Public and private education in Australia
Encyclopedia
Schools in Australia can be classified according to sources of funding and administrative structures. There are two broad categories of school in Australia: Public schools (also known as 'Government' or 'State' schools) and Private schools, the latter of which can be further subdivided into Catholic schools and Independent schools.
. The open schools accept all students from their government-defined catchment areas, and teach using the CSF
. Many open government schools have selective classes in which well performing students are offered extended and accelerated work. Selective government schools are considered more prestigious than open government schools. They have high entrance requirements and cater to a much larger area. Entrance to selective schools is often highly competitive. Some of the renowned selective government schools are Fort Street High School
, Sydney Boys High School
, Sydney Girls High School
, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School
, Melbourne High School (1st in Victoria), James Ruse Agricultural High School
(1st in NSW), North Sydney Boys High School
, Golden Grove High School
, North Sydney Girls High School
, Australian Science and Mathematics School
and Perth Modern School
.
with there also being a number of other church or parachurch based low fee schools. By far the most numerous are Catholic school
s, which are run by the respective state or territories Catholic Department of Education, although some more prestigious Catholic schools are independent. The rest are known as Independent schools, which are largely Protestant grammar school
s. There are also a few Jewish and Islamic schools and a significant number of independent Montessori schools.
Larger independent schools are known for charging higher tuition fees. In particular, the major independent schools in each city (such as the APS Schools
in Melbourne) charge high fees and are therefore able to afford facilities that government Schools and Departmental Catholic Schools cannot. Funding for independent schools often comes under criticism from the Australian Education Union
and the Australian Labor Party
because, in addition to their fees, these schools also receive funding from the government.
It is sometimes assumed, by parents or other observers, that attending a private school will guarantee achievement in later life, because of a perceived superiority, real or imagined.
Private school fees can vary from under $1,000 per year to $20,000 and upwards, depending on the student's year level and the school's size. Private school uniforms tend to be more expensive than those for public schools, and more strictly enforced.
, is dependent on a student’s ability to pay tuition fees as well as academic achievement and "one on one" interviews with admission officers (the only university in Australasia to do this for all students). Melbourne University Private
was a whole university developed and owned by a public university to operate under this model.
Domestic students are not usually subject to up-front fees at a public university if enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place. As well as receiving substantial government subsidies to the cost of tertiary education, students in CSP places have the option of deferring their financial contributions to their education completely via the Commonwealth Supported Students scheme. Students may also enrol in a non-Commonwealth Supported Place, known as a FULL-FEE place, and must pay all upfront fees, which are typically greater than a standard Commonwealth Supported Students debt, usually undertaken to reduce academic entrance requirements.
The national government
provides funding for all Universities in Australia.
Primary/Secondary
At primary and secondary level government schools educate the majority of students. The major part of their costs is met by the relevant State or Territory government. Private schools, both religious or secular (the latter often with specialisations), may charge higher fees. Regardless of whether a school is government or private, it is regulated by the same curriculum standards framework. Most schools, government and private, enforce a uniform or dress code, although there are varying expectations.Government
Government (or state) schools are run by the respective state government. They offer free education; however, many schools ask parents to pay a voluntary contribution fee. They can be divided into two categories: open and selective schoolSelective school
A selective school is a school that admits students on the basis of some sort of selection criteria, usually academic. The term may have different connotations in different systems....
. The open schools accept all students from their government-defined catchment areas, and teach using the CSF
Curriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
. Many open government schools have selective classes in which well performing students are offered extended and accelerated work. Selective government schools are considered more prestigious than open government schools. They have high entrance requirements and cater to a much larger area. Entrance to selective schools is often highly competitive. Some of the renowned selective government schools are Fort Street High School
Fort Street High School
Fort Street High School is a co-educational, academically selective, public high school currently located at Petersham, an inner western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
, Sydney Boys High School
Sydney Boys High School
Sydney Boys High School is an academically selective public secondary school for boys, located in the City of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, with 1,180 students, from years 7 to 12...
, Sydney Girls High School
Sydney Girls High School
Sydney Girls High School is an academically selective, Public high school for girls, located at Moore Park, in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School
Mac.Robertson Girls' High School
The Mac.Robertson Girls' High School is an academically selective, public high school for girls, located in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
, Melbourne High School (1st in Victoria), James Ruse Agricultural High School
James Ruse Agricultural High School
James Ruse Agricultural High School is one of four New South Wales Government agricultural high schools. It is a selective, co-educational public high school located at Carlingford, New South Wales, Australia...
