$175 Million boost for disadvantaged schools in NSW

October 21, 2009

Premier Nathan Rees today announced the NSW Government will invest $175 million in to 107 NSW schools in low socio-economic communities across NSW.

The $175 million investment will expand the Low SES Schools National Partnerships, which with the Commonwealth’s $437 million investment will deliver improvements at 616 NSW public, independent and Catholic schools.

“This is the single largest commitment to disadvantaged schools ever seen in NSW,” Mr Rees said.

“Every child deserves to be given an equal chance to reach their full potential at school.

“That is why the NSW Government is delivering more resources into those schools that need our help the most.

“The National partnership will benefit more than 170,000 students, including 19,000 Aboriginal students enrolled in these schools.”

The Premier and Minister for Education and Training Verity Firth made the announcement while visiting with students at Alexandria Park Community School, who will benefit from increased funding.

Schools will have access to a range of initiatives under the Partnership including:

• Hiring a new category of teachers – the Highly Accomplished Teacher paid $98,000 a year;
• Undertaking teacher training in the use of assessment data to improve literacy and numeracy results of students;
• Providing extra hours and after school programs with links to other government and non-government services such as parenting skills programs.

Ms Firth said principals would work with their school communities to determine which of these initiatives were best suited to the needs of their school.

“This is about driving real reform in our education system by getting more resources to the schools that need them most,” she said.

“Schools serving disadvantaged communities will have greater access to high quality teachers, teaching resources and supports for the families they serve.

“The program will undergo a rigorous evaluation process so we build evidence on what works in addressing educational disadvantage.”

The additional 107 schools were selected in consultation with education stakeholders and will be funded using the following state-based criteria:

• Schools identified as disadvantaged by the NSW Education Department’s Priority Action Program that were not on the original Partnership list.
• The 30 next most disadvantaged schools as identified by the NSW Education Department’s Priority Action Program process.
• Any school with greater than 25 percent Aboriginal enrolment (averaged over a three year period).

President of the NSW Primary Principals’ Association Geoff Scott welcomed the additional funding to expand the list of schools to benefit from the Partnership.

“Both the Commonwealth and NSW Governments are to be congratulated for this very substantial investment, which will make a real difference in schools serving disadvantaged communities,” he said.

The full list of schools to receive National Partnership funding is available at: www.nationalpartnerships.nsw.edu.au