There is relatively little difference between the numbers of children from families with income over $70,000 per annum and under $70,000 attending State schools in NSW. 

 Graph 1  

A recent survey by the NSW Parents Council on a representative cross section of 694 NSW parents indicates that many parents who send their children to non government schools are not well off and may find it a struggle to pay for their children’s education.

Graph 1 above shows the results of a representative survey of parents with school aged children in NSW. Almost 74% of those with household income under $70,000 send their children to state schools compared with 64% of those earning over $70,000 per annum. 

This tells us that State schools are still the predominant means of educating the state’s children for those families with median or above median income. It also shows that 26% of parents earning under $70,000 still send their children to a non government school compared with 36% of those earning over $70,000. 

They are exercising, as Minister Verity Firth said recently, their right to choose the type of education they feel is best for their children.

It is perhaps not surprising that the Minister would say this when it is evident from Graph 2 that voting preference appears to have no bearing on who is planning to send their children to a non government school in the next three years. The graph shows that for all parents planning in the next three years or by Year 7 to send their children to a non government school (excluding the local systemic Catholic school), Labor voters account for a greater proportion than LNP voters notwithstanding the difference is only significant at the 90% confidence level. 

Nevertheless, it is fair to say that Labor voting parents, at worst, will represent an equal number of non government school inductees in relation to LNP voting parents. 

Graph 2

Among those parents who are not planning to send their children to a non government school in the next three years, the most frequently cited reason was that they could not afford it although almost as many believed that the State system was as good or good enough. Again there is nothing to suggest that Labor voting parents are any less disposed to the non government system than LNP voting parents. See Graph 3 below. 

Graph 3

 There has been some discussion about the idea of public private partnerships invading the health and education arena. Rod Eddington from Infrastructure Partnerships Australia for one has made public statements on this as has John Menadue from the Melbourne-based think tank – Centre for Policy Development. There are also elements in the National Curriculum group who see this as an acceptable if not a desirable option.

However, the public of NSW in no way see that is a preferred option. In fact, it is regarded as one of the least appealing of the many permutations for NSW schooling put to them. NSW parents and grandparents are far happier with a broad mix of education options or at least a mix of not for profit non government schools and state run schools. Parents do not want a state only system or a school system run by corporations.

Graph 4 shows parents response to the question: Which of the following education policies appeals most to you?

Graph 4