‘Segregation of education’: Teachers union hits out at ‘inequity’ between private and public school funding in the Northern Rivers

The NSW teachers union says public schools are being left behind as the Northern Rivers’ richest school has raked in more than $95.1 million in five years, tightly held school statistics reveal.

An independent analysis of school financial records from the MySchool website have shown the massive amount of money some schools make every year, and how little some schools are forced to scrape by on.

The figures revealed Trinity Catholic College Lismore in Lismore had a higher gross income than any other school in the Northern Rivers region – $19,215 per student in 2021.

The school made a gross income of $95.1 million, according to financial records from the combined past five years.

The school‘s income fell by 8.0 per cent between 2017 and 2021.

Data has been curated to feature schools that have taken the most gross revenue over a five-year period.

In the interactive below there is a breakdown of school revenue by student number.

The region‘s second richest school was Xavier Catholic College Ballina, in Skennars Head, which had a gross income of $89.1 million.

Its total gross income per student in 2021 was $21,024.

The school with the third highest gross income was St John‘s College, in Lismore, which made $77.9 million.

Its total gross income per student in 2021 was $21,622.

Generic Schoolchildren in a classroom

Meanwhile, NSW Teachers Federation President Angelo Gavrielatos said public schools had been left behind.

“We have seen greater increases in funding to private schools while public schools remain at 90 per cent of their Schooling Resource Standard – the agreed minimum level of funding considered necessary for all students to achieve their very best,” he said.

“The inequity of funding private schools at the expense of public schools gathered pace during the Howard Government and accelerated during the last ten years of State and Federal Coalition Government policies.

“This must be reversed. If not, we‘ll see a deepening inequality and segregation of education, the consequences of which will be far-reaching, not only for individual students but our society as a whole.”

BRISBANE AUSTRALIA – NewsWire Photos AUGUST 12, 2021: Education stock of students from the South Brisbane area leaving school for the day. NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

A Department of Education spokesman said “The greatest positive influence on student engagement and education outcomes is quality teaching.”

“That’s why we are looking to support teachers with providing more admin staff to allow them more time to teach, working to increase their pay to reflect the value we place on them and employing more teachers and school counsellors through the Education Future Fund,” the spokesman said.

“We will be working closely with the Commonwealth Government to bring about a fair funding outcome for public schools.”

Tuntable Creek Public School at Tuntable Creek had the lowest gross income of any school in the Northern Rivers region.

Children of essential workers and vulnerable children will be able to attend their Catholic school.

It made just $2 million over the five year period.

Its total gross income increased by 26 per cent from 2017 to 2021 while the total gross income per student in 2021 was $53,508.

Upper Coopers Creek Public School at Upper Coopers Creek had the second lowest gross income of any school in the Northern Rivers region.

It made just $2.2 million over the five year period.

Its total gross income increased by 31 per cent from 2017 to 2021 while the total gross income per student in 2021 was $35,355.

Whian Whian Public School at Whian Whian had the third lowest gross income of any school in the Northern Rivers region.

It made just $2.3 million over the five year period.

Its total gross income increased by 10 per cent from 2017 to 2021 while the total gross income per student in 2021 was $37,291.

Generic image of schoolchildren crossing at a school crossing. for SunTas

NORTHERN RIVERS SCHOOLS WITH BIGGEST INCOME

Trinity Catholic College Lismore: $95.1 million

Xavier Catholic College Ballina: $89.1 million

St John‘s College: $77.9 million

Ballina Coast High School: $74.7 million

Casino High School: $67.6 million

Southern Cross Public School: $63.9 million

Shearwater, the Mullumbimby Steiner School: $63.6 million

The Rivers Secondary College, Richmond River High Campus: $63.4 million

Emmanuel Anglican College: $62 million

Byron Bay High School: $60.9 million

NORTHERN RIVERS SCHOOLS WITH LOWEST INCOME

Tuntable Creek Public School: $2 million

Upper Coopers Creek Public School: $2.2 million

Whian Whian Public School: $2.3 million

Collins Creek Public School: $2.4 million

Goolmangar Public School: $2.5 million

Corndale Public School: $2.7 million

Wyrallah Public School: $2.8 million

Urbenville Public School: $2.9 million

Durrumbul Public School: $3 million

Stratheden Public School: $3.1 million

The figures include all fees, charges and parental contributions as well as State and Federal Government funding and any other private sources over the five years from 2017 to 2021.

It does not include any deductions for capital works or debt servicing.

The analysis does not include special schools or schools that did not have complete financial data in MySchool for one or more of the five years.