An indoor equestrian centre, why can’t our kids have one!

State Council sat silently as former Productivity Commission economist, Mr Trevor Cobbold, delivered a chilling account of inequity and greed. Greed that is now being defined as ‘class warfare’ as we continue to witness the erosion of public sector education services that are yet to be addressed by any Federal government of any persuasion. There is hope however, with the Gonski Review but will the man who attended private education have the strength of character to deliver? It remains to be seen. Cobbold presented the facts on dollars allocated; his presentation was distressing but also reaffirming.

Distressing because of the huge discrepancies in equity of funding from the Federal Government to schools across Australia making reference to the last decade Cobbold explains that, “the largest increases in total government funding (federal, state and territory) have gone top privates schools”

“ The most privileged school sector – Independent schools- received the largest increase. Between 1998-99 and 2007-08, government funding per student in Independent schools increased by 112% and 84% for Catholic schools (Chart1). The increase for government schools was only 67%”

At the WA State level Cobbold notes: “In WA, Federal funding for 13 high SES schools increased by an average of 110% between 2001 and 2011 compared to an increase of 89% in total government funding for government school “(Chart 4).

“The increases for three schools were about double that for government schools. Several got around $4 million or more this year including All Saints College, The Hale School, Perth College, St Mary’s Anglican Girls and Wesley College. John XX111 College got a massive $9.3million.”

The State Council delegates were very attentive as Cobbold went through graph after graph exposing the inequity of the current system. Their responses heightened however when we came to Geelong Grammar as an exemplar of the class divide.

“Geelong Grammar is a bastion of privilege serving the wealthiest families in Australia. Remember, it is the school of Rupert Murdock and Kerry Packer. Seventy-three per cent of its students come from families in the top SES quartile and 2% from the bottom quartile. Next year its fees for year 11 & 12 will be $30,820”

And yes, they still received government funding with increases that out stripped government schools during the period 2001-2011.

“In Victoria, federal funding increased by 211% for 17 wealthy schools compared to 63 percent for Victorian government schools.”(Chart3) (p4)

The increases for many were even higher than in NSW. For example, Federal funding for Geelong College increased by 389%, Geelong Grammar by 315% and Haileybury College by 359%. These increases were about five times or more the increase in total government funding for Victorian government schools.”

“Many received over $5 million in 2011, including Carey Grammar, Geelong College, and Methodist Ladies College. Haileybury College got massive $13.4 million and Wesley College $8 million. Geelong Grammar, the most expensive school in Australia, got nearly $5million.”

The point of particular interest for the SC delegates was not only was Geelong Grammar’s cohort in the top SES quartile, this year they received $5 million dollars of federal funds. The College has a $16 million dollar Wellbeing Centre. "The Centre comprises a multi-purpose sports hall, an indoor swimming and diving pool, a fitness centre, a dance studio, a medical centre and classroom facilities. The foundation is now raising another $3 million for a new indoor cricket centre and an indoor equestrian centre.” (My emphasis!)

Nodding in disbelief we were reassured to hear that public schools not only do all the heavy lifting but punch above their weight, the defining factor being SES.

School Leaders and teachers should be well pleased with their collective performance.

“The other notable feature of this chart is students in high SES government schools are doing just as well as high SES private schools and they do so with less than half the resources of the private schools. It should be noted that the average SES of the high SES government schools in each city significantly below that of the SES that of high SES private schools. It indicates that government schools are more efficient than private schools in producing high outcomes and that much government funding is being wasted on the high SES private Schools.”

“School Workforce “ is the title of the November 2011 Productivity Commission Draft Research Report. It states that “SES background is the most important influence on student achievement.” The report is available at http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/study/education-workforce/schools/draft

In Cobbold’s words …“It is a national disgrace and a scandal.”

I call on you all, to play your part in addressing this inequity by participating in the national campaign via www.forourfuture.org.au

Examples of member action attached, see Bulletin 19: