New figures reveal which schools get the most government funding
One Northern Sydney school received more than $58.6 million in State and Federal Government money in three years — giving it the highest funding in the region.
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A north shore principal has called for an overhaul in how government funds are allocated to schools as new figures reveal one school in the region received more than $58.6 million in three years.
The massive amount of money some schools have received from governments can be revealed after an independent compilation of figures from the MySchool website.
Chatswood High School, in Chatswood, received more money from government coffers than any other school in the region, receiving $58.6 million over the three most recently available years.
Killara High School, Killara, received the second highest amount of state and federal government funding with $52.7 million.
North Sydney Federal Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman said the allocations were typically used to fund staff and campus projects.
“The primary factor determining funding allocation is student enrolment numbers so larger schools receive more funding and there’s also an assessment based on socio-economic factors,” he said.
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“The good news is that Federal funding for both government and non-government schools is increasing and is at record levels in NSW.”
At the other end of the scale, the figures show three schools received less than $500,000 while the International Chinese School in Chatswood ranked forth lowest at $519,164.
The school’s principal Peter Jamieson said the use of socio-economic scores to work out how much each non-government school receives in funding was “flawed” and often impacted a school’s ability to plan for the future.
He said the school’s catchment area, which has a comparatively higher socio-economic score, meant it received approximately four times less funding per student than if the school was located in Penrith.
“They partly base the funding on the wealth of the streets in an community which doesn’t take into consideration that many of our families are putting money into their mortgages and rent,” he said.
“Living in an affluent area means the cost of living is higher and that effects parents’ available cash for school fees — having young children is an expensive time.
“It also puts challenges on schools in terms of meeting bills and strategic planning for the future.”
Mr Jamieson supported planned changes to the funding model that would instead be based on pre-tax income. He said it would be a “fairer way” to estimate how much non-government school families can contribute to school fees.
The figures also show Cowan Public School received the most government funding per student of any school in the Northern Sydney region. The school, which had 50 students in 2017, received $18,336 in government funding for each child.
Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Senior Campus in Freshwater received $17,038 for each of its 50 students in 2017, the Northern Sydney region’s second highest funding per student.
Over 2015, 2016 and 2017 financial years, Knox Grammar School, in Wahroonga, spent $64.6 million on capital expenditure, more than any other school in the Northern Sydney region.
Over that same three year period Pymble Ladies’ College spent $51.4 million on capital expenditure, the region’s second highest.
SHORE — Sydney Church of England Grammar School spent $25 million on capital expenditure over that period, the third highest in the Northern Sydney region.
REGION’S MOST FUNDED SCHOOLS
Chatswood High School: $58.6 million
Killara High School: $52.7 million
Turramurra High School: $44.2 million
Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls Campus: $42.7 million
Epping Boys High School: $41.9 million
Cheltenham Girls High School: $41.6 million
Ryde Secondary College: $38.4 million
Northern Beaches Christian School: $35.8 million
St Ives High School: $35.6 million
Mosman High School: $35.5 million
REGION’S LEAST FUNDED SCHOOLS
Lindfield Montessori Preschool: $194,837
Karuna Montessori School: $422,242
Cameragal Montessori School: $495,696
International Chinese School: $519,164
Bradfield College: $563,084
Yanginanook School: $677,967
Barrenjoey Montessori School: $869,368
Farmhouse Montessori School: $1.1 million
A.G.B.U. Alexander Primary School: $1.3 million
Kinma School: $1.3 million
SCHOOLS WITH HIGHEST CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
Knox Grammar School: $64.6 million
Pymble Ladies’ College: $51.4 million
SHORE — Sydney Church of England Grammar School: $25 million
Barker College: $21.7 million
Mowbray Public School: $21.1 million
Ravenswood School for Girls: $20.6 million
Abbotsleigh: $20.3 million
Marist Sisters’ College Woolwich: $19.5 million
St Ignatius’ College: $18.6 million
Wenona School: $18.5 million