Red ink warning as schools do the maths

INDEPENDENT schools could close and more than 30 per cent would be worse off nationally under the latest school funding modelling, it was revealed today.

The startling repercussions for Independent schools under proposed funding changes was revealed in Brisbane this morning during a Parliamentary inquiry into the Australian Education Bill.

Independent Schools Council of Australia (ISCA) executive director Bill Daniels told the House of Representatives inquiry ISCA intended to let every school in its sector know next month their individual funding circumstances based on the most up-to-date settings.

He said a proposal, put by Federal Member for Aston Alan Tudge, that more than 30 per cent of Independent schools nationally would be worse off under current modelling, was fair.

It comes despite a Federal Government promise that no school would lose a dollar under proposed funding changes.

Association of Independent Schools of NSW executive director Geoff Newcombe revealed 40 per cent of Independent schools in his state would be worse off under 2011 funding modelling - accounting for about 60 per cent of students in his sector.

Mr Daniels said the "experience in New South Wales would translate roughly that way nationally but it would fall differentially, so in some states there would be no losers".

"Absolutely on the current settings it is a significant number and it would be unacceptable," Mr Daniels said.

But he said the settings were changing daily and the Federal Government could come up with new modelling tomorrow which meant there was a different number of winners and losers.

Outside the inquiry, Mr Tudge said information revealed this morning, including that some Independent schools could face cuts of $1000 to $5000 per student, could lead only to one thing - higher school fees.

"This makes a mockery of the government's commitment that no school will lose a dollar," Mr Tudge said.

A spokeswoman for School Education Minister Peter Garrett said the figures and modelling used by ISCA were not the Government's.

"Our modelling is being finalised with the most recent schools data. Until that's complete any final school-by-school results is mere speculation," the spokeswoman said.

"Our plan will see every schools' funding continue to rise, and no school will lose a dollar per student. That is our rock solid commitment."

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