What Parents Want Survey Key Findings
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What Parents Want An Independent Schools Queensland Survey The Lakes College Key Findings March 2015 The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James Acknowledgements Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) extends its thanks to Published by: the many parents who gave up their time to complete the Independent Schools Queensland survey and to participating schools for their assistance. PO Box 957 Spring Hill Q 4004 P: 07 3228 1515 F: 07 3228 1575 The role played by Dr Deidre Thian, ISQ Principal Consultant E: [email protected] W: www.isq.qld.edu.au (Research), who designed and conducted the survey is particularly acknowledged. © Independent Schools Queensland 2015 Licensed under NEALS Quotations appearing in this document are from survey responses. “Apart from a loving family, the gift of a good education is the single biggest gift you can bestow on your children which will last a lifetime.” Parent Comment Executive Summary School choice is one of the most critical As in previous surveys, family, friends and y The most commonly cited reason decisions any parent will make in respect colleagues and other parents with children by the 15% of parents who thought of their children. Understanding how at the school were the most influential about changing schools in 2014 was and why parents make such a decision is sources of initial information for parents. financial reasons. Despite thinking crucial in ensuring independent schools about changing school, nearly 70% of continue to meet the needs of parents The 2014 Survey outcomes indicate parents who thought about changing while sustaining a healthy and viable parents are becoming more discerning schools were satisfied their child independent schooling sector into the when it comes to school choice, starting remained at the school. the decision-making process earlier and future. y In 2014, 86% of parents said their being more likely to consider a greater children under school age would In October 2014 Independent Schools range of schooling options, albeit they definitely attend an independent Queensland commissioned the third still choose an independent school. school. This is a reduction from 89% in a series of surveys previously in 2010 and 91% in 2006. In both undertaken in 2006 and 2010. The y In 2014 approximately seven in every 2006 and 2010, 8% of parents were What Parents Want – An Independent 10 parents started thinking about undecided. In 2014 this percentage Schools Queensland Survey examines which school for their child at least had increased to 12%. the decision-making process parents two years before the child was due to commence schooling, up from undertake when choosing to send Government policy has had an impact approximately five in every 10 parents their child/children to an independent on attendance at kindergarten programs in 2010. school, including the influence of prior to school commencement. The varying sources of information available y The proportion of parents considering establishment of Government approved to parents and the relative importance all three schooling sectors (State, programs across Queensland has of a myriad of factors that can influence Catholic and independent) increased occurred since the 2010 survey. In 2010 school choice. from 17% in 2006, to 23% in 2010 and just over two-thirds of Prep students had 28% in 2014. attended a kindergarten program in the The 2014 survey was completed by y Forty-eight per cent (48%) of parents previous year. In 2014 this proportion more than 1,000 parents who had considered only independent schools increased to 88% of Prep students. children attending independent schools in 2014, down from 56% in 2010 and in Queensland. These children attended 61% in 2006. Despite an increase in availability of 67 schools across the State. kindergarten facilities associated with Satisfaction levels with independent schools, with many provided through Results from the series of surveys schools remain high, but financial Government support, the proportion reinforce that while some things change pressures are impacting on parental of Prep students that attended a over time, many things remain the same. choice. kindergarten associated with a school The most important factors for parents in 2014 was similar to the result in 2010 y Eighty-five per cent (85%) of parents choosing an independent school (37% compared to 36%, respectively). with children that had attended the identified in the 2014 Survey were the same school in the preceding year did same as reported in earlier surveys not consider changing school. In 2006 y Preparation for student to fulfil their and 2010, 93% and 89% of parents potential in later life respectively did not consider changing school in the preceding year. y Good discipline y Encouragement of a responsible attitude to school work y The high quality of teachers y Teaching methods/philosophy What Parents Want Survey Report – 2014 1 Key Findings Responses were received from 1,048 parents with students attending 67 independent schools across Queensland. The