Media Reports

Time to Change the Way we Judge Schools   John Langley  February 2008

Schools get most of their money from two broad grants. The first is a base grant that supposedly covers the delivery of the curriculum, resources, professional development and school administration.
The second is a decile grant based on the socioeconomic status of the students in the school. The lower the socioeconomic status of a school the more money it gets.

There is simply no alignment between funding as an incentive and the performance of the school.

So, what do we know already? What does current research tell us? We know that what makes the difference in terms of an effective education for our children are the quality of our teachers and the environment in which they work.

let us have a sensible discussion about what any "base" grant should be in relation to what is expected to be delivered.

scrap the decile fund. Replace it with a funding system based on three criteria - maintenance, improvement and innovation.

let's pay teachers more. It might be useful to increase the salary package of teachers by 15 to 20 per cent and make the last 10 per cent of that based on the achievement of those they teach.

Those who have always succeeded continue to do so and those who are disadvantaged continue to be. It is time to stop bickering about the small ones. Our teachers and learners demand - and deserve - nothing less.


Scathing Report for Decile 10 School    March 2012

Chelsea Primary School