Thinking of sending your child to private school but not sure whether it's worth the cost? Unfortunately, there's "no easy answer" according to an expert in the field with first-hand experience.
Education researcher and former teacher Nina Hood told Breakfast this morning: "Not all private schools are the same, just like not all state schools are the same.
"I think if we're looking at some of the key differences, we know that on average in private schools you generally have smaller class sizes," she explained. "They have a restricted intake, they typically have smaller class sizes, a higher ratio of teachers to students.
"In some situations you also have, often, more facilities. Sometimes better quality facilities – but not always."
Hood said research showed major variation in outcomes for students.
"Probably on average, you've got students – particularly when we're talking about secondary school level – students at private schools are achieving higher results in whatever qualification it is that they're doing compared to state schools.
"But in saying that, there are some absolutely terrific state schools where children are getting a fantastic education and getting really fantastic outcomes," she added.
And there's a gap in the data, Hood said.
"We don't actually have any research that looks at the long-term impacts – so we can measure it up to the end of schooling, but we don't know a lot about [after that]," Hood said. "We just don't know."
She also discussed the barrier of needing to live in the right area for public schools, which can be a major cost in itself.
"Do you buy a house in the school zone that you want, or do you think about private school fees?" Hood asked. "It is a really interesting conversation to be having, although we do know that those private school fees are on the upwards trajectory at the moment.
"If you've got multiple children, that also does add up quite considerably as well.
"I would hate any parent to think that, just because they can't afford to send their child to a private school, that they're not going to get a good education," she added. "I really, genuinely do not believe that to be the case."
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