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Top Perth schools splash out

Splashing out: Aquatic centres are being upgraded at Perth's top schools. Picture: Getty Images

Perth's elite independent schools are spending millions of dollars a year on upgrades to decades-old classrooms and sports facilities to help them attract students.

Figures from the Federal Government's My School website - updated this month - show that some of WA's most expensive schools spent more than $15 million in 2013 and more than $40 million in the five years from 2009.

Wesley College headmaster David Gee said high-fee schools needed something to show parents why they charged more than $20,000 a year.

"We are under increasing pressure to create a point of difference from a value perspective, and buildings are what people can see," he said.

Wesley spent $27 million between 2009 and 2013 on refurbishing heritage-listed classrooms, building a new middle school block and a gymnasium extension. "I wouldn't say they're bells and whistles projects, they're projects focused on enhancing learning," Mr Gee said.

"We haven't spent the money on sport that some schools have."

Stephen Webber, headmaster of Guildford Grammar School, which spent more than any other school from 2009 to 2013, said it had invested in an extensive building program because enrolments had grown about 50 per cent in the past decade.

Though the My School website says Guildford spent $54 million in that time, Mr Webber said the school had submitted incorrect data and he would request the total be changed to $46 million.

A senior school block of 22 classrooms opened in 2013 and another 20 classrooms were being built at the preparatory school. Mr Webber said the life span of a specialist facility such as a performing arts centre was about 30 to 40 years.

At Scotch College, which spent $36 million during the same period, the biggest investments were a new middle school with 22 classrooms, a library and arts rooms.

"We have to offer modern, progressive facilities," headmaster Alec O'Connell said.

Hale School headmaster Stuart Meade said most of its $43 million investment was spent on a new middle school and an aquatic centre.