On 31 August 2011, the Review of Funding for Schooling panel released four independent research reports, seeking feedback from the public. Here is a brief summary of their findings:

The Nous Group report that it is particularly unusual across OECD countries to have such a large private education sector. Australia?s subsidisation of the fee-charging, autonomously-run private school sector with public funds is unique.

In Australia, there is a strong relationship between socio-economic status (SES) of a school population and its educational results. In other countries, including „high equity? countries like Finland and Canada, such an effect would not be evident. There seems to be a belief in society that some schools are just 'better' than others. This report indicates that there is not necessarily a lot that the schools themselves are doing that is 'better'.

The high performing schools tend to be those that attract the most successful students. In other words, school 'quality' is probably better expressed as 'student quality at that school'.

Once we take account of the student quality and the other resources of the school, government schools do as well or better than private schools.

The Nous Group questions the extent to which public funds should continue to subsidise those already well-resourced, selective schools. They emphasise that we must take this opportunity to achieve an effective and enduring lift in Australia's performance so that it improves its position among the better and most equitable schooling systems in the world.

Deloitte Access Economics reveal that poorly designed funding models compromise the education system's capacity to deliver high quality education, particularly to students with greatest need (such as students from Indigenous background, students in remote locations, students from a low SES background, students with a disability).

Optimally designed funding models are a necessary condition for creating an educational environment conducive to achieving high quality student outcomes. It is notable that the Deloitte study has found no 'best model' having surveyed the 18 Federal, State, Territory and system models.

Given the greater capacity of many private schools to supplement public funding with income from private sources, including fees, the whole area of “incentivising private contributions” requires much greater examination by the Review Panel. The report is also particularly critical of the 'Funding Maintained' measures in the SES funding model for non-government schools, whereby approximately 40% of non-government schools are not technically funded under the same model as other schools.

The Allen Consulting Group examines the feasibility of a schooling resource standard (SRS). They advocate for the development of a National Schooling Recurrent Resource Standard (NSRRS) as a replacement for the Average Government School Recurrent Costs (AGSRC) measure, which has a number of limitations as the basis for a sustainable and transparent school resourcing measure.

This report argues for a „base plus model?, with a base per student amount which can be adjusted in response to student and school characteristics and need. These loadings added would be tied to additional costs associated with ensuring that the educational outcomes for students from various backgrounds and levels of need are met. Australian Council for Educational Research reports that low SES students are present in much higher percentages in government schools. They indicate that the government sector is best able to absorb additional costs associated with educational disadvantage, although funding of this educational disadvantage is generally not transparent or publicly available. In terms of equity, the financing should not deplete existing funding for government schools to further subsidise the operations within non-government schools.

The four reports in their entirety can be found at http://www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/ReviewofFunding/Pages/PaperCommissionedResearch.aspx Time for Action!! We are in the process, with the federal AEU, of preparing a submission in response to these reports. This submission will be presented to the review panel by the end of September. Shortly we will be asking for your assistance in targeting our federal politicians, especially those in our four key seats here in WA. This could involve sending emails, letterboxing, handing out postcards at your school or a visit to one of these politicians. We will be having a National Day of Action on Tuesday 15th November when a call is issued to parents, teachers and principals to convey a “final” message to the Gonski panel. This may involve a rally, barbeques, letters to newspapers and visits to MP?s. Stay tuned for your „call to action? as the day draws near. For more information

To help with the campaign, please contact Lincoln at the union on 9210 6000 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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