OP scores a measure of ‘brain drain’

THE Gold Coast has held its own when it comes to graduate results, ranking as the third most successful local government area for OP marks – but our public schools are dropping behind.

A Bulletin analysis of the OP results for each local government area shows overall 21.7 per cent of the Gold Coast’s eligible graduates received a top ranking between 1-5 in 2018.

The region’s ranking fell sharply however when it came to public school results, with just 16 per cent of the city’s 963 OP eligible state school students securing the top marks – significantly behind Brisbane at 24 per cent and the total public school average of 18 per cent. Despite being home to some of the highest-scoring public schools in the state, the data published by the Queensland Curriculum Assessment Authority revealed that the Gold Coast ranked at 11 of 21 local government areas, well behind other regional cities such as Gympie (17 per cent), Noosa (18.3) and the South Burnett (19.2).

The public school rank is in stark contrast to the Gold Coast’s private school results which rated as fourth in a statewide scale (25 per cent), just behind schools in Brisbane (31.7), Redland (25.6), Sunshine Coast (25.4) and Cairns (25.1).

Social researcher and demographer Mark McCrindle said the results for the Gold Coast's public schools could be attributed to a localised brain drain.

“Looking at the data, it is clear the government sector on the Gold Coast is not holding its own, which could be expected for an area so well serviced by independent schools,” Mr McCrindle said.

“You find you can get that effect in some areas because families have more choice and more opportunity to send their children to private schools if they are eager to pursue academic paths. You end up with this self-selecting pattern in the government sector.

“As a whole the Gold Coast is sitting as third in the state which is exactly where you would expect it to be. You do tend to get an urban education effect where larger metropolitan areas have their overall marks due to their number of independent schools and the selective government schools down in this area.

“The difference between the ranking of public and private schools does show there is work to be done,” he said.

Mr McCrindle said it was vital for all schools in the region to keep younger families moving to the area.

Mark Breckenridge,

Queensland Secondary Principals Association president, said he would not comment on the Gold Coast’s results, but said OPs were a very narrow measure of success.

“Statistically speaking far more graduates leave school without an OP than those that do,” Mr Breckenridge said.

“There are lots of pathways provided for students in school and what they are looking to do in Year 12, whether that be a trade qualification or entry into TAFE, it is about the school preparing them for that.’’