Recently VACPSP wrote to the CECV for clarification of the funding of primary schools. Our modelling was based on 2010 data, this was all that was publicly available at the time of writing. We presented a number of issues of concern including Teaching and non-teaching ratios, size of schools, positions of leadership, school fees and parish levies. It was perceived by primary principals that the distribution by CECV favoured secondary schools over primary schools. In a comprehensive response the CECV recognised that there is a significant disparity between what primary and secondary schools get but state that the Grants Allocation Committees “have no discretion as to the split between primary and secondary member funds that are attracted from Commonwealth and State Government recurrent grants”. As we have since discovered under Gonski this inequity is likely to increase rather than decrease. The VACPSP will continue to raise issues of concern to all primary principals with the Commission.
