Educators are calling for the overhaul of public selective schooling system across NSW after statistics revealed no students at James Ruse High come from the lowest socio-educational background.

The findings come as Parramatta Catholic Education executive director Greg Whitby called for the dismantling of the selective school system.

University of Technology, Sydney lecturer Christina Ho said public selective schools had become the “most elitist” form of education in the state.

“The vast majority of selective school students are from very highly advantaged backgrounds,” Ms Ho told the Advertiser.

“James Ruse Agricultural High School tops the HSC scoreboard every year — zero per cent of the student population of the school come from the lowest socio-educational advantaged bracket.”

In 2017, Education Department secretary Mark Scott revealed parents could spend more than $20,000 a year on preparation for selective high school testing.

Ms Ho said children of families who did not have the resources required to prepare students for these tests “just aren’t likely to get in”.

“There are reports of mental health issues and stories of ruined childhoods, but there are also reports of self-harm and even suicide for students preparing for these tests and students attending these schools,” she said.

“We need to rethink whether we need this kind of intensity in schooling — if you are a parent of a gifted child, you should be confident that they will be catered for at their local school.”

Education Minister Rob Stokes said the department was conducting a review of selective schools to ensure it did not “create a rigid, separated public education system”.

“We need to have public schools that are inclusive of everyone rather than deliberately separate children on the basis that some are gifted and talented and others are not,” he said.

“There may be merit in opening up selective schools to local enrolments and providing more local opportunities to selective classes in comprehensive schools.”

The P&C at James Ruse High School were contacted for this story.

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TIME FOR SELECTIVE SCHOOLS TO GO

By Greg Whitby, Catholic Education

NSW Minister for Education Rob Stokes recently set the cat among the pigeons when he announced that there would be no new fully selective schools built in NSW. He argued passionately that every child needs to be viewed as gifted and talented and educated in a way that allows these qualities to flourish.

TEACHERS NEED FEEDBACK TOO

I applaud the Minister for recognising that cherry-picking students on the basis of perceived academic ability and sending them off to their own school is a relic of the nineteenth century learning model. Even the selective schools “test” that determines whether or not a student is “picked or flicked” is based on outdated assumptions of what it means to be “clever”. We must question the relevance and place of selective schools in a modern, diverse and digital society.

I can understand the appeal of selective schools for parents: the lure of perhaps something more, better or different from non-selective schools. Every parent wants their children to receive the best educational opportunities possible. But each school must enable each child, not just those who, according to a single assessment instrument, are academically stronger.

All schools must be able to deliver opportunities that allow all students to develop skills to a high level and provide experiences that are intellectually challenging and stimulating. This means good teachers in every classroom, not just star teachers working in some schools.

Equity in education means giving each student access to good teaching and the very best start in learning and life. Selective schools only widen the equity gap.

HSC result 2016: James Ruse Agricultural High School tops the 2016 HSC top schools list

The reason we have always hung on to IQ as a measure of intelligence is because it can be easily measured. The skills that aren’t easily measured by standardised tests such as empathy, grit, courage, motivation and collaboration are the ones that will take individuals and societies forward.

Ensure that all citizens prosper through creating a school system where opportunities exist for everyone.