Private or Independent... More than Just Semantics

The education sector in Australia attracts great interest from the public and media alike. But there remains great confusion around the term 'private' schooling, which has become the default expression for all schools not owned by government; if they are not 'public schools', they must be 'private schools', right?

This is problematic because the term 'private schools' has, for decades, conveyed a false image of expensive and exclusive schools. This is certainly not the case for the overwhelming majority of NSW's 430 Independent schools.

It is time to stop calling Independent schools 'private'. Some may argue that this is just semantics, however words matter because they shape perceptions. Just look at the perceptions created by the term 'public school'; we know that there are many selective government schools catering for students with above average academic ability and many comprehensive government schools in high socio-economic areas educating children from advantaged families.

But are these the impressions that comes to mind when most people think of 'public schools'?

The distinction between 'private' and 'independent' is therefore vital so that people fully understand the unique role Independent schools play within their communities. Independent schools educate children with a wide range of abilities from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds in an accessible environment. Notably, there are more Independent schools with annual fees under $2,000 than those with fees exceeding $20,000.

As the peak body representing Independent schools in New South Wales, AISNSW is committed to clarifying this terminology and highlighting the value and diversity of Independent education.

What is a Private School?
People often refer to a private school in Australia as one that is not owned and operated by the government. Although this term loosely includes both Independent and Catholic systemic schools, the term more accurately reflects for-profit schools that form an international network. For-profit private schools generally receive funding from a combination of tuition fees and private contributions; they do not receive any government contribution and therefore cannot become members of AISNSW.

What is an Independent School?
An Independent school is a not-for-profit institution led by its school council or school board and has a degree of educational independence, in that it can develop its own educational philosophies and strategic priorities as long as they are in line with the Australian curriculum.

Independent schools operate under individual governance structures, which means they are responsible for their own decision-making, staffing and financial management. This autonomy allows Independent schools to innovate, respond to student needs and maintain a clear identity aligned with their values. Only schools with autonomous governance structures are considered Independent.

Independent school funding comes from tuition fees, state and federal government grants as well as fundraising support.

Independent schools are held to rigorous standards of accountability and must comply with some 100 state and federal laws and regulations governing curriculum requirements, financial and governance transparency, health and safety standards and many other aspects of their operation.

One of the defining features of Independent schools in Australia is their diversity and their strong ties to local communities. The independence to cultivate a sense of belonging built around a particular belief or value system is a big plus for families and NSW's many cultural and religious groups. Parents also recognise the role these schools play in their contribution to the holistic development of students through strong wellbeing programs, and the co-curricular activities on offer. Independent schools are as diverse as the communities they serve and offer a wide range of teaching philosophies, values and approaches to ensure parental choice in educational offerings for their children.

Enrolment Dynamics
In the inaugural Enrolment Dynamics research report, released last month by AISNSW, this picture of diversity is clear. Today, 14% of NSW's 3152 schools are Independent. Since 2000, Independent schools have welcomed nearly two-thirds of all additional students in NSW (more than 100,000 of the state's 160,000 new students).

And the number of enrolments in these schools is growing year on year. Independent schools in NSW have experienced the highest enrolment increases of any education sector over the past 25 years, with growth strongest in low to mid-fee schools in Sydney's fast-growing western suburbs and on the north coast.

Some of these schools have fewer than 50 students whereas others have over 2000. Christian, Islamic and Anglican schools lead the surge in enrolments.

Enrolment Dynamics includes updated and contextual student data showing enrolment trends by sector, school affiliation, demography and geography. It is drawn from official datasets published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Curriculum Reporting and Assessment Authority. To view the full report please click here.

All of those facts together paint a much more nuanced and complex picture of Independent schools than current press and political sentiment would present. Far from being 'private', or associated with elitism and exclusivity, Independent schools are diverse in nature and are meeting the need of NSW's eclectic communities.