The Australian
education times Independent Schools
Is Learning more Innovative at Independent Schools ? Independent Schools are renowned for their ethos, religious outlooks and their commitment to educational excellence. But what makes 174,000 NSW students call an Independent School their home away from home?
T
here are 450 Independent schools in New South Wales. While the majority of these schools are Pre K-12, others offer Boarding School facilities and opportunities to study abroad and via correspondence. The NSW independent schools sector enrolls more than 174,000 students, which represents approximately 15% of all students in NSW. The greatest proportion of independent schools are in Western Australia (13%) while the least are in Victoria (9%). The independent sector is so-called because each school is independent of government or Catholic system ownership. It is made up of individually operated schools as well as small groups or systems. Independent schools vary widely in size from schools with fewer than 20 students to large schools with up to 2,000 students. Independent schools are located in all areas of NSW, covering metropolitan, regional and rural, and remote areas of the state. All independent schools in NSW are registered by the NSW Board of Studies and are educationally and financially accountable to the Board and to the Australian and NSW Governments. Many independent schools are not affiliated with any particular religious philosophy or church while others follow
certain types of educational philosophies such as Rudolf Steiner Schools and Montessori Schools. Furthermore, a significant number of independent schools in NSW also operate boarding facilities. There are 25 special schools in NSW that cater for students with disabilities and other special needs, including students with severe and multiple physical, emotional and learning disabilities or behavioural issues. Other independent schools cater specifically for students from indigenous backgrounds.
Student Achievement In the recent HSC, 35% of recipients who topped subjects came from independent schools. Pupils from Sydney Grammar School took out six First in Course
awards while students from Pymble Ladies College achieved three awards. A further six independent schools had two First in Course recipients while 22 other independent schools each had one student who topped the state in a subject. In the sporting arena, many independent schools also have a track record for scoring excellent results from state through to international levels. For these schools, success has generally been the result of strong sporting traditions, meticulous dedication and cutting-edge coaching programs, yet not all principals see the road to success as overly complicated.
Enrolment Process Enrolling your child into an Independent School varies between schools. Please contact the Principal or the school’s Business Manager to book a tour of the school and for information regarding enrolment procedures. The school will provide you with an Enrolment Pack which will contain all the information you will need, including the application forms. This process also applies for international (overseas) students.
Teachers Teachers are encouraged to apply for jobs at Independent Schools by subscribing to TeachersNet or by searching the school of their choice for vacancies. Teachers are often required to be of the same religious background or demonstrate particular areas of excellence. Teachers who are employed by Independent Schools are required to undertake professional development which organisations such as The Teachers Guild of New South Wales offer annually.
The Australian Education Times
| 9