Australian Politics Forum - Elite Schools Spend $20 Million A Year On Upgrades

imcrookonit

Ex Member

Elite Schools Spend $20 Million A Year On Upgrades
Mar 17^th, 2013 at 12:48pm

Elite schools spend $20 million a year on upgrades

Date
March 17, 2013

Sydney's elite private schools are spending up to $20 million a year on capital works, data on the My School website shows. Huh

Pymble Ladies' College plans to demolish its 50-metre outdoor pool and replace it with a $20 million aquatic and fitness centre as part of the school's $39 million master plan. They will also redevelop sporting fields and build a 230-space underground car park, a dining hall, a function centre to seat 600 and a health care centre.

A new feature on the My School website lists schools' total capital expenditure from 2009 to 2011.
Pymble Ladies' College development proposal. image shows - Proposed Aquatic and fitness centree. image supplied

Knox Grammar School topped the list of school spending in Sydney, with more than $56 million over the three years. Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Shore) is next, with almost $45 million, followed by Newington College and Cranbrook School with almost $43 million and $42 million respectively.
Advertisement

Pymble Ladies' College, which has more than 2100 girls from kindergarten to year 12, spent almost $29 million between 2009 and 2011, which is about $13,500 a student.

The federal government would not provide Fairfax Media with the average capital expenditure of government schools. But, by comparison, between 2009 and 2011 the capital expenditure at the nearest public high schools was $1130 a student at Turramurra High School and $3854 a student at Killara High School.

A spokesman from the NSW Department of Education and Communities said $765 million would be spent this financial year on capital works and maintenance in the 2218 public schools in NSW, which is about $350,000 a school.

''It is important to note that, while all NSW public schools receive annual planned maintenance funding, not all schools receive funding for capital works every financial year,'' he said. Sad

At independent schools, on average, about 80 per cent of funds for capital developments, such as school buildings, are contributed by parents and the school community.

At Turramurra High, 76 per cent of capital expenditure came from governments, whereas at Pymble Ladies' College just 13 per cent was from government contributions.

Pymble Ladies' College principal Vicki Waters said the existing pool required ''extensive maintenance due to its age''. The upgrade would be funded through the school's contribution and fund-raising initiatives and would not affect fees. Local schools would be allowed to use the pool for swimming carnivals, as would learn-to-swim lessons. ''But it won't be a public leisure centre.''

The school, which charges year 12 students fees of $26,550 a year, received more than $4 million federal government funding in 2011 and almost $3 million from the state.

Greens NSW MP John Kaye said government funding to schools like Pymble Ladies' College was ''wasteful and divisive''. ''It is a stark illustration of the damage done by the $426 million provided by the O'Farrell and Gillard governments to the state's 110 wealthiest private schools in operational subsidies. ''Not only could this money provide for two additional teachers at every public school … but it is also driving a massive, wasteful and divisive capital expansion program at the state's elite private schools.'' Sad

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/elite-schools-spend-20-million-a-year-on-upgrades-20130316-2g7ez.html#ixzz2NlFdOEF8

Back to top

IP Logged

imcrookonit Ex Member	Re: Elite Schools Spend $20 Million A Year On Upgrades Reply #1 - Mar 17^th, 2013 at 12:51pm Vote 1 - Australian Greens.
Back to top	IP Logged

FRED. Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 3698	Re: Elite Schools Spend $20 Million A Year On Upgrades Reply #2 - Mar 17^th, 2013 at 12:56pm Quote: Vote 1 - Australian Greens. great savings for the taxpayer
Back to top	IP Logged

imcrookonit

Ex Member

Re: Elite Schools Spend $20 Million A Year On Upgrades
Reply #3 - Mar 17^th, 2013 at 12:59pm

Greens NSW MP John Kaye said government funding to schools like Pymble Ladies' College was ''wasteful and divisive''. ''It is a stark illustration of the damage done by the $426 million provided by the O'Farrell and Gillard governments to the state's 110 wealthiest private schools in operational subsidies. ''Not only could this money provide for two additional teachers at every public school … but it is also driving a massive, wasteful and divisive capital expansion program at the state's elite private schools. Smiley

Back to top

IP Logged

Andrei.Hicks Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 23818 Carlsbad, CA Gender:	Re: Elite Schools Spend $20 Million A Year On Upgrades Reply #4 - Mar 17^th, 2013 at 1:02pm Nasty streak of class envy imcrook
Back to top	Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination - Oscar Wilde IP Logged

imcrookonit

Ex Member

Re: Elite Schools Spend $20 Million A Year On Upgrades
Reply #5 - Mar 17^th, 2013 at 1:15pm

Difference in school opportunity 'alarming' Sad

Date
March 15, 2013

Daniel Hurst

The difference in educational opportunities between the haves and have-nots is ''alarming'', according to the businessman who reviewed school funding for the federal government. Sad

In rare public comments over education reform progress, David Gonski says he sincerely hopes something comes out of his 18-month review, handed to the government in late 2011.