(1st in NSW), North Sydney Boys High School
North Sydney Boys High School
North Sydney Boys High School is an academically selective, public high school for boys, located at Crows Nest in Sydney, Australia.- History :...
, Golden Grove High School
Golden Grove High School
Golden Grove High school is a public secondary school located with Gleeson College and Pedare Christian College private schools in Golden Grove, South Australia. The three schools share a common campus. The school was built as part of the Delfin Golden Grove development as part of a planned...
, North Sydney Girls High School
North Sydney Girls High School
North Sydney Girls High School is an academically selective, public high school for girls, located at Crows Nest, on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
, Australian Science and Mathematics School
Australian Science and Mathematics School
The Australian Science and Mathematics School is a coeducational public senior high school for Years 10 - 12 located in Adelaide, South Australia on the campus of Flinders University. As the school is unzoned, it attracts students from all across the Adelaide metropolitan area as well as some...
and Perth Modern School
Perth Modern School
Perth Modern School is an academically-selective co-educational public high school located in Subiaco, an inner city suburb of Perth, Western Australia.The school, established in 1911, now caters for students with high academic ability....
.
Private
Private schools can also be divided into two groups. Religious systems of education are operated by the Anglican, Lutheran, Roman Catholic denominationsChristian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
with there also being a number of other church or parachurch based low fee schools. By far the most numerous are Catholic school
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
s, which are run by the respective state or territories Catholic Department of Education, although some more prestigious Catholic schools are independent. The rest are known as Independent schools, which are largely Protestant grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
s. There are also a few Jewish and Islamic schools and a significant number of independent Montessori schools.
Larger independent schools are known for charging higher tuition fees. In particular, the major independent schools in each city (such as the APS Schools
Associated Public Schools of Victoria
The Associated Public Schools of Victoria are a group of eleven elite independent schools in Victoria, Australia, similar to the Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales in New South Wales....
in Melbourne) charge high fees and are therefore able to afford facilities that government Schools and Departmental Catholic Schools cannot. Funding for independent schools often comes under criticism from the Australian Education Union
Australian Education Union
The Australian Education Union is an Australian trade union, founded in 1984 as the Australian Teachers Union, which is registered with Fair Work Australia as an employee group, and is affiliated with the Australian Council of Trade Unions...
and the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
because, in addition to their fees, these schools also receive funding from the government.
It is sometimes assumed, by parents or other observers, that attending a private school will guarantee achievement in later life, because of a perceived superiority, real or imagined.
Private school fees can vary from under $1,000 per year to $20,000 and upwards, depending on the student's year level and the school's size. Private school uniforms tend to be more expensive than those for public schools, and more strictly enforced.
Tertiary
Both private and public universities can be found in Australia. As of 2006, there are 36 public, 2 Catholic and 1 Non-profit Private universities in Australia. Admissions by Australian citizens to public and Catholic universities in Australia are based on the prospective student's academic achievement. Admission to the private university, Bond UniversityBond University
Bond University is a private university located in Robina, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It is also the first private university established in Australia...
, is dependent on a student’s ability to pay tuition fees as well as academic achievement and "one on one" interviews with admission officers (the only university in Australasia to do this for all students). Melbourne University Private
Melbourne University Private
Melbourne University Private was a private university spinoff founded by the University of Melbourne in Australia, which operated from July 1998 to 2005. It was designed as a profit making venture, independent of as much government control as possible, in an attempt to maneuver around some of the...
was a whole university developed and owned by a public university to operate under this model.
Domestic students are not usually subject to up-front fees at a public university if enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place. As well as receiving substantial government subsidies to the cost of tertiary education, students in CSP places have the option of deferring their financial contributions to their education completely via the Commonwealth Supported Students scheme. Students may also enrol in a non-Commonwealth Supported Place, known as a FULL-FEE place, and must pay all upfront fees, which are typically greater than a standard Commonwealth Supported Students debt, usually undertaken to reduce academic entrance requirements.
The national government
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
provides funding for all Universities in Australia.