As part of the new funding model that will redirect funding from high schools to primary schools, up to 80 WA high schools will lose $250,000 in funding.
Shenton College principle Mike Morgan said he had not expected the funding cut but assumed there would be winners and losers because of the different funding model.
‘We have had a reduction in funding,’ Mr Morgan said.
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READ NOW‘It will have to be calculated because at this stage, these figures are quite simplistic.
‘We have addressed the school board to discuss the reduced budget. It will now depend on the size of enrolments.’
Education Minister Peter Collier said the new funding model was fair and equitable and reflected the central findings of a review of the WA public school funding system by Melbourne University.
‘Overall, most high schools’ overall budgets will increase because of the move of Year 7s from primary to secondary school,’ Mr Collier said. ‘Likewise, primary school budgets go down because they’ve lost Year 7s but the per-student funding amount has risen for primary students.
‘Every school will get the same amount of funding for each student depending on their year level.
‘On top of this will be funding for students who need extra support.’
WA Labor Leader Mark McGowan said the loss of funding would mean fewer subject offerings and drive students away from public schools into private schools.
‘It reduces course offerings; it reduces the capacity for them to do specialist programs,’ Mr McGowan said.