Delay welcomed as certainty sought

INDEPENDENT schools have cautiously welcomed the extension of the deadline for states to sign up to the education reforms.

Richard Tudor

INDEPENDENT schools have cautiously welcomed Kevin Rudd's two-week extension of the deadline for states to sign up to the government's education reforms, but they say they remain concerned about whether they'll genuinely be better off under the scheme.

Many are also frustrated that staffing numbers and budgeting for next year have had to be postponed, due to the uncertainty surrounding the changes.

Richard Tudor, principal of Trinity Grammar in the Melbourne eastern suburb of Kew, said he supported the extension.

"But there needs to be a lot of work done in that time to ensure the issues are worked out properly with the states," he said.

"It's very important all schools are no worse off."

Trinity Grammar deputy principal Rohan Brown said his view of the soon-to-be-renamed Gonski reforms had "ebbed and flowed".

"We were terribly excited early on, but we've become a little concerned as more details have emerged about how funding will work," he said.

"As a school, we're nervous and sceptical about whether or not we'll be better off under the scheme in the long run. We need certainty, and in that sense I'm not unhappy that the Victorian government has not yet signed up."

Meg Hansen, principal of Westbourne Grammar in Melbourne's southwest, said Labor's leadership change had created even less clarity for school communities who were desperate for details of the education reforms to be confirmed.

"Every school in the country, once the leadership change occurred, realised we still didn't have closure and the whole situation was even more uncertain," Ms Hansen said.

"It's difficult for schools irrespective of their sector, and it's important to remember that our parents are taxpayers too."

Ms Hansen said it made sense for the government to extend the deadline.

"But by the same token, we run as a business and we need reasonable scope for forward planning, so we'd like some certainty soon," she said.

"To be reasonable, education has been given a high priority by the Gillard government and it's gratifying that Mr Rudd appears to realise that.

"We are hopeful that we will be better off. It's incredibly important that the no-disadvantage promise is kept."