''Bespoke education': are Australia's private schools worth the price tag?' diff viewer (0/1)

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'Bespoke education': are Australia's private schools worth the price tag?	'Bespoke education': are Australia's private schools worth the price tag?
2018-08-17 22:20:11 UTC	2018-08-19 11:00:12 UTC (1 day later)
If you want to ruin a dinner party, try lobbing this on the table: are private schools better than public schools? Or this: are they worth the money?	If you want to ruin a dinner party, try lobbing this on the table: are private schools better than public schools? Or this: are they worth the money?
For parents who have the relative luxury of choice in these matters, the question is a vexed one. Finding the right school for your child is an emotional decision, clouded by prejudice, guilt and hope, distorted by wealth and peer group and the carefully curated aura of private school reputations. In a country that still wants to think of itself as egalitarian, evidence of the growing disparity between Australia’s richest and poorest schools has politicised it too.	For parents who have the relative luxury of choice in these matters, the question is a vexed one. Finding the right school for your child is an emotional decision, clouded by prejudice, guilt and hope, distorted by wealth and peer group and the carefully curated aura of private school reputations. In a country that still wants to think of itself as egalitarian, evidence of the growing disparity between Australia’s richest and poorest schools has politicised it too.
But parents want to do the best they can for their children. Lured by the ever-more luxurious facilities of private schools, the smorgasbord of extracurricular activities, the boaters and blazers, the solid feeling of generations of institutional history; some are captive to the idea they are doing children a disservice by sending them to the more modest local public school – particularly in high school, where these decisions seem to bite harder.	But parents want to do the best they can for their children. Lured by the ever-more luxurious facilities of private schools, the smorgasbord of extracurricular activities, the boaters and blazers, the solid feeling of generations of institutional history; some are captive to the idea they are doing children a disservice by sending them to the more modest local public school – particularly in high school, where these decisions seem to bite harder.
But does any of that make private schools better?	But does any of that make private schools better?
“Independent school offers a much more bespoke education,” says Sharon Leifer, who has three children who’ve attended the same private school. “They can be accelerated, they can get extra help, it’s not done on norms, it’s done on each individual child. And they have high expectations of and for the kids. I wish everybody had that choice.”	“Independent school offers a much more bespoke education,” says Sharon Leifer, who has three children who’ve attended the same private school. “They can be accelerated, they can get extra help, it’s not done on norms, it’s done on each individual child. And they have high expectations of and for the kids. I wish everybody had that choice.”
Leifer says her oldest son was a quiet kid in class. Very bright, with dyslexia and dyspraxia, he struggled with handwriting, and had become quite miserable at the local public school. But she says the school told her his problems were not “bad enough” to get him extra help.	Leifer says her oldest son was a quiet kid in class. Very bright, with dyslexia and dyspraxia, he struggled with handwriting, and had become quite miserable at the local public school. But she says the school told her his problems were not “bad enough” to get him extra help.
“We found that at public school, if you’re in the middle, the quiet kid at the back, if you’re not doing anything [disruptive], you can pretty much go unnoticed,” she says.	“We found that at public school, if you’re in the middle, the quiet kid at the back, if you’re not doing anything [disruptive], you can pretty much go unnoticed,” she says.
So the family from Sydney’s northern beaches settled on St Luke’s Grammar in Dee Why, a small Anglican co-ed K-12 school that charges fees of up to $24,000 in year 12.	So the family from Sydney’s northern beaches settled on St Luke’s Grammar in Dee Why, a small Anglican co-ed K-12 school that charges fees of up to $24,000 in year 12.
“When we walked around the school every teacher knew every child’s name, and every child stopped and talked to the teachers,” she says. “The ambience of the place, the whole thing, really just caught us and we knew that he would be much happier there, and he has been.”	“When we walked around the school every teacher knew every child’s name, and every child stopped and talked to the teachers,” she says. “The ambience of the place, the whole thing, really just caught us and we knew that he would be much happier there, and he has been.”
