The Association of Independent Schools of NSW (AISNSW) today rejected claims reported in the Sydney Morning Herald ("Gonski fund supports rich private schools", 13th April) that providing
transitional funding to independent schools losing significant amounts of funding over the next ten years, was somehow ‘secretive’ or amounted to a ‘slush fund’.
"The new funding arrangements always included provision for transition funds to be available to those schools most affected by reductions to their funding, which is entirely reasonable," said Dr Geoff Newcombe, Chief Executive of AISNSW.
"Independent schools in New South Wales that are currently funded above their School Resourcing Standard (SRS) will be losing tens of millions of dollars in funding over the next ten years, and this transition measure simply ensures they are treated fairly."
Dr Newcombe said: "Consistency in school funding arrangements is, and always was, fundamental to the new funding model implemented by the Government.
"For this reason it was agreed that independent schools that will be losing funding would, during their transition to a lower level of funding, receive the same consideration given to Catholic school systems during 2018."
Dr Newcombe also said: "It needs to be remembered that these schools have never been ‘over-funded’ - they have always received exactly the amount of funding determined by the legislation. As funding models change, the goalposts also move and what is considered to be so-called ‘correct’ funding changes.
"It’s fair that independent school parents and communities, regardless of their circumstances, are given enough time for any changes to be implemented without it negatively impacting on the quality of education their children receive."
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