As the holidays begin, I wish everyone well for the break ahead. As we have come to expect, the term has been full of activity and opportunity, and I am in awe of what we have individually and collectively achieved across the breadth of our programme.
This was never more evident than at the Parents’ Association House Music Festival, which was another celebration of the excellence and participation that we had come to expect at College. Thank you, and congratulations to all involved in a wonderful evening.
As we approach the next election, I think it is appropriate to ask our community to consider some facts and thoughts shared by Independent Schools of New Zealand (ISNZ) regarding the ongoing failure of governments of any persuasion to support in any fair or reasonable way schools like Christ’s College that provide choice for parents and deliver excellent educational outcomes that benefit the country. Please consider education policy when you vote. The long-term sustainability of the independent education sector in New Zealand might well depend on the maturing of government policy in this area of immediate concern to this community.
Here are some points:
- ISNZ member schools contribute more than $605 million to the economy each year*.
- Independent schools save the government in one-off capital investment for new schools and classrooms because students attend independent schools that must fund their own capital improvements.
- Independent schools contribute more than $79 million annually in tax revenue from GST on fees*. This contribution is almost double the total government funding for independent schools in New Zealand. (Government funding is capped at $40.6 million ex GST).
- The government is a net fiscal beneficiary of the presence of the private school sector.
- The current average level of funding per child to private schools is about 20% of the average government per-student expenditure in a state school.
- There has been no adjustment in the per-student subsidy funding for independent schools since 2009, not even for inflation.
- Actual per-student funding for independent schools is in decline because more parents are choosing to attend such schools.
*Independent Schools of New Zealand Data and Insights Report 2022 – McCrindle
Some further thoughts…
- Increasing the funding to private schools is fiscally beneficial and supports parent choice*.
- Independent schools support more than 8500 full-time equivalent jobs across New Zealand.
- Independent schools divert those willing to pay for education away from the publicly financed state system, freeing up funds available for those remaining without compromising outcomes.
- Independent schools relieve the burden on the taxpayer to meet the total cost of educating those eligible students across New Zealand.
*Independent Schools – What would a smart state do? – NZIER 2019
Midwinter Drinks
Our friends at The Observatory Hotel are offering Christchurch parents a 15% discount on their room rate for those who wish to stay in the city for the Midwinter Drinks function. The discount code is "ChristsCollege" and is valid until 30 September 2023. Click here to book.
The Midwinter Drinks ticket sales close at 12pm today, so make sure you do not miss out.