Her oldest, who his mother says was rejected from a public selective school on the basis of his Naplan results, is studying law at ANU.	Her oldest, who his mother says was rejected from a public selective school on the basis of his Naplan results, is studying law at ANU.
But for every story like the Leifer family’s, there’s another who’s gone the other way. Bradley Stringer’s family wanted to go private for their two kids. But they were disappointed with their private inner Sydney primary school, and didn’t feel they were getting their money’s worth.	But for every story like the Leifer family’s, there’s another who’s gone the other way. Bradley Stringer’s family wanted to go private for their two kids. But they were disappointed with their private inner Sydney primary school, and didn’t feel they were getting their money’s worth.
“Our experience of the teaching staff was not what we had expected for one of our kids, and certainly not what we were paying for,” Stringer says. “That disappointment was compounded by annual fee increases of between 6% and 15%, with little to no communication to the parents regarding the need for greater fees.”	“Our experience of the teaching staff was not what we had expected for one of our kids, and certainly not what we were paying for,” Stringer says. “That disappointment was compounded by annual fee increases of between 6% and 15%, with little to no communication to the parents regarding the need for greater fees.”
They are much happier with their kids’ new public school in Balmain.	They are much happier with their kids’ new public school in Balmain.
‘We don’t fuck them up, and we take all the credit’	‘We don’t fuck them up, and we take all the credit’
Broadly speaking, choosing a school is not a process you can use trial and error to improve on. Most families don’t want to move their kids around a lot of different schools. So how do you get a sense of how good a school is from the outside? University entrance results are one obvious place to start, and high-fee schools tend to sell hard on their high marks.	Broadly speaking, choosing a school is not a process you can use trial and error to improve on. Most families don’t want to move their kids around a lot of different schools. So how do you get a sense of how good a school is from the outside? University entrance results are one obvious place to start, and high-fee schools tend to sell hard on their high marks.
But if you’re only interested in academic achievement, the results from most of the 30-odd Australian studies since 2000 suggest that private schools are no better at progressing students’ learning than state schools, once you’ve controlled for socioeconomic background. That’s also been the case for Australia’s results in the past three Pisa tests, the OECD’s international comparison test for student learning.	But if you’re only interested in academic achievement, the results from most of the 30-odd Australian studies since 2000 suggest that private schools are no better at progressing students’ learning than state schools, once you’ve controlled for socioeconomic background. That’s also been the case for Australia’s results in the past three Pisa tests, the OECD’s international comparison test for student learning.
“On average private schools superficially appear to achieve higher student outcomes,” concedes education researcher and public schools advocate Trevor Cobbold. “But public schools enrol the vast majority of disadvantaged students … and this is what largely accounts for differences in school outcomes.”	“On average private schools superficially appear to achieve higher student outcomes,” concedes education researcher and public schools advocate Trevor Cobbold. “But public schools enrol the vast majority of disadvantaged students … and this is what largely accounts for differences in school outcomes.”
The Grattan Institute’s yet-to-be released study of five years of Naplan results contrasted students’ progress between Naplan tests rather than the raw scores, because it says that is the best measure of what value a school is adding. Comparing like with like schools by socioeconomic background across sectors, it found there is no significant learning advantage conferred by private schools.	The Grattan Institute’s yet-to-be released study of five years of Naplan results contrasted students’ progress between Naplan tests rather than the raw scores, because it says that is the best measure of what value a school is adding. Comparing like with like schools by socioeconomic background across sectors, it found there is no significant learning advantage conferred by private schools.
Researcher Peter Goss says, “it’s a pretty clear finding that the differences in progress between the three sectors are just not there, on Naplan. So if parents are choosing their sector based on Naplan results, then they kind of miss the point.”	Researcher Peter Goss says, “it’s a pretty clear finding that the differences in progress between the three sectors are just not there, on Naplan. So if parents are choosing their sector based on Naplan results, then they kind of miss the point.”
