Some in the media seem to relish projecting the non-government school education sector as ‘wall-to-wall’ rich, high fee schools.

The fact is that these ‘high fee’ non-government schools, with fees around or above $20,000 per year, are relatively small in number and enrol a very small percentage of Australian students, less than 3% in fact. 

What these commentators seem prepared to ignore is that there are a number of very well resourced schools in the government sector.

To view a map of high ICSEA (an index of educational advantage based on parent background and occupation) that illustrates ‘advantage’ exists in both government and non-government schools, click here.

The IEUA wonders when any of the following government schools were ever ‘named’ by the media as being ‘over-resourced’ when school funding issues were being reported or commentated on.

name the school (answers below)

Convention centre on Sydney Harbour @ Abbotsford including rowing sheds (and views of Harbour Bridge), enclosed sports ground in Centennial Park with pavillion and function centre, Great Hall historic building (circa 1927) with grand piano

25m swimming pool, new $23,ooo diving board, new grandstand/pavillion/multipurpose centre overlooking upgraded sports field, cricket pitch and athletics facility

5 hectares grounds, heritage listed Barrengarry House (circa 1885), 3km from Parramatta CBD (Sydney)

25m indoor heated swimming pool, cardio gym, weights gym, squash courts, 443 seat state of the art theatre with fly tower and orchestra pit

from one school’s annual report

The P&C Association continues to work with the XXXXXXX High Development Committee. A second telephone fundraising campaign, organised again by XXXXXXXX, for the new Library project was undertaken during the year with good support from volunteer parents. More than $45,000 has been raised since July 2007 through the Monthly Giving Program. One off donations directly to the Building Fund exceeded this total. The P&C subcommittees raised over $200,000 from XXXXXX, barbecues, dinners and trivia nights. These funds were disbursed directly for the benefit of the students by the 15 subcommittees. The Foundation continues to manage the school tennis courts as a strongly revenue positive asset for the school and this will benefit XXXXXXXXX in the form of around $25,000 per annum direct revenue, commencing at the end of next year when the loan is repaid.
Additionally, a new piano was purchased for the school at a cost of $35,000. This now sits in the Great Hall and replaces the previous instrument which was beyond economical repair and proving a detriment to the students using it for HSC and other occasional performances.
We have as yet been unable to resolve clearly the matter of how we best capitalise on hiring of our available assets (the Great Hall, the XXXXXXXX Centre and the XXXXXXXX Pavilion) and the operational management of them. Initiatives currently underway should resolve these issues and provide us challenges to address in the coming year.
The Management Committee would welcome the assistance of any members of the school family whothink they might be able to help in this regard. Regardless of these issues, the venues are still returning consistent revenue to the school through hiring for various functions and with the Learn to Row Program, ably run by XXXXXXXXX (1974). This revenue is totally dependent on the goodwill of members of the school family (teachers, parents and old boys) who devote large amounts of their own time to run these programs and events.
Negotiations are also underway with the XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX to redevelop the XXXXXXXXX playing fields with a view to improving the standard of XXXXXX No1, creating additional turf wickets and increasing the number of rugbyXXXXXXX fields within the precinct. It is proposed that a funding arrangement similar to that which was used to build the tennis courts will be applied.

answers
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Sydney Boys High, Farrer Memorial Tamworth, James Ruse Sydney, Erindale College Canberra, Sydney Boys High (again)