A new research paper published by Save Our Schools shows conclusively that public schools bear the greatest burden of disadvantage, but are not resourced to overcome its effect on learning outcomes. Public schools have to do a lot more with far fewer resources than Catholic and Independent schools.

The study shows that income per student in public schools is 91.5% of the income of Catholic schools, but the percentage of students from low socio-educationally advantaged (SEA) families in public schools is nearly 200% of that in Catholic schools. Income per student in public schools is only 70.5% of that of independent schools while their percentage of low SEA students is 285.6% of that in Independent schools.

There are very large disparities in some states. Income per student in Queensland public schools is only 85% of that of Catholic schools, but the percentage of low SEA students is 237% higher than in Catholic schools. Income per student in NSW public schools is only 69% of that of independent schools, but the percentage of low SEA students is 326% higher than in independent schools. Income per student in Victorian public schools is only 61% of that of independent schools, but the percentage of low SEA students is 312% higher than in Independent schools.

Students from low SEA families comprise a much larger proportion of public school enrolments than in private schools. In 2023, 31.1% of students in public schools were in the lowest SEA quartile compared with 15.9% in Catholic schools and 10.9% in independent schools. Low SEA students comprise a much higher proportion of public school enrolments than in Catholic and independent schools in every state/territory.

By contrast, much larger proportions of students in Catholic and independent schools are in the top SEA quartiles than in public schools. Only 20.3% of students in public schools are from the highest SEA quartile compared with 41.8% in independent schools and 26% in Catholic schools. The proportion of students in the top two SEA quartiles in public schools is 42.8% compared with 70.1% for independent schools and 56.7% for Catholic schools.

Public schools enrol the vast majority of students from the lowest SEA quartile. Just over 80% of low SEA students attend public schools compared to 11.8% in Catholic schools and only 7.7% in independent schools. Public schools enrol the vast proportion of low SEA students in every state/territory.

Most disadvantaged schools are public schools. In 2023, 90.9% of schools with more than 50% of their students in the lowest SEA quartile were public schools. Only 4% were Catholic schools and 5.2% were independent schools. Public schools account for the vast majority of disadvantaged schools in every state/territory.

A much larger proportion of public schools have a high concentration of students from the lowest SEA quartile than Catholic and independent schools. About 29% of public schools have more than 50% of their students from the lowest SEA quartile compared to only 5% of Catholic schools and 9% of independent schools. A much larger proportion of public schools are disadvantaged schools than Catholic and independent schools in every state/territory.

The study is the first comprehensive analysis of the social composition and concentration of disadvantage in schools for many years. It demolishes the myth perpetrated by Catholic education authorities that Catholic schools serve a similar population as public schools. It also demolishes claims by independent schools that they serve a large proportion of low income families.

There is extensive evidence from research that both the family background of students and the social composition of schools have a major influence on student achievement. This is what is referred to as the “double jeopardy” effect of disadvantage. Australia’s PISA results show that the “double jeopardy” effect accounts for the difference in school results between public schools and Catholic and independent schools.

Catholic and independent schools do not perform the social equity obligations expected by taxpayer funding. Government funding of Catholic schools is 86% of that for public schools, but the percentage of low SEA students in Catholic schools is only 51% of that of public schools. Government funding for independent schools is 72% of that for public schools but their percentage of low SEA students is only 35% of that of public schools.

Large proportions of low SEA students and other disadvantaged students are not achieving international and national standards and there are large achievement gaps between rich and poor. Public schools face an enormous challenge in improving school outcomes for these students because they face large shortages in human and material resources.

Improving outcomes for low SEA students requires clear equity objectives matched by appropriate, well-targeted funding. To date, all governments have failed on both counts. The new national Better and Fairer Schools Agreement between the Commonwealth and state/territory governments fails to clearly define equity or set clear equity goals. It could even increase inequity.

it is imperative that governments at all levels ensure that public schools are fully funded to improve school outcomes for disadvantaged students. The vast majority of public schools will remain under-funded indefinitely under current funding agreements.

While the funding agreements between the Commonwealth and Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory increase funding for public schools, they will remain significantly under-funded until at least 2029. This is because they continue accounting tricks in the Morrison era agreements that defraud public schools. The interim agreements between the Commonwealth and the NSW and Queensland governments fail to provide any funding increase for public schools in 2025.

The new funding agreements between the Commonwealth and the governments of Victoria and South Australia announced by the prime minister are a landmark and set a new funding standard. They adopt key aspects of the three-point plan proposed by Save Our Schools and will ensure that public schools in those states fully funded, albeit not until 2034.

It is imperative that the agreements with the other states and the Northern Territory now be renegotiated to align with the Victorian and South Australian agreements to ensure that all public schools are fully funded in future.