Catholic schools host ‘behaviour symposium’ as discipline tops list of parental priorities

One in four parents say they would have sent their child to a Catholic school if they were less expensive, as concerns over bad behaviour and disruptive classrooms in public schools mount.

One in four parents in NSW would have sent their child to a Catholic school if they were less expensive, a new survey has found, as concerns over bad behaviour and classroom disruptions cause public schools to bleed enrolments.

Catholic schools, which attract yearly fees of about $2000 for primary school and up to $10,000 in secondary, are seen by some to provide a more disciplined education than state schools.

Polling of 500 families conducted by Liberal Party pollsters of choice Freshwater, on behalf of Catholic Schools NSW, found “discipline and behaviour management” is the top priority for parents of school-aged children, above school facilities and communication.

When asked “if cost was not a concern, which type of school would you choose/have chosen for your child”, only 11 per cent of preschool parents would choose a public school, compared to 23 per cent in the primary years and 43 per cent in secondary.

Independent non-government schools were the most popular choice overall. Between 24 per cent and 31 per cent of parents would’ve chosen a Catholic school, depending on their child’s age.

Findings from polling conducted by Liberal Party pollsters Freshwater Strategy for Catholic Schools NSW.

The survey found parental involvement was a major factor in school choice for 22 per cent of Catholic school parents compared to only 12 per cent of public and independent private school parents.

Catholic parents school leadership and culture a higher priority than location or reputation, while public and private school parents rated student wellbeing support higher than their Catholic sector peers.

Findings from polling conducted by Liberal Party pollsters Freshwater Strategy for Catholic Schools NSW.

It comes as the sector prepares to host a two-day “behaviour symposium” for leaders in the sector’s nearly 600 schools from Thursday with the UK’s official behaviour adviser Tom Bennett headlining the event.

Catholic Schools NSW CEO Dallas McInerney said the symposium reflects the sector’s “commitment” to the “lost art” of classroom management.

“We are schools with high expectations, and we know that well-managed classrooms support the best learning outcomes,” he said.

“We are making sure that the next generation of teachers are aware that behaviour management is a priority for us.”

George Giovas with his children Peter Giovas, 17 and Madeleine Giovas, 13. Picture: Supplied

Hills district dad George Giovas is confident that his decision to send his 17-year-old son Peter and 13-year-old daughter Madeleine to Santa Sophia Catholic College in Gables, for “scholastic” and “disciplinarian” reasons, was the right one.

“There’s challenges with every school but discipline, for me, is paramount,” he said.

“We teach discipline at home, we teach respect, and I think that they’re the core values that are fundamentally missing today in many schools, but also in society more broadly.”
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