What The Lakes College does

The Lakes College is a private independent co-educational school serving students from Prep through Year 12, located on a single campus in North Lakes, a high-growth suburb in Brisbane's northern corridor in Queensland, Australia. The college was established in 2005 with 88 foundation students and is operated by The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (Q.), delivering its program within a Christian framework grounded in Uniting Church values. The core P-12 education program is structured across three stages: Prep (using the Walker Learning research-backed play and project-based pedagogy), Primary (Years 1-6) and Secondary (Years 7-12), with a vertical house-based pastoral care system in the secondary years. The college supports learning through an integrated edtech stack including SEQTA for continuous formative reporting, Box of Books and Wheelers for digital textbooks, LiteracyPro for primary literacy, Concord Infiniti for the library portal, and Gale Cengage for research databases, supported by a mobile app on iOS and Android.

The Lakes College generates the majority of its revenue from recurring tuition fees billed per term, augmented by a non-refundable A$160 application fee, a A$500 confirmation fee, a A$1,000 refundable family enrolment deposit, and sibling discounts (12% for the 2nd child, 30% for the 3rd, 100% for the 4th). Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer: families apply online, attend Twilight Open evenings or monthly Small Group Tours, progress through an enrolment interview, and receive a Letter of Offer. Families seeking financial flexibility can enrol through Edstart to spread or extend fee repayments up to five years after graduation. Supplementary revenue streams include the TLC Learn to Swim program (open to the broader community from three months old), facility hire of the Performing Arts Precinct, gym and aquatic facilities, the TLCCA community association (uniform shop, Wunya Café, merchandise), and professional development workshop hosting for external educators. The college has approximately 102 employees, four scholarship programs (Belonging for Indigenous students, Believing for faith and service, Becoming for academic excellence, Beyond for extra-curricular talent), and a 20-year operating history. Its first Year 12 cohort graduated in 2013, and the school has ranked in the top three NAPLAN performers in the Moreton Region for both Primary and Secondary for three consecutive years (2023-2025), with Primary ranked #1 in the region in 2024 and 2025.

Name

The Lakes College

Legal name

The Lakes College

Website

https://thelakescollege.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Lakes College is a private Uniting Church-affiliated P-12 school in North Lakes, Queensland, serving Prep to Year 12 students through a single campus with integrated edtech and community programs, and generating revenue from tuition, ancillary aquatic and facility-hire services, and community retail.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

Keywords

• Private school education
• Christian K-12 education
• Primary and secondary schooling
• Prep to Year 12 education
• Independent school education

Headquarters

HQ city

North Lakes

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: The primary revenue stream for The Lakes College. Tuition fees are the main source of funding for delivering teaching, facilities, and student opportunities. Fees are charged per student per term, with a published fee schedule (2026 Fee Schedule available). Fee Statements are emailed at least one week prior to the first day of each term and published to Parent Lounge.
2. Application and Enrolment Fees: Non-refundable application fee of $160 per application, plus a $500 confirmation fee to secure a place once offered, and a $1000 family enrolment deposit (refundable upon last child's departure from the school).
3. Sibling Discounts: Sibling discounts apply to tuition fees when two or more siblings attend simultaneously: 12% for 2nd student, 30% for 3rd student, 100% for 4th student.
4. Edstart Payment Plan Administration: Parents can spread school fees across the year or extend repayment up to 5 years after graduation through Edstart, a third-party payment plan provider. Edstart pays fees to the college when due.
5. Facility Hire: The college generates revenue by hiring out its facilities to the community, including its performing arts precinct, gym, and other spaces.
6. Learn to Swim Program: Revenue from the TLC Learn to Swim program operating in the Aquatic Precinct, teaching swimmers from 3 months old through to advanced levels, using certified instructors in the indoor heated learn-to-swim pool.
7. TLCCA (College Community Association): Community-run initiatives including uniform shop, merchandise (TLC Merchandise), and Wunya Café generate supplementary revenue for the school community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Lakes College is a private, Uniting Church-affiliated P-12 independent school operating a single Prep-to-Year 12 campus in North Lakes, Queensland. It sells tuition-based education across Prep, Primary (Years 1-6) and Secondary (Years 7-12), supported by co-curricular programs, scholarship offerings, and ancillary fee-based services including the TLC Learn to Swim program and facility hire. The college generates revenue primarily from term-based tuition fees, enrolment and application fees, and supplementary programs.

