Editorial: Using deciles to judge wrong

Gate Pa School principal Richard Inder said the extra funding would allow him to provide extra programmes for students including reading recovery. Photo / George Novak

Schools in the Bay and around the country have this week been given some news which will have a major impact on how they operate.

The Ministry of Education has conducted a review of the decile ratings which are placed on schools.

Back when I was at school, I had no idea what a decile rating was. I had no need for that information, and it had no impact on the education I received.

It wasn't until I became a reporter that the term decile rating had any meaning to me.

I understand principals' frustration at the public nature of their decile rating, which can be anywhere between one and 10.

Parents tend to use these ratings to judge the schools in their community.

I have spoken to people who believe their child would not get as good an education at a lower decile school, than they would at a decile 10 school.

This is rubbish.

Decile ratings are given to schools based on the socio-economics of the area where the school is based. The lower the decile the more funding that school received from the Government. The higher the decile, the less funding.

The recent review would have seen some schools' rating move up or down the scale.

In some cases schools will lose or gain thousands of dollars in funding.

Otumoetai College's rating had dropped from 8 to 7. Principal Dave Randell said the school would now get an extra $50,000 a year, which would pay for an extra teacher aide and a few more computers.

Gate Pa School will also receive an extra $25,000 after dropping from decile 2E to 2D.

The principal said the extra funding would allow him to provide extra programmes for students including reading recovery.

It's great news for those students who might have previously missed out, but on the other hand those schools whose ratings increased now have to deal with less funding and more fundraising.

Local communities shouldn't judge their school based on its rating, but they need to get behind their school to make sure the kids are all able to receive the same benefits.