Australia’s public schools bear a massive burden of disadvantage but are under-resourced for the challenge, a new study shows.
According to the research, paper published by public school advocates Save Our Schools (SOS), public schools' funding per student is 91.5% of that of Catholic schools, yet they serve nearly twice as many low SEA students. Similarly, public schools receive 70.5% of the funding per student compared to Independent schools, while enrolling nearly 2.9 times more low SEA students.
“Public schools have to do a lot more with fewer resources than Catholic and Independent schools”, SOS National Convenor, Trevor Cobbold, said. “There are very large disparities in some states.”
- Income per student in Queensland public schools is only 85% of that of Catholic schools but the percentage of low SEA students is 237% higher than in Catholic schools.
- Income per student in NSW public schools is only 69% of that of Independent schools but the percentage of low SEA students is 326% higher than in Independent schools.
- Income per student in Victorian public schools is only 61% of that of Independent schools but the percentage of low SEA students is 312% higher than in Independent schools.
‘Most disadvantaged schools are public schools’
In 2023, a staggering 90.9% of schools with more than 50% of their students in the lowest SEA quartile were public schools, while just 4% were Catholic schools and 5.2% were Independent schools.
Cobbold said the data shows public schools account for the vast majority of disadvantaged schools in every Australian state and territory.
“Our findings demolish the myth perpetrated by Catholic school organisations that Catholic schools serve a similar population to public schools,” he said. “It also demolishes claims by Independent schools that they serve a large proportion of low income families.”
Cobbold said that public schools face “an enormous challenge” in improving school outcomes for low SEA and other disadvantaged students because they are under-resourced and face large shortages in human and material resources.
“It is imperative that governments at all levels ensure that public schools are fully funded to improve school outcomes for disadvantaged students.”
Cobbold warns the vast majority of public schools will remain under-funded indefinitely under current funding agreements.
“The new funding agreements between the Commonwealth and the governments of Victoria and South Australia announced by the Prime Minister set a new standard in ensuring public schools are fully funded,” he said.
“The agreements with the other states and the Northern Territory must be renegotiated to align with the Victorian and South Australian agreements to ensure that all public schools are fully funded in future.”