Funding to flow to northern suburbs schools after Federal Budget

A WANGARA school for at-risk youths is the northern suburbs’ biggest winner from the Federal Government’s school funding reforms.

The “fairer” school funding will deliver an additional $18.6 billion to schools over the next decade as part of a needs-based model.

Alta-1 College, which teaches young people not suited to mainstream schooling at various church campuses around Perth, will receive a $778,000 funding increase next year, equating to $1846 per student, and an extra $50 million over the next 10 years.

Mercy College in Koondoola will benefit from an additional $662,000 in 2018 and nearly $40 million over the decade.

Next year, funding will increase by $517,300 at St Stephen’s School in Duncraig, $468,300 at Peter Moyes Anglican Community School in Mindarie and $422,100 at Lake Joondalup Baptist College.

Catholic and independent schools receive their funding primarily from the federal government while the State is responsible for the majority of funding for government schools.

Northern suburbs state schools that will have the largest increases in federal support are Woodvale Secondary College ($238,200 boost in 2018), Duncraig Senior High School ($208,900), Ocean Reef Senior High School ($195,500), Wanneroo Senior High School ($191,500), Greenwood Senior High School ($175,100) and Belridge Senior High School in Beldon ($165,700).

Government primary schools to benefit most are Butler Primary School ($104,900 increase in 2018), Landsdale Primary School ($104,000), Currambine Primary School ($99,800), John Butler Primary College in Butler ($90,600), Beaumaris Primary School in Ocean Reef ($85,200) and East Butler Primary School ($85,100).

Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia executive director Valerie Gould released a statement welcoming the funding arrangements.

“The changes will ensure all schools and states transition to an equal Commonwealth share of the schools resource standard over the next 10 years,” she said.

“This will provide a consistent funding allocation from the Commonwealth across all states, territories and school sectors. For independent schools this will mean the Commonwealth share rising from 77 per cent to 80 per cent.”

Schools with highest Federal funding increase in Cowan and Moore electorates: Alta-1 College, Wangara: $778,800 increase in 2018 Mercy College, Koondoola: $662,000 St Stephen’s School, Duncraig: $517,300 Lake Joondalup Baptist College: $422,100 Mater Dei College, Edgewater: $350,800 Schools with highest funding per student in 2018: Alta-1 College, Wangara: $14,354 St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary School, Hocking: $12,148 Mercy College, Koondoola: $10,552 Our Lady of Mercy Primary School, Girrawheen: $9930 Emmanuel Christian Community School, Girrawheen: $9479

Schools with highest Federal funding increase in Pearce electorate (north coast): Peter Moyes Anglican Community School, Mindarie: $468,300 increase in 2018 Irene McCormack Catholic College, Butler: $363,600 Quinns Baptist College, Mindarie: $281,900 Butler College: $277,200 Brighton Catholic Primary School, Butler: $145,400 Schools with highest funding per student in 2018: Comet CaRE School, Clarkson: $17,971 Atlantis Beach Baptist College, Two Rocks: $11,532 Irene McCormack Catholic College, Butler: $9405 Alkimos Baptist College: $9186 St Andrew’s Catholic Primary School, Clarkson: $9053

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