The academic excellence of high-fee schools might owe more to a virtuous circle or feedback loop, rather than anything particularly unique to the school’s teaching and learning. Those schools are also in a position to lure bright students with scholarships. It’s like the (probably apocryphal) comment a senior figure at Harvard University in the US reportedly made to a private audience of overseas educators, in explaining the secret to the university’s global prestige. “It’s simple. We choose the best people, we don’t fuck them up, and we take all the credit.”	The academic excellence of high-fee schools might owe more to a virtuous circle or feedback loop, rather than anything particularly unique to the school’s teaching and learning. Those schools are also in a position to lure bright students with scholarships. It’s like the (probably apocryphal) comment a senior figure at Harvard University in the US reportedly made to a private audience of overseas educators, in explaining the secret to the university’s global prestige. “It’s simple. We choose the best people, we don’t fuck them up, and we take all the credit.”
Naplan is a narrow benchmark, and data available for research comparing school outcomes is very limited. There is, for example, some research to suggest that public school kids do better at university than private school kids with the same Atar. The researchers say this may reflect the ability of some private schools to maximise tertiary entrance scores for their students, who revert to “underlying ability” once they’ve left.	Naplan is a narrow benchmark, and data available for research comparing school outcomes is very limited. There is, for example, some research to suggest that public school kids do better at university than private school kids with the same Atar. The researchers say this may reflect the ability of some private schools to maximise tertiary entrance scores for their students, who revert to “underlying ability” once they’ve left.
But none of it can answer the question for an individual child: is your child going to do better at one school or another?	But none of it can answer the question for an individual child: is your child going to do better at one school or another?
The old school tie	The old school tie
Don’t look to the dismal science for help. Whatever it is, paying high fees for private school is not an economically rational decision, says Sean Leaver, a behavioural economist specialising in education choices. He compares it to a luxury consumption decision, like buying a top-end BMW over a good cheap Toyota. Both will get you there.	Don’t look to the dismal science for help. Whatever it is, paying high fees for private school is not an economically rational decision, says Sean Leaver, a behavioural economist specialising in education choices. He compares it to a luxury consumption decision, like buying a top-end BMW over a good cheap Toyota. Both will get you there.
“As an investment? Clearly no,” he says. “There’s no real benefit from attending a private school compared to a public school once you take into account that private schools skim the best kids and screen the worst kids out.”	“As an investment? Clearly no,” he says. “There’s no real benefit from attending a private school compared to a public school once you take into account that private schools skim the best kids and screen the worst kids out.”
“The big question for me, with my parent hat on,” says the Grattan Institute’s Peter Goss, “is what is the school going to contribute to helping my children grow up healthy, happy, having choices in life and being prepared and set up to succeed in those choices? … I just don’t think we gather that data. So … everything else is a bit of a proxy.”	“The big question for me, with my parent hat on,” says the Grattan Institute’s Peter Goss, “is what is the school going to contribute to helping my children grow up healthy, happy, having choices in life and being prepared and set up to succeed in those choices? … I just don’t think we gather that data. So … everything else is a bit of a proxy.”
So why are so many families – more than 50% of students in Sydney and Melbourne attend non-government schools – choosing to pay for private schools? In a measure of the sensitivity around the issue, Guardian Australia found it difficult to find parents willing to speak publicly about why they chose private schooling for their children. It might be a mark of status within private school communities, but in the public arena, very few want to articulate the reasons.	So why are so many families – more than 50% of students in Sydney and Melbourne attend non-government schools – choosing to pay for private schools? In a measure of the sensitivity around the issue, Guardian Australia found it difficult to find parents willing to speak publicly about why they chose private schooling for their children. It might be a mark of status within private school communities, but in the public arena, very few want to articulate the reasons.
