A push to increase the number of select-entry schools in Victoria has drawn caution from experts who warn that such an expansion could exacerbate social inequality within the state’s public education system. Recent discussions emerged following a report addressing the challenges faced by boys in education, suggesting that Victoria emulate New South Wales’ extensive network of select-entry high schools to enhance public school outcomes.
Currently, Victoria has only four select-entry schools: Melbourne High School, Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School, Nossal High School, and Suzanne Cory High School. In June, approximately 5,700 students sat for entrance exams, competing for just 1,000 available spots. In comparison, New South Wales boasts 43 secondary schools where entrance is awarded based on exam performance, with more than 18,500 applicants vying for 4,200 places.
Critics argue that select-entry schools in Victoria primarily serve affluent families who can afford private education, thereby failing to support students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Trevor Cobbold, from the advocacy group Save Our Schools, expressed concern, stating, “More selective schools would exacerbate social segregation in the public system and increase the already high concentration of low-income and other disadvantaged students in some schools, which lowers student results.”
Australia’s education system is already among the most segregated in the OECD, largely due to government funding practices that favor private schools. Cobbold emphasized, “Let’s not make it worse by creating more selective schools.”
The current situation in Victoria highlights the competitive performance of select-entry schools against their private counterparts. For instance, Mac.Robertson ranked third overall in the previous year’s VCE results, while Melbourne and Nossal high schools ranked eleventh and thirteenth, respectively. No non-selective government schools made it to the top twenty.
Concerns regarding the efficacy of select-entry schools were echoed by Emma Rowe, an associate professor at Deakin University. She pointed to extensive research indicating that current selective systems do little to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged children. Rowe noted, “Select-entry schools typically only enrol high socioeconomic status (SES) students, which disadvantages those from lower SES backgrounds.”
The debate over the select-entry system is not new. Historical analysis by Helen Proctor, a professor at Sydney University, traced the roots of select-entry schools back to the 19th century. She explained that while New South Wales established a more extensive system of select-entry schools early on, proposals in Victoria were thwarted by the private education sector, which sought to maintain its influence.
Victoria’s first select-entry institution, Melbourne High, opened in 1906, with Mac.Robertson following in the 1930s. It wasn’t until 2010 and 2011 that Nossal and Suzanne Cory High Schools were established. Recently, the state government allocated funds in its budget for a new maths and science school in Melbourne’s north-west, set to be select-entry, although no plans for further expansion have been confirmed.
Students like William Ao, who recently joined Melbourne High, are enthusiastic about the opportunities these schools provide. Ao, involved in various activities including robotics and debating, expressed a desire for more select-entry options in Victoria. He believes that many talented students should have access to these educational environments, stating, “Melbourne is growing, and there’s more than just 1,200 talented students in the state who deserve to go to one of these schools.”
New South Wales has recently taken steps to address inequities in its select-entry schools by implementing a quota system that allocates 20 percent of places to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Victoria, in contrast, offers that up to 10 percent of places in its selective schools are available for “equity-entry” students, including those from low-income families or Indigenous backgrounds. However, only 3 percent of students enrolled in Victoria’s four select-entry government schools last year came from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
A spokesperson for the Victorian government reiterated its commitment to providing high-quality education for all students, regardless of their postcode. The spokesperson stated, “Our priority is – and has always been – that every child has access to a world-class education in a Victorian government school.”
As discussions continue, the future of select-entry schools in Victoria will likely remain a contentious topic, balancing the aspirations of students and families against the need for a more equitable education system.
