But Did It Help You Get To University?

1. But Did It Help You Get To University? A Qualitative Study of Supplemental Education in Western Australia Martin Forsey Anthropology & Sociology The University of Western Australia

2. A Word From My Chief Sponsor Australia's school curriculum caters for a wide range of student skills and interests. Drama, music, art, debating and public speaking skills, along with team and individual sports activities, are all enhanced through interschool collaboration and competition. Schools also arrange for private tuition and provide elite programs designed for talented international students. Purpose-built learning centres and sports facilities offer the ideal environment for the academic and personal development of international students. This wide variety of artistic and sporting pursuits can help students develop organisational and leadership skills, also their independence and confidence (Australian Education International 2009)

3. Increasing Use of SE • Watson (2008) • average household expenditure on children’s education 3.98% 1998/99 4.88% in 2003/04 • Kenny & Faunce (2004) • Sydney coaching “colleges” • 60 in 1989 to 222 in 2002 • Pate (2008) [also Bond (2009)] • Community Learning Support Programs • 1,300 participants in Melbourne

4. Increasing Use of SE An Even Start (2008-2009) Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (2010). $AU 457.4 million over four years. Targeting year 3, 5 or 7 students not meeting 2007 national literacy/numeracy benchmarks $700 of tuition for eligible students (a minimum of 12 hours). 87,057 students “assisted” Currently suspended pending a review

5. Public Private Divide Federation Education state administered Public System – 66% of enrolments Catholic Education – 20% of enrolments “Independent” Schools – 14% of enrolments Non-government schools as shadow education?

6. Supplemental Education ‘Outside-school learning activities paralleling features of formal schooling used by students to increase their own educational opportunities’ (Baker et al 2001:2) Yellow Pages in Western Australia • 135 Entries • ‘Academic Angels’, ‘Lighthouse Education Centre’, ‘Progressive Home Tutors’, ‘Kinetic Education’, ‘Green Light Education’, ‘Head Start Tutoring’ • ‘Top Tots Early Learning Development Centre’, ‘Early Intervention Tutoring’ • Judith Crossland Academy and Tania’s Tutoring Service • Franchises – eg Kumon, Kip McGrath Education Centres, Reading for Sure

7. Supplemental Education in Australia

8. Market-Based SE Kenny & Faunce (2004) Private girls school, Sydney Survey and academic results Academic coaching in English, Mathematics or Science generally ineffective, particularly for older students Students tutored in English tended to fare worse in examinations than their un-tutored counterparts.

9. In A Remote Corner of the Universe Perth

11. Overwhelmingly Central

12. Ten Interviews Nine Here

13. One Here

14. The Interviews • Education success stories – students who matriculated • Silivona, Bray and Zabulionis (2006) • first year university students • twin assumption • the school experience of such students was recent enough for accurate recall • that they would be more objective and outspoken.

15. Ten Interviews • Six – First Year Anthropology Students • Four – Karratha Education Initiative • Semi-structured • Practice focused – structured, cultured agents • Did it help you get to uni? • Effectiveness of SE • SE and Educational Inequalities • Written portraits – • not wrenching research subjects out of their social context • summarising significant amounts of interview transcripts into readable, vibrant stories

16. Rural-Urban Divides Perceptions (and realities) of under-achievement relative to Urban counterparts Socioeconomic causes Karratha as exception Significance of cultural rather than economic capital

17. Karratha 1535 kms Perth

18. The North West Shelf Venture Woodside operates the NWSV on behalf of the Participants (BHPB, BP, Chevron, MIMI, Shell and Woodside). NWSV is a high value export and royalty earner for Australia, based in a remote part of WA. 1% of Australia’s gross domestic product comes from the gas plant.

19. Educational Challenges Staffing Advantages of formal education in a “boom town”? Educational flight

20. Karratha Education Initiative Funded by NWS Venture Expanding educational options for students in Karratha (high school) Increasing retention to Year 12 Increasing Graduation Rates Increasing Performance in University Entrance Exams (TEE) Increasing university enrolments

21. The Sample John and Julie’s Stories

22. Closing thoughts Julie – maths didn’t count in the end but… “Just keeping up, was better than the stress of not being able to keep up and not doing that well. And you never know what is going to be counted in the end, which is a trick of the system”. John – can’t really measure it but… “In reality I think I could have done the same thing if left to study on my own because it was work on my part that got me to where I have come now”

23. Is it Effective and Does it Increase Educational Inequality? School statistics Liberal fantasy or realistic assessment? Ineffectual tutors Unmotivated students Effective but didn’t really help Emotional effects Redressing the balance – government, school and community programs Academic coaching uneven in its effects

24. A Conclusion “Yet again the market shows itself to be less efficient than some hope it to be and others might fear that it is”.