The plea comes amid doubts over whether the proposed school funding reform will be achieved amid brawling between state and federal governments before the showdown at the Council of Australian Governments meeting next month. Sad

In an interview with CPA Australia to be aired on the Nine Network on Saturday, Mr Gonski said an extra $6 billion in funding each year was not a lot of money considering $1 billion was currently spent on schools each week.

He said he was waiting to see whether the proposed changes, involving base funding for each student plus loadings recognising disadvantage, would be achieved.

''It's very interesting that not many have said we've got it wrong [with the review] … I'm just hopeful that it will go further.''

Mr Gonski said he and the review panel visited 80 schools and saw vividly the difference in educational opportunities between those who were advantaged and disadvantaged.

''When I went out to have a look at so many of the schools, what upset me was not everybody got the same opportunities, and that's why we embraced very early on in my review the concept that where you're born, what's available to you, the monies available to you should not designate what education you're going to get, and I think that that was a very good mantra - it's something that we announced very early on in our review.'' Wink

His comments came as analysis of data from the My School website showed a concentration of high-performing schools in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs. But Cowes Primary School on Phillip Island was a particularly strong performer. In numeracy at grades three and five, it scored above or substantially above the national average, according to its results from NAPLAN tests. It also outperformed statistically similar schools.

Principal Sue Becker said there were no short cuts to achieving high standards in teaching and learning.

''I always push the point that a school is only as good as the teachers in front of the class,'' she said. ''There's no trick, just bloody good teaching and hard work.''

Ms Becker said teachers were determined to lift students' performance regardless of their financial backgrounds. ''You can't use it as an excuse.''

In Melbourne's outer north, Craigieburn South Primary School was a top performer in grades three and five. Its results were substantially above average in spelling, grammar and punctuation and numeracy.

Principal Stella Garreffa said the school had been on a 10-year ''journey'' to improve its results. ''The results at this school used to be quite low. We saw that was a problem,'' she said.

The school has since introduced good-quality uniforms, hung students' best work in corridors, and focused on building relationships with the surrounding community and parents. It also employs 15 parents as classroom aids who help students with their reading and maths.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/difference-in-school-opportunity-alarming-20130315-2g5n0.html#ixzz2NlMIk8xl

Back to top

IP Logged

Andrei.Hicks Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 23818 Carlsbad, CA Gender:	Re: Elite Schools Spend $20 Million A Year On Upgrades Reply #6 - Mar 17^th, 2013 at 1:18pm Don't you like kids that go to nice schools? Every child should receive government funding for education. My taxes should not exclude my own children.
Back to top	Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination - Oscar Wilde IP Logged

Peter Freedman Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 5275 Wellington Gender:	Re: Elite Schools Spend $20 Million A Year On Upgrades Reply #7 - Mar 17^th, 2013 at 1:26pm Hi Andrei. Did you get my PM to you? Do you intend to reply?
Back to top	God grant me the patience to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and, above all, the wisdom to tell the difference. IP Logged

Swagman Gold Member Offline Beware of cheap imitations...... Posts: 15095 Illawarra NSW Gender:	Re: Elite Schools Spend $20 Million A Year On Upgrades Reply #8 - Mar 17^th, 2013 at 6:07pm Private schools save the Govt about $7 Billion per year. The Greens have no brains. Put them dead last on the ballot paper.
Back to top	IP Logged

longweekend58 Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 45675 Gender:	Re: Elite Schools Spend $20 Million A Year On Upgrades Reply #9 - Mar 17^th, 2013 at 6:17pm The problem with the 'haves' and 'have nots' in the educational environment is that it is really 'the payers' and the 'non payers'. If you want a higher standard of education then you pay for it. If you dont want to pay for it then you get what is free.
Back to top	AUSSIE: "Speaking for myself, I could not care less about 298 human beings having their life snuffed out in a nano-second, or what impact that loss has on Members of their family, their parents..." IP Logged

Sir Spot of Borg Gold Member Offline WE ARE BORG Posts: 26513 Australia	Re: Elite Schools Spend $20 Million A Year On Upgrades Reply #10 - Mar 18^th, 2013 at 5:23am Its completely ridiculous how the government (all parties) fund private schools. SOB
Back to top	Whaaaaaah! I'm a Moron! - edited by some unethical admin - you think its funny? - its a slippery slope IP Logged

Swagman

Gold Member

Offline

Beware of cheap imitations......

