new school infrastructure.
Recognising that Queensland's independent school sector is built on choice and diversity, the model accommodates a range of school types and development pathways.
Before You Apply
Establishing a new school requires significant planning, consultation, approvals, and financial investment. A complete application will require detailed master planning, architectural design work, business case development, demographic analysis, lender support, regulatory approvals, and governance endorsement.
For this reason, Approved Authorities are strongly encouraged to contact the QIS BGA Secretariat early in the planning process. Early engagement will help clarify:
· eligibility requirements;
· evidence expectations;
· funding allocation arrangements;
· project timelines; and
· application assessment processes.
Two-Stage Application Process
Stage One: Preliminary Approval Gateway
The Preliminary Approval Gateway ensures a proposed new school or campus has the key foundations needed to progress to a full application. It allows Approved Authorities to test the readiness of their proposal before committing significant resources to detailed planning and design work.
To progress to a full application, Approved Authorities must submit a Preliminary Approval Gateway application by 31 October each year.
The preliminary application provides strategic and conceptual information about the proposed school or campus and enables QIS BGA to determine whether the proposal is sufficiently advanced to proceed. The framework confirms that critical foundations such as strategy, site arrangements, demand, governance support, organisational capability, and financial viability are in place before substantial expenditure on detailed design and documentation.
Why a Preliminary Approval Gateway?
The gateway process helps mitigate risks commonly associated with premature or under-developed proposals, including:
- Inadequate understanding of development approval conditions
- Insufficient demonstrated demand
- Unsecured or unclear site arrangements
- Incomplete internal approvals
- Lack of delivery capacity
- Regulatory non-compliance or delays
- Missed External Infrastructure Subsidy (EIS) opportunities
- Inaccurate budgeting and financial strain
- Inadequate community and stakeholder engagement
- Misalignment with long-term strategy
- Uncertain lender support
Stage Two: Full New School Application
Approved Authorities that receive Preliminary Approval may submit a Full New School Application in the following capital funding round.
The full application comprises two parts:
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Submission |
Timing |
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Part One |
First working day in March |
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Part Two |
Last working day in March |
The full application requires comprehensive supporting documentation and detailed evidence to demonstrate the proposed school's educational, financial, operational, and strategic viability.
New School Types
The New School Funding Model recognises three broad categories of new schools:
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Type 1: Mid to Large Schools
Mid to large schools are generally designed to achieve enrolments equivalent to at least a two-stream school.
Category A
P-12 School
- Two-stream school from Prep to Year 12
- Forecast establishment period: up to 11 years
Category B
P-6 Primary School
- Two-stream school from Prep to Year 6
- Forecast establishment period: up to 7 years
Category C
7-12 Secondary School
- Two-stream school from Years 7 to 12
- Forecast establishment period: up to 6 years
Category D
Senior School
A senior-focused school that achieves enrolments comparable to a two-stream Years 7–12 school. This may include alternative year configurations or specialised learning models.
- Forecast establishment period: up to 6 years
Category E
Primary Variant
A primary-focused school that achieves enrolments comparable to a two-stream Prep to Year 6 school. This may include alternative year configurations.
- Forecast establishment period: up to 6 years
Existing School Expansion
Certain major strategic expansions of existing schools may also satisfy the definition of a new school where they involve substantial growth in enrolment capacity, additional streams, or significant new accreditation offerings.
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Type 2: Small Schools
Small schools are established on a new site and are expected to operate below the enrolment levels associated with a two-stream school.
Category A
P-12 School
- Established within 11 years
- Fewer than 650 students
Category B
P-6 School
- Established within 7 years
- Fewer than 350 students
Category C
7-12 School
- Established within 6 years
- Fewer than 300 students
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Type 3: Specialised Schools
Type 3 schools include:
- Special Assistance Schools (SAS)
- Special Schools
- Majority Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (MATSIS) Schools
Given their unique educational missions, delivery models and student cohorts, these schools are assessed using criteria that recognises their specialised context and purpose.
Contact QIS BGA Secretariat
Approved Authorities considering the establishment of a new school or campus are encouraged to engage with the QIS BGA Secretariat as early as possible.
Early discussions can help clarify eligibility requirements, application expectations, project readiness considerations, and available funding pathways.
Funding sources
The Australian Government Capital Grants Program (CGP) and State Government Capital Assistance Scheme (SCAS) provides funding to eligible independent schools to construct, convert, refurbish and upgrade school facilities.
Each Program/Scheme has its own set of guidelines. While different, each has a similar intent concerning focus and eligibility. There are instances where either Australian Government or State guidelines will dictate how capital assistance will be allocated.
CGP provides funding under the Australian Education Act 2013, the Australian Education Regulations 2023 and the Capital Grants Program Guidelines sets out the detailed requirements applying to the administration of the Program.
SCAS provides funding under the Education (Capital Assistance) Act 1993, the Education (Capital Assistance) Regulations 2025 and the Capital Assistance Scheme Guidelines.