A snapshot of results from a dozen south-west Sydney comprehensive high schools shows the concentration of top-achieving HSC students in some schools fell by up to 80 per cent between 2006 and 2021.
The proportion of HSC high achievers at some comprehensive high schools in Liverpool,Camden and Fairfield has fallen significantly since 2006.Dominic Lorrimer
The analysis by education expert and former principal Chris Bonnor shows the drop in high achievers at comprehensive high schools in Liverpool,Camden and Fairfield came as at least four partially selective schools opened in the area and the number of private schools grew.
There are 48 selective high schools in NSW,more than 10 times any other state or jurisdiction. In December,the government announced it. Another proposed selective school in Leppington.
And demand for places in selective high schools is soaring,the NSW Education Department received more than 17,000 applicants for 4248 places for the 2024 school year.
“In south-west Sydney the growth in partially selective schools,plus more private schools,has stripped their neighbouring schools of their brightest students,” said Bonnor,who analysed HSC distinguished achiever data from 2006 to 2021.
Former public school principal Sue French said parents are drawn to fully or partially selective schools because of the status attached to them.
“Parents think they are not doing their job if they don’t try and get their kids into a selective school,” French said.
“The problem is as kids are pulled to selective schools,it erodes confidence in the local comprehensive schools. The presence of high-performing kids in schools improves the performance of everyone,including the teachers.”
Education expert Chris Bonnor.Supplied
The University of Technology’s Christina Ho,a gifted-education expert,agrees selective schools are creaming off the best-performing students from comprehensive schools.
“It’s not a surprise,but the top achievers are being pulled away. There is a culture that has developed around them,they are the ultimate prize for many families,” Ho said.
Ho believes NSW has one of the most divided education systems in the country and says public schools “lose families that are often dedicated to educational success”.
“We need to support local schools to identify gifted kids and provide enrichment and accelerated programs. And also help define giftedness in a much more holistic way,” Ho said.
“In NSW,we have a trend of parents going school shopping. In other states,that culture is not as extreme and there is more willingness to support the local school,” she said.
But John Huang,a former student at selective school Girraween High,said he supported selective schools because the teacher could focus on stretching those students.
He said the culture of the school meant there was less bullying,although there were some drawbacks.
“I think I was a little sheltered – the only path was university as the next step for me – I didn’t even consider TAFE or other options,” he said.
Of the distinguished achievers in the 2021 HSC,just under a quarter were from full and partial selective schools.
Bonnor believes a better alternative to the Westmead selective school would be to reshape it into a hub that would help identify and support gifted year 7 and 8 students in their existing schools and give them opportunities to pursue their areas of interest.
“In their later secondary years,they could attend Westmead on one designated day each week,” he suggested.
Rachel Wilson,an education academic at the University of Sydney,said that of the best-performing education systems globally,none had selective schools as a feature.
“Rather they have relatively homogenous and comprehensive school systems that are inclusive for all students but provide differentiated teaching and learning,” she said.
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said all NSW public schools provide quality education to their students,including high-potential and gifted students.
“Selective high schools are just one of the ways we cater for these students,” she said. “To meet the parental demand for selective high schools and ensure access for more students from underrepresented student groups,the NSW Liberal and Nationals government is working to deliver new selective schools in Westmead and Leppington.”
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