GLENROI Heights Public School will be allocated an additional $129,000 next year as part of a needs-based funding increase for NSW public schools.
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The school, along with several others across Orange, will benefit from the statewide $97 million Gonski funding announced on Thursday by NSW Premier Mike Baird and Education Minister Adrian Piccoli.
The funding will be part of $664 million to be delivered to schools in 2015 through the needs-based Resource Allocation Model (RAM), which allocates funding according to the background of students at each school.
Glenroi Heights Public School principal Jane Cameron said previous funding models were based on the number of students at each school, and she was excited that under the RAM program the money would be spent on resource allocation management, determined by principals, because it would enable each school to give their students the best opportunities possible.
“My school has a high Aboriginal population, entrenched public housing and we have a number of students with mild disability,” Mrs Cameron said.
“I’m excited, I’m given the opportunity to create opportunities for my kids.”
The funding is to improve education outcomes based on five criteria, including students from low socio-economic backgrounds, students with low-level disability, students who are developing English language proficiency, students from Aboriginal backgrounds and students from remote and isolated school communities.
In Orange, the largest increase will be at Glenroi Heights Public School, which will receive $828,125 in RAM funding.
Mrs Cameron said she was in the planning process for next year’s budget and hoped to spend the additional funding on professional learning for teachers so they could deliver expert programs for individual students.
“I’ve already got a highly-skilled teaching staff,” Mrs Cameron said.
“We will tailor how we teach each individual.”
Although public schools across NSW are rated for RAM, Mr Piccoli said 84 per cent would receive part of the extra $97 million.
Among those who will miss out on the extra funding is Orange Public School, which will get $278, 023 total RAM funding.
tanya.marschke@fairfaxmedia.com.au