full What Parents Want Survey Report analyses these responses across a range of variables, including type of school (co-educational or single gender), attendance (day and boarding students), year levels, whether students were new to the school or continuing students, as well as a number of socio-economic factors, including family type and family income levels. Satisfaction with independent schools Overall, most parents are satisfied with Parents with a child who had considered A range of reasons were given for the quality of education provided by changing school, most frequently cited parents deciding to change to the the independent schools their children financial reasons such as fee increases current independent school, with the attend. - 41% of parents cited this as a reason most frequently cited being that a for considering changing schools. It is better level of education was available The majority of parents (89%) that had of interest to note that approximately elsewhere (36% of parents cited this as a more than one child attending school, four in every 10 parents indicated they reason for changing schools), followed had all their school-aged students had not planned ahead for payment of by insufficient attention was being given attending independent schools (refer school fees, with most parents reliant on to the child’s individual needs (27% of Figure 1). salary/wages for fee payment. parents). Of those parents who had children The majority of students who had Parents of students who had previously under school-age, the majority (86%) of transferred to their current independent attended a different independent school parents were intending to send these school in 2014 had previously attended most frequently cited family relocation as children to independent schools (refer a government school (57% of students the reason for changing school (51% of Figure 2). Only 2% indicated that they including students who had previously parents). had decided these future students attended an Independent Public School would not attend an independent (IPS) (refer Figure 4). The majority (88%) of Prep students school. The balance (12%) of parents had previously attended a kindergarten with under school-aged children was Just over a quarter (26%) of students program. Of those responses where the undecided. had attended a different independent Prep student had previously attended school, with the balance having a kindergarten program, 63% attended Parents of students who were at the attended Catholic schools (16%) or been a program at a centre not attached to a same independent school as they had home schooled (1%). school (37% at a kindergarten service attended in the previous year were and 26% at a long day care service), with asked if they had considered changing 30% attending a kindergarten program school. Eighty-five per cent (85%) of associated with the independent school parents with children continuing at their the child attends (refer Figure 5). school did not consider changing school (refer Figure 3). Over two-thirds (69%) The balance of Prep students who of parents who considered changing had attended a kindergarten program schools were satisfied with their decision attended a service associated with a for the child to remain at the school. different school (7%). What Parents Want 2 Survey Report – 2014 Immanuel Lutheran College Figure 1: Schooling Sectors Figure 2: Intending to enrol at Figure 3: Continuing Students Attended – Parents With More an Independent School – Parents – Proportion of Parents Who Than One School-aged Child (%) With Children Under School-age Considered Changing School (%) Independent & Catholic Schools 3% (%) No 85% Yes 15% Independent & State Schools 8% Yes 86% No 2% Undecided 12% Independent Schools Only 89% Figure 4: Schooling Sector Figure 5: Proportion of Prep Students Who Attended Previously Attended (%) a Kindergarten Program, by Service Type (%) A Independent Public School (IPS) 1% Kindergarten/Long Day Care service attached to a Catholic school 1% Home schooled 1% Kindergarten/Long Day Care service attached to a DIFFERENT independent A Catholic school 16% school than the one your child is attending 6% A different independent school 26% Long Day Care service not attached to a school 26% Kindergarten/Long Day Care service attached to the SAME independent A State/Government school 56% school your child is attending 30% Kindergarten service not attached to a school 37% What Parents Want Survey Report – 2014 3 Brisbane Grammar School The Decision-making Process Figure 6: Schooling Sectors Considered (%) Schooling Sectors When the Nearly half (48%) of parents only Independent and Independent decision-making Public Schools 2% considered independent schools Catholic and independent schools 10% to provide their child’s education process starts (refer Figure 6). State and independent schools 12% For most parents (71%) the start of the State, Catholic and independent schools 28% All three schooling sectors were process of school selection commenced Only independent schools 48% considered by just over a quarter at least two years before the child (28%) of parents.