Posts: 15095
Illawarra NSW
Gender: male

Re: Elite Schools Spend $20 Million A Year On Upgrades
Reply #11 - Mar 18^th, 2013 at 7:29am

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Mar 18^th, 2013 at 5:23am:

Its completely ridiculous how the government (all parties) fund private schools.

SOB

Didn't you read my post? Private schools SAVE the Govt around $7 Billion dollars annually.

Actually the figure is more like $8.3 Billion according to ISCA (Independent Schools Council of Australia).

Quote:

From ISCA Having independent schools saves Commonwealth and State governments in order of $3.9 billion a year in recurrent funding alone. That is, for the governments of Australia to educate in government schools those students currently attending non-government schools would cost an additional $8.3 billion per annum of which approximately $3.9 billion is attributed to students attending independent schools. In the absence of the non-government school sector, either total government spending on education (and most likely taxation) would have to increase or average government funding per student in government schools would need to be reduced.

Governments, even quasi socialist Labor Govts know this.

That's why they fund private schools. It's a no brainer...

Back to top

IP Logged

Andrei.Hicks

Gold Member

Offline

Australian Politics

Posts: 23818
Carlsbad, CA
Gender: male

Re: Elite Schools Spend $20 Million A Year On Upgrades
Reply #12 - Mar 18^th, 2013 at 7:41am

longweekend58 wrote on Mar 17^th, 2013 at 6:17pm:

The problem with the 'haves' and 'have nots' in the educational environment is that it is really 'the payers' and the 'non payers'. If you want a higher standard of education then you pay for it. If you dont want to pay for it then you get what is free.

Exactly how I see it.

Back to top

Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination - Oscar Wilde

IP Logged

Sir Spot of Borg

Gold Member

Offline

WE ARE BORG

Posts: 26513
Australia

Re: Elite Schools Spend $20 Million A Year On Upgrades
Reply #13 - Mar 18^th, 2013 at 9:07am

Swagman wrote on Mar 18^th, 2013 at 7:29am:

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Mar 18^th, 2013 at 5:23am:

Its completely ridiculous how the government (all parties) fund private schools.

SOB

Didn't you read my post? Private schools SAVE the Govt around $7 Billion dollars annually.

Actually the figure is more like $8.3 Billion according to ISCA (Independent Schools Council of Australia).

Quote:

From ISCA Having independent schools saves Commonwealth and State governments in order of $3.9 billion a year in recurrent funding alone. That is, for the governments of Australia to educate in government schools those students currently attending non-government schools would cost an additional $8.3 billion per annum of which approximately $3.9 billion is attributed to students attending independent schools. In the absence of the non-government school sector, either total government spending on education (and most likely taxation) would have to increase or average government funding per student in government schools would need to be reduced.

Governments, even quasi socialist Labor Govts know this.

That's why they fund private schools. It's a no brainer...

So what? Doesnt mean the government should be propping up businesses.

SOB

Back to top

Whaaaaaah!
I'm a
Moron!

- edited by some unethical admin - you think its funny? - its a slippery slope

IP Logged

KJT1981

Gold Member

Offline

Australian Politics

Posts: 1822

Re: Elite Schools Spend $20 Million A Year On Upgrades
Reply #14 - Mar 18^th, 2013 at 9:13am

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Mar 18^th, 2013 at 9:07am:

Swagman wrote on Mar 18^th, 2013 at 7:29am:

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Mar 18^th, 2013 at 5:23am:

Its completely ridiculous how the government (all parties) fund private schools.

SOB

Didn't you read my post? Private schools SAVE the Govt around $7 Billion dollars annually.

Actually the figure is more like $8.3 Billion according to ISCA (Independent Schools Council of Australia).

Quote:

From ISCA Having independent schools saves Commonwealth and State governments in order of $3.9 billion a year in recurrent funding alone. That is, for the governments of Australia to educate in government schools those students currently attending non-government schools would cost an additional $8.3 billion per annum of which approximately $3.9 billion is attributed to students attending independent schools. In the absence of the non-government school sector, either total government spending on education (and most likely taxation) would have to increase or average government funding per student in government schools would need to be reduced.

Governments, even quasi socialist Labor Govts know this.

That's why they fund private schools. It's a no brainer...

So what? Doesnt mean the government should be propping up businesses.

SOB

A business?

Private schools are a business?

Who receives the profits Miss Borg?

Are there share holders.

How much dividend is paid?

Back to top

IP Logged