NSW Treasurer Ms Berejiklian pledged a record $12.4 billion investment in schools and early childhood education – a $635 million increase from last year.
Overall government funding support to non-government schools in 2015-16 is projected at a record-breaking $1.1 billion. The NSW State Budget also allocated an increased $50 million over the next four years ($12.5 million per annum) for new classrooms and facilities through the Building Grants Assistance Scheme (Scheme). This represents a 100 per cent increase under the Scheme.
Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli announced that the extra $50 million will be directed towards low and medium fee independent and Catholic schools to allow for the increasing demand for school places across NSW schools. The Minister said that “this funding recognises the significant role non-government schools will play in meeting that challenge.”
These developments will allow for the projected 130 new classrooms each year needed to meet higher demand caused by increased enrolments.
In particular, Catholic Education Commission NSW acting chairman Peter Turner is quoted by regional press as saying that Catholic schools would need to accommodate an extra 58,000 students by 2031.
To be able to access the funds, schools must be accredited and registered under the Education Act 1990 (NSW).
Under the Scheme Guidelines, the funds can be used for the planning, construction, alteration, extension, renovation, relocation or upgrading of educational facilities for increased student enrolments and learning enrichment. This includes facilities such as:
The funds cannot be used for religious facilities, acquisition of land, general maintenance or projects where the contract for constructions commenced prior to Ministerial approval.
For applications to be successful schools will have to be affiliated with either the NSW Catholic Block Grant Authority or the AISNSW Block Grant Authority as it is these bodies which will administer the Scheme on behalf of the NSW government and assess each application for funding.
All applications will be considered and recommendations made to the Minister by 30 September each year.
More information about the administration of the Scheme and important dates for 2015 funding applications can be found within the Guidelines for the Building Grants Assessment Scheme for NSW Non-Government Schools.
Association of Independent Schools of NSW executive director Geoff Newcombe was also in attendance. He said at a press conference to announce the new funding: “As parents contribute around 80 per cent of the costs of independent school infrastructure, this improvement in funding will support the significant investment and commitment parents make to the education of their children over the next 15-20 years.”
The Budget documentation also includes information about the funding allocated to the NSW Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES). It is interesting to note the following facts from those materials:
The BOSTES can conduct inspections for a variety of purposes, including to discuss with a principal about teacher professional development programs and to examine the school’s documentation for its registration and accreditation requirements. Given the increased obligations of non-government schools (as well as ‘responsible persons’ in these schools), particularly with respect to the new governance standards, it will be interesting to see what trends emerge from any BOSTES inspections carried out in the new financial year.