Many talk in private about the stress of paying high fees, but don’t want to go on the record about their private financial decisions. Likewise, most private school principals approached by Guardian Australia declined the invitation to talk about what private schools offer in exchange for their fees.	Many talk in private about the stress of paying high fees, but don’t want to go on the record about their private financial decisions. Likewise, most private school principals approached by Guardian Australia declined the invitation to talk about what private schools offer in exchange for their fees.
“I talk to people a lot about this,” says Philip Heath, the principal of Barker College in Sydney’s north-west. “A lot of kids come here at year 10 having been in very good government schools before they come here. So it’s a discretionary spend; so what’s driving that decision?”	“I talk to people a lot about this,” says Philip Heath, the principal of Barker College in Sydney’s north-west. “A lot of kids come here at year 10 having been in very good government schools before they come here. So it’s a discretionary spend; so what’s driving that decision?”
Barker is a co-ed independent Anglican day and boarding school that was founded in 1890. Year 12 costs $32,000. Including its Indigenous school, Darkinjung Barker, near Wyong, it has about 2,200 students.	Barker is a co-ed independent Anglican day and boarding school that was founded in 1890. Year 12 costs $32,000. Including its Indigenous school, Darkinjung Barker, near Wyong, it has about 2,200 students.
“I reckon there are probably four key things,” Heath says. “[The first is] broadly cultural and spiritual allegiances … that’s ethics and values; where their families are from.	“I reckon there are probably four key things,” Heath says. “[The first is] broadly cultural and spiritual allegiances … that’s ethics and values; where their families are from.
“The second would be they are seeking an individualisation of experience … so teacher connection, discipline, access to opportunities, flexibility of the structure to adapt to that child’s interests or needs.	“The second would be they are seeking an individualisation of experience … so teacher connection, discipline, access to opportunities, flexibility of the structure to adapt to that child’s interests or needs.
“Third would be the ability to influence school policy and practice at a local level … and to participate more in decision making.	“Third would be the ability to influence school policy and practice at a local level … and to participate more in decision making.
“The fourth one, that’s not popular to talk about, would be aspirations for academic and social engagement, lifelong friendships … Improperly expressed it would be ‘the old school tie’. Put more generously, you’re building friendships that last a long time.”	“The fourth one, that’s not popular to talk about, would be aspirations for academic and social engagement, lifelong friendships … Improperly expressed it would be ‘the old school tie’. Put more generously, you’re building friendships that last a long time.”
Choices driven by anxiety	Choices driven by anxiety
“If I was paying $40,000 a year, I would want two swimming pools!” jokes the former NSW education minister Adrian Piccoli, who now heads the Gonski Institute for Education at UNSW. “No one should resent a school like Kings for that, people are spending 40k a year to send their kids there.”	“If I was paying $40,000 a year, I would want two swimming pools!” jokes the former NSW education minister Adrian Piccoli, who now heads the Gonski Institute for Education at UNSW. “No one should resent a school like Kings for that, people are spending 40k a year to send their kids there.”
Associate Professor Piccoli, who was a leading advocate for needs-based funding while he was minister from 2011 to 2017 is also a supporter of school choice, with his own kids in the Catholic system. But he says the key difference between school sectors is “the ability of the non-government sector to choose who their students are.”	Associate Professor Piccoli, who was a leading advocate for needs-based funding while he was minister from 2011 to 2017 is also a supporter of school choice, with his own kids in the Catholic system. But he says the key difference between school sectors is “the ability of the non-government sector to choose who their students are.”
Public schools have to take all comers, but through fees, entrance exams, targeted scholarships, interviews, discretion and discipline proceedings, private schools can pick and choose. He believes many parents make a high school decision based on perceptions of student behaviour, or of a school’s level of discipline.	Public schools have to take all comers, but through fees, entrance exams, targeted scholarships, interviews, discretion and discipline proceedings, private schools can pick and choose. He believes many parents make a high school decision based on perceptions of student behaviour, or of a school’s level of discipline.