Enrolments in public schools across Western Australia are increasing at a much slower pace than those at private schools, despite climbing school fees and ancillary expenses paired with the rising cost of living.
Around one-third of all students in the state were enrolled at non-government schools in 2024, Australian Bureau of Statistics data released Monday showed, a total increase of 3.3 per cent on the previous year.
Growth in the private sector was more than double that of government schools, where enrolments grew by 1.6 per cent.
This growth was largely led by independent schools, with WA recording the highest growth in full-time enrolments in this sector nationally.
Independent Schools Australia chief-executive Graham Catt said the figures were proof their schools catered to a diverse range of students.
“Families are prepared to make significant sacrifices to provide their children with the education they believe is best for them,” Catt said.
“With cost-of-living pressures at an all-time high, families are prioritising investment in their children’s futures.
“They believe this investment is also a critical role for governments, and that their choice of school should be supported, not undermined.”
Catt said the new data was released after some politicians and groups pushed for funding cuts to independent schools, “misleadingly labelling them as overfunded”.
“Those who talk about and hint at cutting funding to independent schools are targeting everyday families who already make sacrifices to pay school fees,” he said.
“That means higher fees, fewer opportunities, and more pressure on parents. Families deserve better.”
University of New England education expert Sally Larsen said while private schools did not necessarily mean better academic outcomes, there was a public perception they were better.
Larsen also said parents choose schools based on what extracurricular activities are offered, and public institutions don’t have big advertising budgets to showcase those programs to families.
“We see education as the great leveler – you get a good education, and you can move up in the world,” Larsen said.
“We don’t know what extent that’s being affected by this kind of sorting mechanism of different types of families sending their kids to different types of schools … now that it’s started it’s going to be really difficult to change it.”
She said the trend towards increasing enrolments in private schools would likely exacerbate existing social inequalities.
with Alex Crowe
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