Year 12 exams prove some school systems

One of the reasons non-government schools do well is because of school climate and school culture.

In a paper investigating the results achieved by schools from different sectors Gary Marks argues that Catholic schools have “higher standards of discipline and greater emphasis on academic performance”.

The fact that Catholic schools achieve such strong educational outcomes explains why they are so popular with parents, especially in Melbourne’s growth corridors, and why their enrolment growth outstrips government schools.

To argue that non-government schools outperform government schools in areas like Year 12 examinations does not mean that state schools have to be relegated to second best.

And we don’t have to look to Asian countries and Finland for solutions to how best to raise standards and it’s not about investing more and more into education

Under performing schools can learn from those non-government schools that do so well.  State schools, like Catholic and independent, need to enforce a disciplined classroom environment where teachers set high expectations about student behaviour.

Instead of government schools justifying underperformance because students come from disadvantaged backgrounds they need to work on the assumption that students, regardless of background, can achieve strong results.

Schools also need to promote an academic environment where students are expected to master difficult subjects, there is regular testing and an acceptance that learning requires hard work, concentration and effort.

While most students aspire to getting into university, schools also need to appreciate that not all have the ability or interest in academic studies and that vocational education and training and learning a trade are equally as worthwhile.