Most of those kids – not to mention their parents – would have been left disappointed. There are only 4200 spots in NSW’s fully or partially academic selective schools.
Selective schooling is a particular quirk of education in NSW. No other state has anywhere near the number of selective schools as NSW. In the mid-1980s,there were seven selective schools in the state. Since then,about 40 more have opened. Victoria has four.
There is no doubt schools catering for gifted kids have an important place in public education and encouraging the brightest students to stay in the state system should absolutely be encouraged. But we have veered well away from this ambition in NSW.
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Areport from the Centre for Policy Development several years ago described selective schools as the “absolute education prize”. Nothing has changed. Just ask those anxious parents who hacked the department’s website.
The rapid expansion of selective schools has left us with a two-tiered public education system in NSW. The sought-after schools are the premium option,not just for bright students but also for those whose family has the financial means to fork out for tutoring to help them secure a coveted spot.
Comprehensive schools become the poor cousins,the least appealing option for students and many teachers. At the same time,we have shocking NAPLAN results which show that the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students continues to grow. We are failing our kids,especially our boys,and the equity divide just keeps getting wider.