Product overview

The Lakes College is a P-12 Uniting Church private school in North Lakes, Brisbane, offering a unified educational program spanning Prep to Year 12. The core P-12 Education Program is delivered through three stages — Prep (using the Walker Learning approach), Primary School (Years 1-6), and Secondary School (Years 7-12) — with a vertical house pastoral care system. Beyond the core academic program, the college offers four named scholarship programs (Belonging, Believing, Becoming, and Beyond), a Restorative Practice Professional Development Workshop for external educators, and an Aquatic Precinct featuring the TLC Learn to Swim Program and TLC Swim Club. A mobile app is available on iOS and Android. The college integrates with Edstart for fee payments, Concord Infiniti for its library portal, Wheeler's and Box of Books for digital learning resources, Gale Cengage for research databases, LiteracyPro for primary literacy, and SEQTA for student learning management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TLC Swim Club: The Lakes College's aquatic and swimming program operating from the TLC Aquatic Precinct.
• TLC Learn to Swim

Products and services

• Prep to Year 12 Education Program A comprehensive Prep to Year 12 private school education program delivered through a nurturing Uniting Church Christian community, spanning three stages: Prep, Primary School (Years 1-6) and Secondary School (Years 7-12) with a vertical house-based pastoral care system in Secondary.
• Restorative Practice Professional Development Workshop A 3-day facilitator training workshop facilitated by Margaret Thorsborne & Associates that equips educators with skills to implement restorative practices in schools, covering restorative conferencing for serious incidents and class conferencing for less serious classroom dynamics. Priced at $680 per participant including training manual, morning tea and lunch.
• TLC Learn to Swim Program A learn-to-swim program operating within the TLC Aquatic Precinct, teaching swimmers from 3 months old through to advanced levels using certified instructors with personalised attention and a focus on water safety education.
• TLC Swim Club A competitive swimming club operating within the TLC Aquatic Precinct, open to students and community members, with website at tlcswimming.com.au.
• Facility Hire Hire of The Lakes College facilities (Performing Arts Precinct, Strength & Conditioning Gym, sports fields, aquatic facilities) to community groups, sporting organisations and individuals.
• TLCCA Community Services (Uniform Shop, TLC Merchandise, Wunya Café) Community-run services operated by The Lakes College Community Association (TLCCA), including the uniform shop, TLC Merchandise store, and Wunya Café, providing goods and services to enrolled families and the broader community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Primary students ranked #1 top-performing school in the Moreton Region for NAPLAN in both 2024 and 2025, with average NAPLAN score of 529.4 in 2024.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Eyes Open Social MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe college has partnered with Eyes Open Social Media through its Find Your North Program to educate students about digital use, cyber safety, and responsible social media behaviour. The partnership provides educational content and guidance on navigating online platforms. Eyes Open Social Media also offers family and individual consultations for TLC families.
• Margaret Thorsborne & AssociatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMargaret Thorsborne & Associates is an international consultancy providing Restorative Practice training to schools, community groups, and workplaces. They delivered a 3-Day Restorative Practice Facilitator Training workshop at The Lakes College in August 2026 for $680 per participant, open to educators from external schools.
• Luther Heights CampminorOthersLuther Heights Camp at Coolum Beach hosts the Year 7 camp in Term 1, providing a vital part of the college's Thriving Through Transition program. The camp (Tuesday 31 January - Friday 3 February annually) creates a strong sense of belonging and connection for incoming Year 7 students.
• McLellan Bush ArchitectsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMcLellan Bush Architects designed the new Science Precinct at The Lakes College (coming in 2027). The firm created the architectural design for the purpose-built science facilities aimed at inspiring curiosity, innovation and discovery.
• 2024 TLC Sponsors (Kokoda Challenge)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Lakes College acknowledges its 2024 TLC Sponsors whose support contributes to enhancing educational experiences and creating opportunities for students. Sponsors are recognised through the college's Sponsorship Program and Proud Partners page.
