Exposing private school funding rorts

The Greens used Legislative Council questions on notice to expose the massive payments made to wealthy private schools.

Relevant media

Private Schools awash in cash Sydney Morning Herald, 6 Oct 06
Hills private schools get the lion's share, Hills News, Oct 06

The state and federal governments could not justify continued funding of private schools awash with cash.
"The focus should be on reinvesting in the public school system, not inflating the surpluses of already very wealthy private schools," said John Kaye

Fees rise despite big handouts
Sydney Morning Herald, 4 Jan 06

Whilst receiving generous government funding, private schools are raising their fees by as much as triple the rate of inflation. John Kaye says “despite annual subsidies of more than $110 million going to the wealthiest private schools in NSW alone they are becoming much less affordable.”

Teachers abandon battling schools
Sydney Morning Herald, 20 Feb 06

In the states most difficult to teach schools up to a third of the teachers left their jobs before the end of the school year. In reply to these Department of Education figures, John Kaye said “the government has to stop the madness of sending fresh graduates to difficult schools.
“Since the Carr government took office, federal and state annual funding for private schools had risen by more than $900 million.
“That money could have reduced class sizes and improved state school teacher monitoring.”

Elite schools' fees surge despite subsidy
Sydney Morning Herald 11 Sep 06

According to the federal governments funding formula, Sydney’s elite private schools have been receiving more money than they are entitled to.
Despite this in the past four years fees at these schools have increased by as much as 53.4 per cent.
It is clear that the extra funding has not placed any downward pressure of fees.
“The funding formula was supposed to make private schools more accessible to students on lower incomes.
“The reality is that the massive increases in funding have had the opposite effect.”