Private school tuition trumps SES status

As the saying goes, there are lies, dammed lies and statistics. Even though it's clear that Catholic and independent schools achieve the best results critics argue it's only because their students come from privileged backgrounds. After adjusting results for home background, including parental occupation, qualifications and postcode, the critics argue that any advantage non-government schools have disappears.

Wrong again. Contrary to the argument that Catholic and independent schools only do well because students are privileged the research consistently shows that non-government schools outperform state schools even after adjusting for home background.

In relation to NAPLAN results, for example, research by Paul Miller and Derby Voon from Curtin University concludes that "test outcomes vary by school sector, with non-government schools having higher school average scores, even after differences in schools' ICSEA are taken into account" (ICSEA is a measure of home background)

A 2001 study by the Australian Council for Educational Research concludes that after adjusting for socioeconomic profile and previous academic achievement, measured by Year 9 results, that students in non-government schools, on average, achieve a tertiary entry score 5 to 6 points higher than students in government schools.

While such an advantage might appear minor, in relation to highly sought after university courses like medicine and law one or two points can be decisive.

Research Report 61 associated with the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth makes a similar point when concluding, in relation to tertiary entry, that 'the average socioeconomic status of students at a school does not emerge as a significant factor".

The LSAY report also notes "there is also considerable variation within school sectors, with the government sector having more than its share of low-performing schools".

In relation to school completion rates, as measured by staying on to Year 12, it's also the case that non-government schools achieve stronger outcomes. The Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth Report 59 concludes non-government schools have a 3 to 8 percentage point advantage.

And in relation to tertiary completion rates Sally Knipe from Charles Sturt University writes, "Data from LSAY indicates that students who had attended Catholic secondary schools are more likely to complete a university course."

As to why this is the case, the research is clear. Non-government schools set high standards, students are motivated, there is a rigorous curriculum and a disciplined classroom environment and such schools better reflect parents' expectations.

Based on his research Marks argues, "non-government schools promote a more academic environment that lifts student performance". In explaining the strong outcomes achieved by Catholic schools, Marks writes that instead of home background, "Other more credible explanations are higher levels of parental and community involvement with Catholic schools, higher standards of discipline and greater emphasis on academic performance".

And the superior performance of non-government schools does not simply relate to academic results. One Australian study, 'The impact of racism upon the health and wellbeing of young Australians' concludes that Catholic school students are more racially tolerant compared to students in government schools.