Amazing 'own goal'

It's the parents sending their children to private schools, especially the 'elite' private schools that this government has, to use Pyne's own words....'a special affinity with'. When they want to make an announcement about education, they go to these schools. Its children from these schools who have the pedigree to join the Young Liberals on campus. (If they can survive being at university wihout being 'spoon fed' by their teachers.....got a get an outstanding VCE score....gotta get into Melbourne/Sydney Uni to do medicine or law!) BUT....its these families who are going to be equally affected like state schools by Birmingham's funding cuts to education! ...oh the irony of it. Mmmmm how will this play out at election time. So much for silencing the 'education funding wars'!


From the SMH

Forty per cent of private schools – more than previously thought – would be worse off under the Turnbull government's education funding changes, according to the sector's peak body.

The private school sector says the fact more than 400 of its schools would lose out shows the Catholic sector is wrong to suggest it has been singled out for harsh treatment by the government.

The Catholic sector has reacted furiously to the funding changes, claiming it will have to increase fees massively at many schools to make up for the shortfall. 

The Independent Schools Council of Australia (ISCA) says it supports the government's model because it creates a more even playing field for schools.

The council outlined its argument in a submission to a Senate inquiry examining the funding changes. The Greens and many members of the Senate crossbench say they will use the inquiry to decide whether to support or reject the new funding model. 

The government has previously estimated that 350 schools would be worse off than under current arrangements, with slower funding growth, while 24 mostly high-fee schools would have their funding cut.

The ISCA says that, based on its analysis of Department of Education modelling, it believes 423 private schools will be worse off over the decade than under the current legislation.

"Recent media coverage and statements from Catholic school system leaders give the impression that Catholic systemic schools are the only schools adversely impacted by the proposed changes," the council's chief executive, Colette Colman, said. 

"That such a large proportion of independent schools are impacted by the proposal clearly dispels any perception that the government is targeting one section of the non-government sector over another.

"However, ISCA believes that the opportunity to establish a consistent and equitable funding baseline for all non-government schools should be our highest priority.

"Continuing to seek to protect inconsistently applied funding arrangements that distort the non-government school relativities is no longer in anybody's interests, particularly not Australian school students."

While some elite private schools will have their funding cut under the new model, others such as King's in Sydney and Caulfield Grammar School in Melbourne would receive significant funding boosts.

Many of the schools that would be better off charged low to medium fees, Ms Colman said.