Schools set for fund cut

See the school funding winners and losers

PRIVATE schools in Toowoomba could have a portion of their Commonwealth funding reduced, with a new methodology to calculate the capacity of parents to pay being implemented.

Under the new system about 30 per cent of non-government schools in the state will have their funding cut to the tune of $375 million over the next decade, according to Independent Schools Queensland.

The new system, known as the direct measure of income, uses parental income obtained from ATO data to determine a school community’s capacity to contribute to the running of the school – known as a CTC score.

A school’s CTC score affects the percentage of base recurrent funding the school receives from the Commonwealth – the higher the CTC score, the lower the percentage.

Independent Schools Queensland chief executive Chris Mountford said the funding changes for non-government schools from this year were significant, adding they would affect individual independent schools differently.

“The adverse impact that this methodology will have upon regional independent schools, which provide an important education choice for families is particularly concerning,” Mr Mountford said.

“Additional funding is required to support independent schools hard hit by changes to the funding methodology in managing their transition to new funding levels.”

A total of 100 Queensland schools saw their CTC score climb, meaning a cut to their base funding.

Fairholme College recorded the biggest CTC climb according to the Department of Education, Skills and Employment.

They recorded a climb of five points from 103 to 108.

Next in line was Toowoomba Grammar School, whose score increased from 104 to 108.

The scores at Sacred Heart Primary School, Concordia Lutheran College, and St Anthony’s School also increased.

Eight schools in Toowoomba experienced no change in their score, including Darling Downs Christian School, Highlands Christian College, Holy Name Primary School, Maridahdi Early Childhood Community School, and Mater Dei Primary School.

St Thomas More’s Primary School recorded a decrease in the score from 95 to 94.

Go to thechronicle.com.au for the full list.