Melbourne public high school warned over charging $270 enrolment fee

A Melbourne public high school has been reprimanded for charging parents a $270 fee.

Parents were asked to pay the fee while filling out the online enrolment form for Northcote High School.

The Education Department has issued the school a warning over the fee, which goes against Victorian legislation that state schools must offer free education to students.

The department will also write to all government schools to advise them that it's not appropriate to request a payment to secure a place at a school, a department spokesman said.

"Victorian legislation provides that instruction in the standard curriculum program must be provided free to all students in Victorian government schools," the spokesman said.

Northcote High School principal Kate Morris said the payment request would be withdrawn, The Age reports.

She said the money was for essential education items, school camps and sporting activities.