• Kokoda Youth FoundationminorOthersThe Lakes College participates in annual Kokoda Challenge events (30km, 48km, 96km) raising funds for the Kokoda Youth Foundation. TLC teams have participated since 2018, with students, staff, and parents forming teams (TLC Rangers, Fighters, Wanderers, Soldiers, Trekkers, Warriors, Squadron). In 2024, teams raised $7,241 and every student crossed the finish line for the first time.
• Office of the eSafety CommissionerminorOthersThe college references the Office of the eSafety Commissioner as a government resource for online safety, providing resources, webinars, and guidance for students, parents, and carers on safe and positive online experiences.
• Hey Sigmund (Karen Young)minorOthersThe college references psychologist Karen Young's Hey Sigmund website as a resource for supporting student wellbeing and mental health, particularly during exam periods. Articles from Hey Sigmund are shared with families.
• Dr Justin Coulson (Happy Families)minorOthersThe college references Dr Justin Coulson (former TLC guest, host of Parental Guidance) and his 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' event as a parenting resource. Dr Coulson provides content to support families with teenagers navigating digital and social media challenges.
• Dr Kristy GoodmanminorOthersThe college recommends Dr Kristy Goodman's digital wellness resources for families, providing advice on ensuring teens form healthy technology habits rather than banning devices.
• Susan McLean (Cyber Safety Solutions)minorOthersSusan McLean, who previously worked with The Lakes College in 2019, offers cyber safety solutions and has established best practices for internet safety for young people through her Cyber Safety Solutions consultancy.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Padua College: Catholic co-educational secondary college with multiple Brisbane campuses in the Moreton Bay region. Comparable faith-based K-12 educational offering and overlapping North Brisbane family catchment, though differentiated by Catholic rather than Uniting Church affiliation.
• St Peters Lutheran College: Large co-educational Lutheran-affiliated P-12 private school in Indooroopilly, Brisbane. Comparable Christian-affiliated values framework, comprehensive academic and co-curricular programs, and similar NAPLAN-driven positioning, though at materially larger scale.
• Citipointe Christian College: Co-educational Pentecostal Christian P-12 college in Brisbane's east with strong academic profile and modern campus facilities. Comparable on faith-based positioning, holistic co-curricular programs, and Brisbane private school catchment overlap.
• St Paul's School: Anglican co-educational P-12 school in Bald Hills, Brisbane, in close geographic proximity to TLC. Comparable on faith-based ethos, NAPLAN-led academic positioning, and modern campus facilities expansion in Brisbane's north.
• Moreton Bay College: Uniting Church-affiliated private girls' P-12 school in Manly West, Brisbane, directly competing for North Brisbane faith-based families. Closest comparable on religious affiliation (also Uniting Church), academic positioning, and Moreton Bay catchment overlap.
• Genesis Christian College: Co-educational Christian P-12 private school in Brisbane's south serving a similar values-based family segment. Highly comparable offering: NAPLAN focus, scholarship programs, modern facilities expansion, and Christian pastoral care framework mirror TLC's proposition.

Broad incumbents

• Brisbane Boys' College: One of Brisbane's most established private boys' schools with full P-12 offering and large campus at Toowong. Overlaps with TLC on premium Brisbane private schooling positioning but operates at materially greater scale with boarding and longer heritage.
• Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie): Established Anglican boys' day and boarding school in East Brisbane with a much larger and longer-tenured brand. Overlaps TLC on faith-based ethos and academic rigour but operates at significantly greater scale and with broader co-curricular breadth.
• Somerville House: Historic private girls' day and boarding school in South Brisbane with comprehensive P-12 academic and co-curricular programs. Comparable premium private school positioning in the Brisbane market, though differentiated by single-sex delivery and larger scale.

Regional players

• St Andrew's Anglican College: Co-educational Anglican P-12 college on the Sunshine Coast with comparable faith-based positioning, holistic pastoral care, and modern facilities. Comparable in academic and co-curricular breadth, but serves a different geographic catchment than TLC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheLakesCollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheLakesCollege
• Instagraminstagram.com/thelakescollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/the-lakes-college

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Lakes College